Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 11

Miniature Antique English Apprentice Model Salesman Sample Drop-Front Bureau

About the Item

A rare and handsome English Arts & Crafts period miniature oak bureau from the early 20th century with nicely aged patina. Exquisitely hand-crafted in England over a century ago, exceptionally executed, the diminutive piece of furniture having a trio of arcaded open niche pigeon holes, over a hinged slant-front panel with relief carved scrolling foliate decoration, central cartouche dated 1914, opening to reveal original orange felt covered writing surface, which could be used as a larger storage compartment or shelf, the additional work space provided by the drop-front desk supported by a pair of functional pull out slides, over a chest of six drawers of varied size, original patinated brass fittings throughout, rising on shaped bracket feet. Often there is debate over whether miniature furniture was made as an apprentice piece, which is when a craftsmen who is looking for a job at a workshop would create something to showcase their talents, or whether it was made as a travelling salesman sample piece, which is when a few articles were made as scale models in advance of a road trip on which the salesman would travel the country showing prospective clients the kind of items they could produce back at the workshop and take orders from. This beautiful piece was almost certainly handmade as a traveling salesman sample due it being quite rare to find a miniature bureau, especially of this stature which incorporates this level of quality and detail, right down to the functional slide-out supports. Superb condition, highly desirable original, unrestored, untouched condition. Presents splendidly, with rich antique oak glow, beautiful color, elegantly aged, warm, rustic, patina over the whole. Attractive, very charming and a highly collectible example, in addition to a unique display piece / decorative object, it would make an excellent jewelry casket, small table cabinet, decorative box or organizer, sure to make for a wonderful addition to any home or collection. Dimensions (approx): 12.5"H, 13"W, 6.5"D.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 12.5 in (31.75 cm)Width: 13 in (33.02 cm)Depth: 6.5 in (16.51 cm)
  • Style:
    Arts and Crafts (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Dated 1914
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Forney, TX
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU5977227339772

More From This Seller

View All
Antique Rowland Ward Signed English Taxidermy Horse Hoof Match Holder
By Rowland Ward
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and important late 19th century Victorian era metal mounted horse hoof match holder by Rowland Ward. Museum quality example, this most unusual curiosity having a gilt brass hinged lid opening to striker and open receptacle. Signed "Roland Ward...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Taxidermy

Materials

Brass

19th Century American Country General Store Carpenter Model Trade Shop Display
Located in Forney, TX
A rare, unusual, and most charming diminutive hand-crafted Gold Rush era American country general store counter merchant desk. Mid-19th century, United States, most likely commissi...
Category

Antique 19th Century American Industrial Models and Miniatures

Materials

Wrought Iron

English WW2 Era Brass Ship's Pedestal Binnacle Compass by Sestral
By Henry Browne & Son Ltd Sestrel
Located in Forney, TX
A visually striking smaller scale vintage WWII era maritime salvage ship's binnacle pedestal with compass by Sestrel Henry Browne & Son. circa 1940s The beautifully aged heavily patinated polished brass binnacle housing a high quality marine navigational instrument, having an enclosed brass bowl English Sestrel compass...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass, Iron

Antique Church Altar Table
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce, likely one-of-a-kind Spanish Colonial church altar, repurposed as a sideboard server or console. Hand-crafted in Mexico in the 19th century, having a shaped demilune marbleized - faux marble painted wooden top, over substantial solid pine bowfront base with hand carved detailing and decorative molded paneling. Provenance: Prior owner purchased from Horse of a Different Color Antiques, San Antonio, Texas. Acquisition: Acquired from highly reputable auction house Austin Auction Gallery, est. 1983, Austin, Texas. Three Day Estates Event February 22 catalog. Dimensions: (approx) 28" High, 84" Long, 22" Deep As warm and attractive as it is functional, having the ideal size and proportions for a variety of different uses, including as a dining room buffet, credenza - media stand, sofa table or hall console, dry bar, or placed in a palatial foyer as a stunning and historical entry statement piece! Condition: Good original antique condition. Presents well. Strong, sturdy, stable, and structurally sound. Nicely aged mellow warm patina. Wear consistent with age and indicative of use, including scattered losses to the paint, old repairs and touchups throughout, and various other antique character marks that add to the overall display, authenticity, and rustic old world charm. Please note, at the time of writing this, we have a similarly styled baptismal font likely from the same church available. We here at Lynx Hollow Antiques absolutely love religious antiques! Retaining spiritual significance, beautiful artistic depth, rich cultural and historical interest, they make for the perfect decorative object! Please be sure to check our other listings for architectural salvaged building elements to ornamental temple figures, tabernacle cabinets...
Category

Antique 19th Century Mexican Spanish Colonial Tables

Materials

Pine, Paint

Antique Continental Renaissance Church Lavabo
Located in Forney, TX
A magnificent medieval Renaissance period architectural holy water font lavabo. Born in a Christian church in Continental Europe during the middle ages, likely Italian 16th or 17th century, exquisitely hand-crafted by a highly skilled artisan, with exceptional craftsmanship, ornate and finely detailed, the rare and one of a kind forged bronze and brass upper presenting with gothic shaped palm frond back, domed lid with tall finial decorated in relief, the fountain reservoir is decorated with central mounted Star of Bethlehem four pointed pentagram star embellishment as well as other applied ormolu adornments, a narrow elongated spigot with valve dispenses the holy water below. A later gilt brass stoop catches the water, the nicely styled, demilune shaped wall mounted antique...
Category

Antique 17th Century European Renaissance Fountains

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Ormolu

Antique Children's Horse Head Rocking Chair
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and unusual form antique American early wooden child’s toy horse rocker with cushioned seat and beautiful patina. Dating to the mid-19th century, the primitive rocker...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American Children's Furniture

Materials

Leather, Wood, Paint

You May Also Like

Miniature Salesman's Sample Victorian Bureau Chest, American, circa 1890
Located in Incline Village, NV
This late 19th century miniature 3-drawer dresser with original mirror mounted above, was likely used as a salesman's sample by an itinerant sales person who traveled the countryside promoting his articles, usually by seeking out merchants to take orders based on this scaled down miniature bureau, or by leaving it on display in a merchant's establishment to take orders from that merchant's customers. This American bureau...
Category

Antique 1890s American Victorian Toys

Materials

Oak

Rare English Queen Anne Antique Miniature Salesman Sample Tilt-Top Table
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A RARE AND FINE QUEEN ANNE MAHOGANY MINIATURE SALESMAN'S SAMPLE TILT-TOP CANDLESTAND England, circa last quarter of the 18th century Item # 403RPJ02P An exceedingly fine and rare salesman's sample of a perfectly scaled-down tilting top candlestand, it is crafted from dense mahogany and retains a rather early finish. The surface glows brilliantly under the old oxidized shellac, this turning nearly black in some areas with rich ruby hues coming through as rubbing and handling have worn it. The table is an exact replica of what a client would expect to receive in full size, a piece that would likely have been created for salesmen to take to prospective buyers to showcase what their shops could achieve in wood. The table retains its original battens on the underside, these flanking the original latch and catch that allow the top to easily rotate for storage. It is raised on a turned column with a swollen vasiform baluster over the curvy cabriole legs. Measurements: 12 1/2" H x 11 7/8" diameter Condition Report: Old finish with exceedingly fine silky surface patina throughout, old scuffs and abrasions that have oxidized, minor scars, a large stain (likely ink) to the top; old repaired break to one ankle; one screw missing from catch on underside of table; original hardware, original butterfly iron...
Category

Antique 18th Century English Queen Anne Models and Miniatures

Materials

Mahogany

Miniature Salesman's Sample of Neoclassical Inlaid Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Miniature salesman's sample of cabinet with two doors and four drawers. Beautifully made with inlaid banding details. Would make a sweet little Jewelry box for keepsakes.
Category

Antique 19th Century English Neoclassical Models and Miniatures

Materials

Mahogany

French 19th Century Salesman Sample Miniature Slant Front Secretary with Mirrors
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French miniature slant front secretary from the 19th century, with arched mirrors and gilt accents. Created in France during the 19th century, this miniature slant front secretary features a molded cornice sitting above two doors adorned with arching mirrors. The central section showcases the slant front desk opening to reveal hidden drawers and two storage compartments while the bottom part is made of four drawers with gilt accents. With its petite size indicating that this piece was likely a salesman sample and nice patina, this 19th century French miniature secretary...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Models and Miniatures

Materials

Mirror, Wood

9" Emeco 1006 Miniature Salesman Sample Aluminum Chair Scultpure
By Emeco
Located in Van Nuys, CA
The Miniature Emeco model 1006 aluminum miniature chair sculpture salesmen sample is a detailed and compact replica of the iconic Emeco Navy Chair, originally designed in 1944 for us...
Category

Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Models and Miniatures

Materials

Aluminum

Antique Victorian Iron & Brass Salesman Sample Doll Dog Bed Miniature 32"
Located in Dayton, OH
An antique Victorian Salesman Sample bed frame. Made from iron with brass toppers. Antique salesman samples (a.k.a. salesman's samples, or salesmen sam...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Toys and Dolls

Materials

Brass, Iron

Recently Viewed

View All