Oak and Mahogany Bureaux and Bureaux Cabinets
DESKS: OAK AND MAHOGANY BUREAUX AND BUREAUX CABINETS
About 1740 onwards
Now made in one piece, with or without an additional upper cabinet or bookcase. A piece of furniture which changed very little over the following 150 years and which has been widely reproduced for a further century.
OAK BUREAUX
Oak bureaux were made in large numbers by provincial and country makers throughout the 18th and well into the 19thC. Unlike much other oak country furniture, many of these are of
considerable quality and sophisticated design and construction, and as such, command high prices.
Base: Rectangular (oak) lopers at top with
Mahogany bureau bookcase, about 1770.
single or pair of drawer(s) between, above two or three long drawers of graduated depth. Sometimes three deep drawers only after 1800. Mostly cock-beaded edges. Sometimes mahogany cross-banding on oak. From about 1780 drawers occasionally replaced by two-door cupboard (but only when cabinet above). Bracket feet with straight apron; ogee brackets fashionable between 1730 and 1775. Occasionally swept feet after 1780.
Desk: Flap mostly cock-beaded around edge (matching drawers below); sometimes ovolo lip moulding on solid mahogany after 1780.
Interior fittings: Symmetrically arranged and set back from front edge. Less frequently stepped; straight-fronted drawers increasingly common. Almost invariably central cupboard flanked by pilasters; usually secret compartment behind.
Upper cabinets: Majority glazed by 1750 with interior shelves for display of books, china etc. Decorative patterns of glazing bars,
Below, alternative designs for glazing bars.
Country-made oak bureau with mahogany cross-banding on drawers, 1760-1770.
Hepplewhite mahogany bureau, about 1780-1800.
astragals etc. (see BOOKCASES, p. 37). Otherwise wood-panelled (also with shelves rather than fitments inside) often of shaped outline.
Cornice can be:
1725-1800 broken architectural pediment with central vase or bust.
1760-1810 swan-neck pediment, pierced or solid, also central vase or bust.
1780-1810 straight, with dentil or other moulding.
1800-1830 straight with central and side antefixae or carved and scrolled, frequently with central anthemion.
All can have decorative frieze carved with prevailing fashionable design. Chinese and Gothic motifs fashionable to about 1780; thereafter, fluting interspersed with paterae was most common.
Tendency for whole piece to become wider and taller around 1760, but smaller again towards 1800.
REPRODUCTIONS
18thC bureaux a popular subject for Victorian and Edwardian reproductions (and pastiches), particularly after 1870. Some reasonably authentic, many definitely not. Even those of standard form often given away by inappropriate feet or vulgarly matched veneers. Most popular today are those in Edwardian ‘Sheraton’ style with bold satinwood cross-banding and single inlaid shell in centre of fall.
Out of the mainstream of design, but surprisingly numerous today, are rather tall, angular oak bureaux, with a number of open shelves and small cupboards flanking the desk section, which were made in progressive style from 1900.
Hepplewhite mahogany bureau, about 1780-1800.
astragals etc. (see BOOKCASES, p. 37). Otherwise wood-panelled (also with shelves rather than fitments inside) often of shaped outline.
Cornice can be:
1725-1800 broken architectural pediment with central vase or bust.
1760-1810 swan-neck pediment, pierced or solid, also central vase or bust.
1780-1810 straight, with dentil or other moulding.
1800-1830 straight with central and side antefixae or carved and scrolled, frequently with central anthemion.
All can have decorative frieze carved with prevailing fashionable design. Chinese and Gothic motifs fashionable to about 1780; thereafter, fluting interspersed with paterae was most common.
Tendency for whole piece to become wider and taller around 1760, but smaller again towards 1800.
REPRODUCTIONS
18thC bureaux a popular subject for Victorian and Edwardian reproductions (and pastiches), particularly after 1870. Some reasonably authentic, many definitely not. Even those of standard form often given away by inappropriate feet or vulgarly matched veneers. Most popular today are those in Edwardian ‘Sheraton’ style with bold satinwood cross-banding and single inlaid shell in centre of fall.
Out of the mainstream of design, but surprisingly numerous today, are rather tall, angular oak bureaux, with a number of open shelves and small cupboards flanking the desk section, which were made in progressive style from 1900.
Various pediments: A broken, about 1730-1830; B swan-neck, 1760-1810; Cplain dentil, 1725-1800; D moulded dentil,- E Regency scroll, 1800-1830.
Majority in mahogany (either solid or veneered); closely followed by oak. Sometimes elm (or combination of oak and elm), ash and other indigenous woods.
Pine (with oak for drawer linings) for carcases and backboards, also cheap Honduras mahogany around 1760. Pine or beech when japanned.
Oak or mahogany for interior fittings. Sometimes with inlay of box, holly, bone; later harewood, kingwood, satinwood too. Satinwood facings to mahogany drawers common in late 18thC.
Hidden or lapped dovetails.
Flaps clamped to prevent warping.
Upper cabinets held in place with screws fixed through bottom shelf.
Sometimes figured veneers used for front (i.e. most visible) parts with straight-grained veneer on sides.
Marriages even more common than previously; check carefully (see p. 89).
Principally figuring of veneers. Some restrained carving on upper cabinets. Simple mahogany cross-banding on some oak pieces. Some inlay on drawers after 1780; mostly simple stringing lines, sometimes shells, fans and so on.
Japanning; mostly in black, but can be red or green with gilt and coloured chinoiserie patterns. Original examples of these are rare today; many are 20thC reproductions. Decoration alone usually gives these away, being more convincingly Oriental and covering a greater surface area than before, with plenty of gilding, especially in the borders. Flat, engraved hinges, escutcheons and handle back-plates identical if modern, irregular if old.
Note: a small amount of English-made furniture was shipped to China in the 18thC to be decorated by Chinese craftsmen, a procedure which can lead to confusion over origin.
Examples are however extremely rare and unlikely to be encountered outside the top salerooms. Lacquer is a specialist subject; it’s always best to seek expert advice if considering a purchase.
Handles: Typical for day (for details see page 87). Mostly swan-neck and other bails. Interior fittings with small bone, ivory or brass knobs.
All drawers and flap fitted with locks and escutcheons. Latter nearly always surface-mounted on flap, skeleton on drawers after 1750. Inlaid diamond (often bone or ivory) became common around flap keyhole after about 1780.
Oak: stain (applied with oil).
Mahogany: stain or varnish.
Both followed by wax polish. French polish almost universal after 1820. Many earlier pieces re-polished in this way at later date.
VALUES
Plenty of choice so price very variable. Small size (less than 2.5 feet/75 cm) will add to value considerably, as will a fine interior and attractively glazed and pedimented cabinet.
Usually, good country-made oak bureaux are generally worth more than reasonable quality 19thC mahogany examples.
Prices for virtually all standard bureaux (excluding pastiches) are in four figures, and frequently in five.
Edwardian ‘Sheraton’ bureau bookcase.
Oak bureau in Liberty’s Arts and Crafts style.
lot 2 wall bronze and
buffet drawers clock um 1920
chimney old lace antique linen
basin a shower tub manufrance
old lace tablecloth great to restore 2
superb old child pillow embroidered 3
table silk woven
dress embroidery old english buttons
oak boarded chest oak coffret frame wall mirror william and mary walnut stool queen anne walnut mirror george ii mahogany and parcel gilt mirror
Tags: BOOKCASES, bureaux, cupboard, design and construction, Desk, hepplewhite, honduras mahogany, mahogany, oak, REPRODUCTIONS