Antique Bureau on Stands
DESKS: BUREAUX ON STANDS
About 1670-1760
A development of the medieval slope-top box which in the late 17thC was increasingly mounted on a stand, either fixed or as a separate entity. Its hinged flap slopes when closed, forming a flat writing-surface with a knee space below when open. The interior is fitted with small drawers and pigeon-holes for storing writing accessories, papers, and so on.
Largely superseded by the bureau proper (with the base as a chest of drawers) around 1690.
Oak, to about 1690: Separate box with fall supported on square lopers when opened, pulling out from frieze of table-like stand. Sometimes frieze drawer between lopers. Legs of stand turned, with turned or straight horizontal stretchers close to ground. Box slightly overhanging stand.
Early walnut, about 1680-1700: Usually as one piece, with one or two layers of drawers below. Sometimes a shaped apron. Square lopers, either with drawer between, or a blank, fronting ‘well’ accessible from inside by sliding back rear portion of flat interior surface. Sometimes there is an exterior book-rest moulding on fall. Supported on turned tapering legs, often with inverted cup knees; bun feet. Flat and scrolling X-stretchers with central turned finial.
Walnut, about 1700-1715: Usually separate stand with desk sitting within border moulding. Often shaped apron; cabriole legs with pad feet. A type much used as a basis for ‘Queen Anne’ reproductions after 1900, though these have deeper (and sometimes more numerous) drawers. Rare.
Mahogany, about 1725-1760: Separate desk and stand as above. cabriole legs with pad, later claw and ball, feet. Occasionally straight legs after- 1750. Lopers rectangular, of equal height to drawer(s) between. Rare.
All have plain flat top flush with sides, never-overlapping. Generally a piece of velvet or coarser cloth is glued to a portion of the writing-surface.
Oak, walnut, mahogany. Pine for carcases when veneered, with oak for drawer linings.
Mostly veneered on carcase with through-dovetails. Lapped dovetails after 1700 if solid timber employed; double-lapped at top to disguise join. Mortise-and-tenon joints on framing of stand. Mouldings glued. For drawer con-struction see CHESTS OF DRAWERS.
Decorative veneers and cross-banding on walnut. Occasionally seaweed or floral marquetry. Sometimes carving on frieze and legs of stand when mahogany.
Handles: Drop on oak; small brass knobs, later bails, on walnut. Bails on mahogany.
Decorative surface-mounted escutcheons are seen on all parts until about 1750, replaced on drawers only by skeleton escutcheons around 1750.
Sometimes stain on oak and mahogany; varnish on walnut (to fill grain); both followed by wax polish.
VALUES
No common objects; prices always high, at least in four figures, but reduced by about 60 per cent if stand is wrong. Marquetry, particularly seaweed, definitely a bonus.
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Tags: ball, bureaux, cabriole, chest of drawers, claw, decorative veneers, Desks, interior surface, mahogany, medieval, oak, pigeon holes, Queen Anne, rear portion, STANDS