0
7,262  PAGES BROWSED TODAY PAGES TODAY • 0  ANTIQUES UPLOADED TODAY NEW ARRIVALS
Sorted by
Per page
DEALER LOGIN
Selling Antiques Logo
0
Saved
Home
Return
Dealer Login
500+ Shops
Dealers
Newly Added
0
Saved
Sort Order
Latest
Price Low
Price High
sellingantiques.co.uk
ID #SA1059278
FOR SALE
£2,650
Email Buy
Save
Antique Ship's Purser's Desk, English, Writing Table, Beidermeier, Victorian
London Fine Antiques
for sale €3,101     $3,366
£2,650
London Fine Antiques

London Fine Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2010
View Dealers Stock Page
  • About Us
    Fine antiques curated in england and sold worldwide
Relevant Links
Id #SA1059278
PDF SHARE
SAVE

Antique Ship's Purser's Desk, English, Writing Table, Beidermeier, Victorian

19th century
Description

This is an antique ship's purser's desk. An English, burr walnut Davenport writing table in the Beidermeier taste, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1880.

Exquisite craftsmanship with superb colour and figuring

Displays a desirable aged patina and in very good order

Burr walnut stocks present striking grain interest

Rich caramel hues dazzle beneath a wax polish finish

Low shaped back rest adorns the top, with a useful butler's grasp

Drawer to centre dressed with a pair of circular brass pulls and lock — key absent

Inset leather skiver residing within the drawer, in a tasteful dark red

Skiver lifts and adjusts for angle upon a rack of ratchet teeth, with storage below

Extending upon lopers, the drawer conceals a small pen drawer to one side

Turned pillar supports to the front, opposite a panelled rear fascia

Demi-lune plinth of deep proportion, with a generous kneehole

The whole standing upon a quartet of squat bun feet

This is a striking antique ship's purser's desk, with beautiful burr walnut figuring and wonderful colour. Pleasingly presented with a suite of useful functions and of attractive form. Solid joints and construction, delivered waxed, polished and ready for the home.

Dimensions:

Max Width: 59cm (23.25'')

Max Depth: 42cm (16.5'')

Max Height: 84.5cm (33.25'')

Kneehole Width: 44.5cm (17.5'')

Kneehole Depth: 23cm (9'')

Kneehole Height: 60.5cm (23.75'')

Skiver Width: 30.5cm (12'')

Skiver Depth: 24cm (9.5'')

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee with all of our antiques.

We ship worldwide with professional packing and attractive rates – please send us your post / zip code and country for a quote.

Free delivery to most of the U.K. – Please send us your post code for confirmation.

Deliveries taking on average ten working days to arrive at your door from receipt of payment.

Please contact us if you require any further information - we are here to help.

Our Ref: 24196

Physical Dimensions
Height
84.5cm (33.27")
Width
59cm (23.23")
Depth
42cm (16.54")
Declaration

London Fine Antiques has dated this Antique Burr Maple Writing Desk to the Victorian era.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1059278
Dealers Internal Reference
24196
Dealers Notes

What our clients have to say: https://www.londonfine.co.uk/pages/reviews

Description
This is an antique ship's purser's desk.
“
An English, burr walnut Davenport writing table in the Beidermeier taste, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1880.
London Fine Antiques

Exquisite craftsmanship with superb colour and figuring

fig 1. An antique burr maple writing desk featuring a scrolled back gallery, a pull-out drawer with a red leather inset skiver, turned column supports, and a shaped plinth base.
fig 1. Antique Ship's Purser's Desk, English, Writing Table, Beidermeier, Victorian

Displays a desirable aged patina and in very good order

Burr walnut stocks present striking grain interest

Rich caramel hues dazzle beneath a wax polish finish

Low shaped back rest adorns the top, with a useful butler's grasp

fig 2. An antique burr maple writing desk featuring a scrolled back gallery, a pull-out drawer with a red leather inset skiver, turned column supports, and a shaped plinth base.
fig 2. Antique Ship's Purser's Desk, English, Writing Table, Beidermeier, Victorian

Drawer to centre dressed with a pair of circular brass pulls and lock — key absent

Inset leather skiver residing within the drawer, in a tasteful dark red

Skiver lifts and adjusts for angle upon a rack of ratchet teeth, with storage below

fig 3. An antique burr maple writing desk featuring a scrolled back gallery, a pull-out drawer with a red leather inset skiver, turned column supports, and a shaped plinth base.
fig 3. Antique Ship's Purser's Desk, English, Writing Table, Beidermeier, Victorian

Extending upon lopers, the drawer conceals a small pen drawer to one side

Turned pillar supports to the front, opposite a panelled rear fascia

Demi-lune plinth of deep proportion, with a generous kneehole

fig 4. An antique burr maple writing desk featuring a scrolled back gallery, a pull-out drawer with a red leather inset skiver, turned column supports, and a shaped plinth base.
fig 4. Antique Ship's Purser's Desk, English, Writing Table, Beidermeier, Victorian

The whole standing upon a quartet of squat bun feet

This is a striking antique ship's purser's desk, with beautiful burr walnut figuring and wonderful colour. Pleasingly presented with a suite of useful functions and of attractive form. Solid joints and construction, delivered waxed, polished and ready for the home.

fig 5. An antique burr maple writing desk featuring a scrolled back gallery, a pull-out drawer with a red leather inset skiver, turned column supports, and a shaped plinth base.
fig 5. Antique Ship's Purser's Desk, English, Writing Table, Beidermeier, Victorian

Dimensions:

Max Width: 59cm (23.25'')

Max Depth: 42cm (16.5'')

Max Height: 84.5cm (33.25'')

Kneehole Width: 44.5cm (17.5'')

Kneehole Depth: 23cm (9'')

Kneehole Height: 60.5cm (23.75'')

Skiver Width: 30.5cm (12'')

fig 6. An antique burr maple writing desk featuring a scrolled back gallery, a pull-out drawer with a red leather inset skiver, turned column supports, and a shaped plinth base.
fig 6. Antique Ship's Purser's Desk, English, Writing Table, Beidermeier, Victorian

Skiver Depth: 24cm (9.5'')

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee with all of our antiques.

We ship worldwide with professional packing and attractive rates – please send us your post / zip code and country for a quote.

fig 7. An antique burr maple writing desk featuring a scrolled back gallery, a pull-out drawer with a red leather inset skiver, turned column supports, and a shaped plinth base.
fig 7. Antique Ship's Purser's Desk, English, Writing Table, Beidermeier, Victorian

Free delivery to most of the U.K. – Please send us your post code for confirmation.

Deliveries taking on average ten working days to arrive at your door from receipt of payment.

Please contact us if you require any further information - we are here to help.

Our Ref: 24196

Height
84.5cm (33.27")
Width
59cm (23.23")
Depth
42cm (16.54")
Date of Manufacture

London Fine Antiques has dated this Antique Burr Maple Writing Desk to the Victorian era.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1059278
Dealers Internal Ref
24196
London Fine Antiques
London Fine Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2010

Fine antiques curated in england and sold worldwide

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the London Fine Antiques Profile Page

Relevant Links
PDF SHARE
SAVE
An antique burr maple writing desk featuring a scrolled back gallery, a pull-out drawer with a red leather inset skiver, turned column supports, and a shaped plinth base.
1 / 12
Archive I An antique burr maple writing desk featuring a scrolled back gallery, a pull-out drawer with a red leather inset skiver, turned column supports, and a shaped plinth base.

Antique Ship's Purser's Desk, English, Writing Table, Beidermeier, Victorian

Archive II An antique burr maple writing desk featuring a scrolled back gallery, a pull-out drawer with a red leather inset skiver, turned column supports, and a shaped plinth base. View II
Archive III An antique burr maple writing desk featuring a scrolled back gallery, a pull-out drawer with a red leather inset skiver, turned column supports, and a shaped plinth base. View III
Archive IV An antique burr maple writing desk featuring a scrolled back gallery, a pull-out drawer with a red leather inset skiver, turned column supports, and a shaped plinth base. View IV
Archive V An antique burr maple writing desk featuring a scrolled back gallery, a pull-out drawer with a red leather inset skiver, turned column supports, and a shaped plinth base. View V
Archive VI An antique burr maple writing desk featuring a scrolled back gallery, a pull-out drawer with a red leather inset skiver, turned column supports, and a shaped plinth base. View VI
Archive VII An antique burr maple writing desk featuring a scrolled back gallery, a pull-out drawer with a red leather inset skiver, turned column supports, and a shaped plinth base. View VII
Archive VIII An antique burr maple writing desk featuring a scrolled back gallery, a pull-out drawer with a red leather inset skiver, turned column supports, and a shaped plinth base. View VIII
Archive IX An antique burr maple writing desk featuring a scrolled back gallery, a pull-out drawer with a red leather inset skiver, turned column supports, and a shaped plinth base. View IX
Archive X An antique burr maple writing desk featuring a scrolled back gallery, a pull-out drawer with a red leather inset skiver, turned column supports, and a shaped plinth base. View X
Archive XI An antique burr maple writing desk featuring a scrolled back gallery, a pull-out drawer with a red leather inset skiver, turned column supports, and a shaped plinth base. View XI
Archive XII An antique burr maple writing desk featuring a scrolled back gallery, a pull-out drawer with a red leather inset skiver, turned column supports, and a shaped plinth base. View XII
Enlarged Archival View
London Fine Antiques

London Fine Antiques
Telephone 0207 1833511
Location
The Antique Village
Hele
Exeter
Devon
EX5 4PW
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/londonfineantiques
Verified Since Oct 2010
Items For Sale 946
Items Sold 5,601
London Fine Antiques
London Fine Antiques
Verified Since Oct 2010
View Dealer Info
Location: The Antique Village, Hele, Exeter, Devon , EX5 4PW, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/londonfineantiques
Verified
Oct 2010
For Sale
946
Sold
5,601
An antique burr maple writing desk featuring a scrolled back gallery, a pull-out drawer with a red leather inset skiver, turned column supports, and a shaped plinth base.
Antique Ship's Purser's Desk, English, Writing Table, Beidermeier, Victorian
Ref: SA1059278
An antique burr maple writing desk featuring a scrolled back gallery, a pull-out drawer with a red leather inset skiver, turned column supports, and a shaped plinth base.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
Detail View 6
Detail View 7
Detail View 8
Detail View 9
Detail View 10
Detail View 11
Archival Detail

Strictly Vetted Dealers

Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.

Secure Transit

Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.

The Sustainable Choice

Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

FAQs

A purser desk is a compact writing table historically used aboard vessels or in administrative settings, designed with efficient storage, pull-out writing surfaces, and raised back galleries to secure items.

Victorian writing tables were predominantly constructed from hardwoods such as mahogany, rosewood, and birds eye or burr maple veneer, often featuring brass fittings and leather-inset writing surfaces.

Authentic 19th-century writing tables feature hand-cut dovetail drawer joints, original brass hardware, natural patination, and hand-applied veneers over solid timber carcasses.

Position a compact antique writing table in a hall alcove or living room corner to serve as a vanity, side table, or laptop workspace alongside modern task lighting.

Keep the piece away from direct sunlight and heat sources, condition the leather skiver periodically with dedicated leather balm, and clean the veneered wood surfaces with natural beeswax.
items
Add keywords to the filter
Price
£100
£250000
Era
Movements
Material
Origin
Stock Location
Freshness
Online Payments
Categories