Antique Christian VIII Scandinavian Writing Desk in Mahogany with Marquetry

From the American Gilded Age, a lovely writing table in satinwood with ebonized details and featuring marquetry inlays depicting classic Hepplewhite themes which include lilies of th...

A very handsome and functional classical American bureau desk in dark Cuban mahogany, likely from Philadelphia. Offers three drawers along the apron, o...

A handsome Biedermeier sofa table or writing desk in Cuban mahogany with one drawer and two drop leaves on cylinder column resting on quatre-form base with carved lions' paw feet, Sw...

A very fine Baltic writing or sofa table in the Empire style (and edging toward the Art Deco period that would follow.) In Cuban mahogany with carved trestle-base ending in carved li...

A very handsome Swedish Empire, Karl Johan salon table of fine Cuban mahogany with satinwood banding, carved and ebonized center pillar on quatre-form base ending in saber feet, with ormolu appliqués...

A very handsome American Rococo Revival writing table in fine plum mahogany attributable to well-known New York City cabinet maker, Joseph Meeks & Sons. ...

Writing table, walnut, The Netherlands, 1940s An elegant furniture piece that attests to masterful craftsmanship. Its marquetry top, adorned with a captivating array of various wood...

This elegant writing desk was created in France in the late 18th century, during the reign of King Louis XVI (1774-1792). The desk is designed in a refined neoclassical style which w...

This attractive mahogany Edwardian Davenport / writing desk, circa 1900s has been constructed from quality solid mahogany having a raised back above a fall front moulded edge writing slope with a raised and fielded panelled cupboard door standing on bracket feet. The Davenport's top section has a brass hinged mahogany lift up lid to reveal an original lead lined storage...

A magnificent and very rare Régence style marquetry inlaid grand bureau plat or writing desk. Inscribed to the carcass 'Moreaux 72'. Dating from the second half of the nineteenth century this magnificent and very rare bureau plat has finely cast rocaille gilt-bronze mounts and is decorated overall with truly breath-taking seventeenth century marquetry, depicting fantastical townscapes, knights, soldiers, hunting and architectural-scenes. Of serpentine rectangular form the top is veneered with superb marquetry panels within a foliate scrolled border and a rocaille shell-cast gilt-bronze surround, both sides featuring a recessed central drawer flanked on each side by a drawer applied with male and female terms, scrolled handles, and reserves with conforming drawers; the bombé sides are centred by foliate scrolls, and the whole raised on cabriole legs headed by cartouches with foliate entwined chutes terminating in scrolled sabots. Of impressive scale this fine bureau plat, in the manner of a partners desk, features working drawers to each side. This model of bureau plat was made by a small number of celebrated Parisian cabinet makers in the second half of the 19th century including Beurdeley, Cremer and Befort Jeune. It is incredibly rare to see this model of bureau plat inlaid in marquetry. The exceptional quality and style indicate the use of older reused marquetry, almost certainly dating from the late 17th century and originating from the Augsburg region of Germany. Similar models but lacking the exceptional marquetry inlay can be found in the collection of the Duke of Buccleuch at Bowhill, and the Earl of Normanton at Somerlely. Christopher Payne notes that the latter was part of a pair sold by the London dealer Toms & Luscombe in 1871. He illustrates the present bureau plat in his book ‘European Furniture of the 19th Century’ (p. 88-89), along with two related desks minus the marquetry inlay (p. 92 -93). The exceptional and highly complex marquetry inlay and intarsia work, that sets this important bureau plat apart from other extant examples, would originally have formed the decorative panels of a late 17th century table cabinet, almost certainly ascribable to the Augsburg region of Germany. Augsburg emerged from the middle of the 16th century as the German centre of luxury cabinet making for the international market. In particular, the development of marquetry contributed to this prominent position, favoured by the ready availability of indigenous woods and the reputation that Augsburg had the best craftsmen able to cut thin layers of veneers in the most intricate motifs (C.S. Wood, ‘The Perspective Treatise in Ruins: Lorenz Stöer, Geometria et perspectiva, 1567’, Studies in the History of Art, no. 59, p. 246). Table cabinets, conceived as a form of Wunderkammer or cabinets of curiosities, were intended as repositories for all manner of wondrous and exotic objects and by the 1550s the grandest cabinets in Europe were being made in Augsburg. Decorated almost entirely with sumptuous marquetry, often depicting perspective views of ruins and fantastical townscapes, they become by the 1590s highly regarded as important diplomatic gifts. Fine Augsburg marquetry panels remained popular throughout the ages and were frequently re-used to create or embellish new items of furniture, such as this magnificent bureau plat. Their inclusion was not only for their highly decorative appeal, but to contemporary eyes, a means by which to imbue a new creation with a sense of true historical authenticity. The importance of such panels is often reflected in the high cost involved in repurposing them. A fine example of this is the celebrated 17th century cabinet on stand...

19th century English Regency style mahogany writing table (desk) with inset green leather top above 2 frieze drawers to either side on trestle supports and splayed legs.

Antique fine quality C1910 mahogany writing desk or dressing table. Stamped W.FOWKES. Solid heavy, no loose joints and no woodworm. Full of age, character and charm. The drawers s...