ANTIQUE TRIPOD TABLE, CARVED OAK CENTRE TABLE, ANTIQUE FRETWORK WALL MIRROR, DISPLAY CABINET ON STAND

A CARVED WALNUT ARMCHAIR, George II style, with a pierced splat back and cabriole legs, on claw and ball feet

A CARVED GILT-GESSO AND UPHOLSTERED ARMCHAIR, Louis XVI style, with an oval back and fluted turned legs

A CARVED OAK CENTRE TABLE, 18th Century style, on four baluster turned and square legs joined by stretchers, long

AN OAK DINING TABLE, Edwardian, with an elongated rectangular top, on tapered square legs, long

A PAIR OF CARVED GILTWOOD WALL LIGHTS, 18th Century, the urn crestings above mirror facetted lozenge panels with twin candle brances,/awfo, each high

AN ANTIQUE CABINET BOOKCASE, the upper part with glazed panelled doors above frieze drawers and cupboard doors, high by wide.

A PAIR OF MAHOGANY AND INLAID OCCASIONAL CHAIRS, Edwardian, with splat backs, upholstered seats and carved cabriole legs      —

AN OAK CUPBOARD with a fielded panelled door enclosing shelves above a drawer, on turned feet, high by wide.

AN ASH AND ELM WINDSOR ARMCHAIR, Victorian, with a pierced splat back and crinoline stretchers—

AN OAK RECTANGULAR SIDE TABLE, George III, with a drawer, on tapered square legs, wide.

A SET OF SIX MAHOGANY DINING CHAIRS, Queen Anne style, including a pair of armchairs with solid splats, drop-in seats and cabriole legs

AN ANTIQUE TWIN PEDESTAL DINING TABLE, George III style, the turned supports each with splayed tripod supports, on brass paw castors, long including a leaf insertion—

A CARVED ROSEWOOD AND UPHOLSTERED CHAISE LONGUE, Victorian, covered in scarlet velvet, on cabriole legs, long

AN ANTIQUE FRETWORK WALL MIRROR, George III style, with a pierced cresting, high

AN ANTIQUE DISPLAY CABINET, Edwardian, with a pair of astragal doors, on splayed legs, high by wide.

AN ANTIQUE SHOP DISPLAY CABINET ON STAND, of tall narrow proportions enclosed by a single glazed door, high by wide.

AN ANTIQUE SHOP DIPLAY CABINET, early 18th Century, with a reeded frame enclosed by a pair of glazed doors, high by wide.

A TEAK CHEST, early 18th Century,
the two short and three long drawers with
brass escutcheons, wide.

A CARVED OAK BUREAU, William & Mary revival, 18th Century, the fall revealing automatically sliding stationery compartments, on turned legs with stretchers. wide.

A WALNUT CABINET BOOKCASE, late Victorian, with glazed doors above frieze drawers and corresponding carvedcupboard doors, high by wide.

AN ANTIQUE COUNTER DISPLAY CABINET, 18th Century, with a glazed top, on tapered square legs with spade feet, wide

AN ANTIQUE AND INLAID DISPLAY CABINET, Edwardian, with a pair of astragal doors, on tapered square legs, high by wide.

AN ANTIQUE SHOP DISPLAY CABINET, 18th Century, of tall narrow proportions, on a carved chinese fretwork stand, high by wide.—

A DISPLAY CABINET ON STAND, part late 18th Century, the associated glazed upper part above a chinese huang huali stand with pierced fretwork, high by wide.

A PINE CRICKET TABLE, early 18th Century, with a circular top on tapered square legs joined bv stretchers. diam.

A DISPLAY CABINET ON STAND, part late 18th Century, the associated glazed upper part above a Chinese carved huang huali stand with a marble inset top, high by wide.

AN ANTIQUE SIDE TABLE, the
rectangular top above a pair of ogee frieze drawers, on tapered columnar end supports with platform bases and bun feet, wide

AN EBONISED COLLECTORS CABINET, Victorian, the glazed hinged top above seven long drawers with locking pilasters, on bracket feet, wide.

AN ANTIQUE TRIPOD TABLE, George II style, made-up, the circular top with acanthus carved border, on a baluster pillar, the tripod base with paw feet, high by diameter.

Regency mahogany drop-leaf Breakfast Table, George III mahogany Card Table, George III mahogany ‘Birdcage Table’, seven George IV mahogany rail-back Chairs

A Regency mahogany drop-leaf
Breakfast Table, circa, the
ebonised strung frieze with a drawer, the
turned pillar above inverted quadruple
scroll supports and disc medallions, on
square brass cappings and castors,
wide;

A George III mahogany
hexagonal brass-bound Cellaret,
made-up, with hinged cover and carrying
handles, on triple moulded and
chamfered square legs. wide;

A George III mahogany Breakfast Table, circa, the
associated rectangular tilt-top above a ring turned pillar, the quadruple splayed legs ending in ornate brass cappings and castors, restored. long; ft. Min.

A William IV rosewood break-front secretaire Cabinet, circa, now lacking a raised mirror back, the fitted writing drawer with pigeonholes and satinwood veneered small drawers flanked by two short drawers, below are four panelled doors, now with mirror panels, with lotus carved pilaster terminals, now on Shepherd castors. high by. wide; ft. Vin. by ,

A George II mahogany Birdcage Table, circa, the later circular tilt-top above a baluster turned pillar and tripod supports. diam.;

A George III mahogany Chest,
circa, with four long graduated
drawers and later shaped bracket feet.

A George III mahogany and
crossbanded bow-front Chest, circa
the two short and three long
graduated drawers above a valanced
apron, on splayed bracket feet,  by

A George IV mahogany Library Table, circa, the frieze with two real and two opposing dummy drawers, the sides with ring turning, the trestle-shaped supports with carved scroll feet and castors. long;

A George III mahogany serpentine-front Card Table, circa,
the fold-over top with a carved ribbon
and paterae border, on moulded and
chamfered square legs. wide;

A George III mahogany Card Table, circa, the fold-over top with projecting trefoil corners, the chamfered square legs with pierced angle brackets and concertinAction, restored,

A George III mahogany Tea Table, circa, with boxwood strung borders, the plum mottled rectangular fold-over top with conch shell inlay, the frieze drawer above tapered square legs and castors, top warped. wide;
ft. m.

A George II mahogany oval
drop-leaf Table, circa, on circular
tapering legs with pad feet. wide
by. fully extended;

A George III mahogany and
satinwood banded Pembroke Table,
circa, the chamfered rectangular
tulipwood crossbanded top with one real
and opposing dummy frieze drawer, on
tapered square legs ending in brass
castors, restored. wide; ft. Vin.

A George IV gilt framed convex
Girandole, circa, with eagle
surmount, twin scroll candle-branches
and foliate apron, restored.

A George III mahogany Side
Table, circa, the moulded
rectangular top above three frieze
drawers and a shaped apron, on
chamfered square legs.

A George IV japanned
Cabinet-on-Stand, circa, lacquered
in black and gilt with an arrangement of
eleven drawers surrounding a pair of
doors enclosing two later adjustable
shelves, the stand with turned legs,
restored. high by. wide;

A George III mahogany pedestal Table, circa, the rectangular tilt-top above a ring turned pillar, the quadruple splayed legs ending in brass cappings and castors. long; ft.

A George III mahogany ‘Birdcage Table’, circa, the circular tilt-top above a partially fluted turned stem, on triple cabriole legs, faults. diam.;

A Regency rosewood framed Toilet Mirror, with ivory finials and brass stringing, the rectangular plate above a bow-front plinth and three drawers, on ivory ball feet. wide; Vin.

A set of eight Regency mahogany rail-back Chairs, circa, with rope-twist mid-bars and stuffed green dralon seats, on ring turned legs, seat rails replaced, restored,

A set of seven George IV mahogany rail-back Chairs, circa,
including an armchair, with clasp-shaped
mid-bars and stuffed figured green
dralon seats, on turned and reeded
tapering legs,

A George III mahogany secretaire
Bookcase, circa, the later upper
section with a dentilled cornice above a
pair of geometric astragal doors
enclosing adjustable shelves, the fitted
writing drawer above three long
graduated drawers, on shaped bracket
feet, restored. high by. wide;

ANTIQUE WALNUT FURNITURE

A Queen Anne walnut and crossbanded Chest, circa, the two
short and three long drawers inlaid with
featherbanding, the sides in oak.

A William and Mary oyster walnut framed Wall Mirror, circa, the
later rectangular plate within a cushion moulded surround and ovolo border, with shaped cresting.

A William and Mary walnut and satinwood marquetry Wall Mirror, the
later rectangular bevelled plate within a
cushion surround and ovolo border, now
lacking surmount.

A William and Mary walnut and crossbanded Chest, circa, with two short and three long graduated drawers, on later shaped bracket feet, restored, faults. high by. wide; ft. lin. by , and including a concealed drawer

A William and Mary-style walnut and crossbanded Side Table, circa,
with three drawers and an arched apron,
the spiral-twist legs joined by an
‘H’-shaped stretcher, on bun feet.
wide; ft.

A Queen Anne walnut and
crossbanded Bureau, circa, inlaid
with featherbanding, the fall revealing a
stepped and fitted interior, below are
two short and three long graduated
drawers, on shaped bracket feet and now
with castors. high by. wide;

A Queen Anne walnut and
crossbanded Chest on later Stand,
inlaid with featherbanding, with
two short and three long graduated
drawers, below are three drawers and a
waved apron, on cabriole legs and pad
feet. high by. wide;

A George II red walnut oval
drop-leaf Table, on circular tapering legs
and pad feet,  by. fully extended;

A George I walnut Cabinet-on-Stand, circa, inlaid throughout with stringing, the cavetto cornice above two short and three long graduated drawers, the base with three small drawers and a shaped apron, on later ogee bracket feet, restored. high by. wide;

A Queen Anne walnut Escritoire,
circa, on a later stand, with
segmented veneers and boxwood
stringing, the cushion frieze drawer
above a fall revealing pigeonholes, small
drawers and a cupboard, the stand with
three drawers and an arched apron, on
cabriole legs, restored.

A George I red walnut Chair, circa, the parchment scroll cresting rail above a solid vase-shaped splat and slip-in needlework seat, on cabriole legs and pad feet.

A William and Mary-style walnut and floral marquetry Side Table, made-up, the rectangular top above one long frieze drawer, on knopped turned legs joined by waved ‘X’-shaped stretchers.

A George II Colonial walnut
Bureau, circa, the fall with later
chevron stringing and revealing a later
fitted interior with a well, below are two
short and two long drawers, on later
shaped bracket feet, altered and restored.

A William and Mary walnut and
crossbanded Chest, circa, with two
short and three long graduated drawers,
the sides in pine, on later shaped bracket
feet, faults. high by.

A William and Mary walnut and
cane Armchair, circa, the moulded
and shaped back above a dished seat and
splayed legs, on scroll feet, with
impressed initials TB.

A George I walnut and
featherbanded Bureau Bookcase
the associated upper section with a
moulded cornice above a pair of astragal
doors enclosing shelves and with a pair
of candle slides below, the fall revealing
stationery compartments, below are two
short and three long graduated drawers,
on later bracket feet, restored.

GEORGIAN AND REGENCY FURNITURE
A Regency mahogany pedestal
Table, circa, the rectangular tilt-top
with ebonised stringing, the square pillar
with reeded mouldings and quatreform
platform, the sabre legs ending in ornate
brass cappings and castors, restored,

A Regency mahogany pedestal
Table, circa, the rectangular tilt-top
with a ring turned baluster pillar, the
quadruple splayed legs ending in brass
cappings and castors.

A set of six George IV rosewood
rail-back Chairs, circa, with scroll
mid-bars and Trafalgar seats covered in
striped brocade, on turned and reeded
tapering legs, faults.

A set of four Regency mahogany
rail-back Chairs, circa, with
rope-twist mid-bars, the stuffed seats
covered in pink striped velvet, on ring
turned legs, restored.

A William IV rosewood drop-leaf Work Table, circa, with two real and two opposing dummy drawers, the columnar pillar above a quatreform base, on scroll feet and ceramic castors.

A Regency large mahogany pedestal Table, circa, the
rectangular tilt-top above a bold baluster
turned pillar, the quadruple moulded
sabre legs with disc medallions, on brass
cappings and castors.

A George III mahogany Table,
circa, the later top with a rear
gallery, the tapered square legs
surmounted by oval medallions and with
pierced fret angle brackets, with
stretchers and spade feet. wide;

MAHOGANY EXTENDING DINING TABLE, EBONISED AND GILT METAL MOUNTED TORCHERE, MAHOGANY RAIL BACK ROCKING CHAIR, WALNUT AND GLAZED MUSIC CABINET

AN EBONISED AND GILT METAL MOUNTED TORCHERE, late
19th Century, of tapering rectangular form, the green marble top above three turquoise glazed plaques, on bracket feet, 44cm. wide.

A MAHOGANY EXTENDING DINING TABLE, Victorian, with three leaves and receded turned legs, including a winding key, 236cm. long fully extended by 120cm. wide.

AN EBONISED AND PARCEL GILT CHAIR, Regency style, with a cane seat and splayed legs; together with AN EBONISED AND PARCEL GILT OCCASIONAL TABLE, early 19th Century, with a later top decorated with a trophy and a key pattern border, 46cm. wide.

A BUTTON UPHOLSTERED WING ARMCHAIR, covered in pink velvet, on mahogany tapered square legs

A MARQUETRY WALL MIRROR, 18th Century style, with a fretwork cresting and apron, 143cm. high by 80cm. wide.

A MAHOGANY AND PARCEL GILT MIRROR BACK SIDE CABINET, Victorian, with an arrangement of open shelves, a drawer and a cupboard door, faults, 207cm. high by 140cm. wide.

A SET OF THREE MAHOGANY DINING CHAIRS, George III, with stick splats and drop-in seats, on tapered square legs joined by stretchers.

A PAINTED AND PARCEL-GILT WALL MIRROR, Spanish, part 18th Century, with a foliate
scroll-carved surround, 115cm. high by 83cm.
wide.

A WALNUT OCCASIONAL CHAIR, Victorian, with an upholstered back and seat, on arched supports.

A MAHOGANY CARD TABLE, 19th Century, probably French, with a serpentine top and cabriole legs, 89cm. wide.

A MAHOGANY TILT TOP TRIPOD TABLE, George III, with a turned stem and cabriole supports, 58cm. diameter; together with A SMALLER TRIPOD TABLE, George III, 39cm. diameter .

AN EBONISED GRAND PIANO BY C. BECHSTEIN, German, late 19th Century, raised on octagonal tapering supports with castors, 200cm. long.

A MAHOGANY OVAL PEMBROKE
TABLE, George III, with a drawer, on
tapered square legs, 98cm. wide.

A ROSEWOOD AND INLAID DUET
PIANO STOOL, late Victorian, with a
hinged seat and turned legs, 98cm. wide.

A MAHOGANY RAIL BACK ROCKING CHAIR, Regency, with a slip-in seat and partial reeded frame.

AN EBONISED RECTANGULAR CARD TABLE, Victorian, on turned legs and castors, 90cm. wide.

A CARVED PADOUKWOOD SIDE
CABINET, Burmese, 19th Century, with
raised back, 86cm. wide.

A CARVED PINE PEDESTAL
TABLE, Italian, with a circular plate glass
top and urn-shaped pillar, 137cm.

A GILT AND CANE CANAPE, Louis XVI style, the slightly kidney-shaped seat with a cushion, 110cm. wide.
A BEECHWOOD STOOL, Louis XV style, with ivory fabric seat and cabriole legs, 97cm. wide.

A WALNUT AND GLAZED MUSIC CABINET, late Victorian, with fall front compartments, 46cm. wide.

A SABICU PEDESTAL
CARD TABLE, William IV, on a quarter form
base and scroll feet, moldings and veneer
partially lacking, 92cm. wide.

MAHOGANY SIDE CHAIR,  MAHOGANY CHEST-ON-CHEST, EBONISED OCCASIONAL TABLE, GILTWOOD WALL MIRROR,  MAHOGANY DROP-LEAF DINING TABLE

A PAIR OF MOTHER-OF-PEARL INLAID HUANG HUALI ARMCHAIRS, Chinese, late 19th/early 20th Century, with pierced urn backs, solid seats and on square legs.

THE FOLLOWING FOUR LOTS ARE BEING SOLD ON BEHALF OF THE EXECUTORS OF THE ESTATE OF THE LATE MLSS SLLVIA BURRELL, ONLY CHILD OF THE LATE SLR WILLIAM BURRELL:

A MAHOGANY SIDE CHAIR, George III, racially carved and with a strap work splat, drop-in seat and on square legs; AN ELM SIDE CHAIR, George III, with a Gothic splat and square legs; and TWO SIMILAR SIDE CHAIRS, George III, with rail backs, padded seats and on square legs.

A MAHOGANY STOOL, George III, rectangular, with a drop-in seat and on molded square legs, 53cm. wide.

AN OAK DROP-LEAF TABLE, George II, the oval top raised on turned legs with pad feet, one foot damaged, 97cm. wide.

A PLUM MOTTLED MAHOGANY
TEA TABLE, George III, rectangular, on
chamfered square legs, 79cm. wide.

A BLACK LACQUER CABINET-ON-
COMBINED STAND, Dutch Colonial, 18th.
Century, the pair of doors above a drawer
and square legs with collars, 85cm. wide.

A MAHOGANY COMMODE, Directories style, 20th Century, of D-shape with a marble top above a marble-inset slide, the two drawers flanked by a pair of doors, on tapered square legs, 130cm wide.

A MAHOGANY CHEST-ON-CHEST, George III, the dentil led cornice above two short and six long graduated drawers, on bracket feet, the upper part with inlaid canted corners, some faults, 187cm. high by 112cm. wide.

A MAHOGANY CHEST-ON-CHEST, George III, the molded cornice above two short and six long graduated drawers, on bracket feet, 188cm. high by 110cm. wide.
A MAHOGANY FRETWORK
OVERMANTEL MIRROR, George II style,
with a gilt eagle cresting above the plate,
flanked by foliate-cut asymmetrical borders
and scrolling brackets, some faults, 106cm. wide.

AN OAK DRESSER BASE, late 17th
Century, with alterations and later carving,
the three paneled frieze drawers with guilloche and lunette carving, on turned and square legs, 82cm. high by 151cm. wide.

A CARVED WALNUT ARMCHAIR,
Continental, late 19th Century, the
grotesque mask cresting above a pierced tub-shaped back centered by a roundel with a griffin holding an open book bearing a motto, the upholstered sprung seat on splayed legs and claw and ball feet.

AN EBONISED OCCASIONAL
TABLE, Louis XVI style, the top inset with a
marble panel above a ribbon frieze, on fluted
legs, 60cm. wide.

A SMALL MAHOGANY
SECRETAIRE BOOKCASE, George III
style, made-up, the molded cornice above a
pair of geometric astragal doors enclosing
shelves, the fitted writing drawer above a pair
of panel doors, on splayed bracket feet.
203cm. high by 71cm. wide.

A MAHOGANY RECTANGULAR
DROP-LEAF DINING TABLE, George III,
on square legs, 154cm. wide.

A GOLD PAINTED OVERMANTEL
MIRROR, William IV, the upright beveled
rectangular plate flanked by columns, below
is an anthemion and quatrefoil frieze, 95cm.
high by 58cm. wide.

A GILTWOOD WALL MIRROR,
part 18th Century, the rectangular plate with
a shaped cresting and apron carved with
shells and foliage, 105cm.

A MAHOGANY DROP-LEAF DINING TABLE, George II, the hinged oval top raised on tapering legs and pad feet, 110cm.

A MAHOGANY ROLL-TOP DESK, the damaged tambour top enclosing drawers and pigeon-holes above a central drawer, raised on a pair of pedestals each containing three paneled drawers, 137cm. wide.

A GILTWOOD GIRANDOLE, George III style, the oval plate within a beaded frame beneath an urn cresting, with two foliate sconces, 114cm.

BUREAU BOOKCASES — walnut
A walnut bureau bookcase of finely figured walnut, with double-D mouldings and a dividing moulding around the bureau section — relic of earlier divisions (see Bureau). There is a bookrest moulding on the fall. The top has candle slides below the shaped mirrored doors, which are edged with cross-grained mouldings. 1700-1720
A burr elm bureau bookcase with attractive deeply cut mouldings to the top of the bookcase and round the sides (’returns’). The doors have bevelled Vauxhall glass doors and fine mouldings missing only a pair of engraved stars to make it the classic example. It has, of course, candle slides and beautifully matched veneers.
The classic profile of the good quality bureau bookcase of the period with great deep top mouldings and ‘returns’ to balance them. Finely shaped and bevelled glass. But the bottom has cock-beading and flat veneering instead of double-D moulding, and brackets instead of buns. This is almost certainly a marriage. For further evidence look at the difference between the wood on the side of the bureau and the bookcase. Finally, the inside fittings of the top have double-D mouldings. Priced accordingly. The top price if you
have a William and Mary bureau missing a top or vice versa.
A single-width (2ft. 3ins.) burr walnut example with cock-beaded drawers. The price drops principally because of the plain moulding. 1720-1740
A good walnut bureau bookcase with herringbone banding to the drawers. When looking at any bureau bookcase one has to decide whether the two parts started out life together. However, when the quality of the piece is such that the top half if well fitted with drawers and doors that clearly match those in the bottom half, both in veneers and patination as in this piece, the originality is obvious. Notice the insides of the doors are well veneered. Apart from the plain moulding it lacks only a door and curved drawers to
the inside to put it right at the top.
A good solid walnut bureau bookcase with fielded panel doors, good mouldings and unusual drawer arrangement, shown open and closed. Single heavily moulded pediment and fine interior fittings. The price is lower because it is in the solid rather than veneered and it has no glass, but in fact it is a better quality piece than many veneered ones, i.e. the top mouldings and good interior fittings especially in the bureau. 1730-1745

BUREAUX — early 18th century
Early eighteenth century bureaux are highly prized as examples of cabinet making at its best. As can be seen from the value points listed at the start of the Bureaux section, the inside fittings are important in determining value, as is size. They are extremely useful in the modern home for, when closed, they hide all the mess and exhibit the fine veneers on the fall at just the right angle to reflect the colour of the wood.
The value of any late seventeenth or early eighteenth century walnut veneered furniture tends to be greatly influenced by original brass handles and untouched patination and could lift the values above those quoted.
35 The bureau as we know it today but a very grand affair in mulberry wood. The stepped interior and all drawers are shaped and there is a well. The mulberry is very striking and brass inlay heightens the effect.
These pieces are nearly all ascribed to Coxed and Woster who are known to have made them. A ‘C & W’ label would help the price. c.1740
This Queen Anne walnut bureau would originally have had bun feet. It has a first rate interior with most likely the original brass buttons on the drawers. The double half-round moulding between the drawers and the herring-bone veneer on the drawer fronts are an indication of the late William and Mary and Queen Anne period, e.g. before 1720. The dark strip on the side shows this bureau once had a moulding around the carcase where the bureau part finished and the drawer began. A relic of the days when the bureau part just stood on the three drawer base. The signs of other handles can just be seen on the drawer fronts. This one is just wide. The price might be 1,000. c. 1700
The next development of walnut bureaux, showing ovolo lip moulding around the drawer edges and flat veneered carcase fronts. The interior now has fluted pillars — a touch of pre-William Kent — but is still stepped.
The feet and the lower mouldings look original, as do most of the brass handles and the lock on the fall. A very nice bureau. About 2ft. 6ins. but high price only if of good quality.
c.1730    Price because of size is $5,000 — $6,500
Items in solid walnut like this very fine bureau used to be considered one down to veneered pieces but the increasing respect for good colour, patina and original handles is fast rectifying this position. Besides, so much ‘wrong’ veneered walnut exists and central heating without humidifiers plays havoc with veneers, that many collectors are showing interest in non-veneered pieces, especially when they are as good as this one. c.1730
A small oak bureau on buns with the desirable feature of being under 3ft. wide. A stepped interior is also good to see as is the concave section of its drawer fronts. A simple half-round moulding on the carcase face of the chest is the only decoration. This is a good honest piece with a well and attractive interior. The drop handles are replacements as one can see the two round circles where swan neck handles were fitted.
The bureaux set out in the last section are all good standard bureaux of some quality; most of them superb. However not every bureau you will meet is beautiful, or even honest, while some that will at first sight strike
the newcomer to antiques as merely homely have a hidden quality that gradually becomes more appreciated —here is a selection. See also the Victorian ‘carve up’ section.
Until about 1965 oak bureaux were relatively cheap while the walnut version was expensive — a differential which some found worthwhile to exploit. This bureau is veneered in fruitwood oysters, though clams might be a better description. The ‘improver’ has missed the point that oysters should be arranged in some sort of artistic pattern, not laid like floor tiles. c.1710
This bureau has a well, and there are places for holes at the corners where the bun feet used to fit. Furthermore it has the clumsily solid look of a bureau pre-1700, and the drawer fronts show the marks where the original drop handles were fitted. Admitted it has Regency looking mouldings applied but then a lot of furniture has been through the mill over the years. The problem is that it is made in Honduras mahogany. In other words made in a style of c.1690 with a wood which wasn’t available until about 1740. The buyer who should have had more sense got rid of it fast at no profit. It was early American; motto — think. c. 1740
(below left) This is a totally honest walnut bureau but it is included here because of the very uninteresting grain used. Quite rightly the veneers on the drawers are from consecutive cuts of the log but the effect brings no joy. The colour also looks flat, and `cleaned off’ walnut (or for that matter any surface that purports to be 250 years old) should have a number of subtle shades, not look as though it was french polished yesterday.
If this is the case the price will be affected. c.1720
Although restraint was the keynote of much early work, flamboyant pieces are not uncommon. However, in the coarsest there is a degree of restraint, particularly on the sides, which are simply veneered. Here there is
oyster panelling and crossbanding but confined to the bottom half of the side. The excessive use of light coloured wood is also not common. A buyer should give such a piece very careful inspection. c. 1730
Made in solid walnut and cross-banded on the outside drawers with a contrasting fruitwood, this simple country made bureau has a stepped interior, a well and decorative frets to the tops of the pigeon-holes. At the bottom there are original bracket feet and a good wide moulding. Thus it has many of the characteristics of earlier pieces.
A very similar bureau though of less quality. The colour is quite good but the lack of stepped interior and bottom moulding tell against it, as does the slightly ungainly height. It has lip moulding to the drawers.
Finally a very modest little country oak bureau with a well and big deep drawers. The handles may be original and, together with the double-D moulding would suggest a date of 1720 but as the interior is so simple one normally adds a few years for the fact that town fashions took time to reach the country.