What is a Davenport desk?

A Davenport desk is a compact writing desk featuring a sloped writing surface over a drawer chest structure, originally commissioned by Captain Davenport in the late eighteenth century.

What materials were used to craft Victorian Davenport desks?

Victorian Davenport desks were commonly constructed from decorative hardwoods such as burr walnut, mahogany, and rosewood, often accented with boxwood marquetry and inset leather writing surfaces.

How can you identify an authentic Victorian Davenport desk?

Authentic nineteenth-century Davenport desks typically feature hand-cut dovetail drawer joints, brass castors, concealed side drawers, authentic locks, and natural timber grain variations.

How do you style an antique Davenport desk in modern interiors?

An antique Davenport desk functions as a compact workspace in a home library, study, or hallway, pairing well with contemporary lighting and traditional timber furnishings.

How should a burr walnut desk be preserved?

Maintain burr walnut surfaces by applying high-grade beeswax polish, avoiding direct sunlight or high humidity, and treating the leather skiver with specialist leather conditioner.

for sale €2,252 $2,445

£1,925

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Id #SA1138210

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Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlaid Davenport Desk 19th C

Name: Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlaid Davenport Desk 19th C
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1138210
Price: 1925 GBP
Availability: InStock

19th century

For Sale by Regent Antiques

Description

This is a gorgeous antique Davenport desk which is crafted from beautiful burr walnut, circa 1870 in date.

The desk has a rear stationery compartment which encloses a divided interior with various divisions for ink, pens, paper and envelopes. It is boxwood and ebony strung with marquetry decoration, and is raised on bun feet.

The hinged writing fall has a green and gilt tooled leather writing surface enclosing a satin walnut interior with two small drawers.

The front is supported by a pair of carved solid walnut columns and the Davenport stands on it's original brass and porcelain castors.

There are four useful drawers on one side and dummy drawers on the other, making it not just a symbol of refinement but a practical furnishing as well.

It has been wonderfully made by a master craftsman, the quality of the work is breathtaking, the burr walnut is of the highest quality and it is finished on all sides so that it can stand freely in the middle of a room, making it extremely versatile.

Complete with working locks and keys.

Condition:

In really excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 86 cm x Width 55 cm x Depth 52 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 10 inches x Width 1 foot, 10 inches x Depth 1 foot, 8 inches

Davenport Desk - (sometimes originally known as a Devonport desk) is a small desk with an inclined lifting desktop attached with hinges to the back of the body.

Lifting the desktop accesses a large compartment with storage space for paper and other writing implements, and smaller spaces in the forms of small drawers and pigeonholes. The Davenport has drawers on one of its sides, which are sometimes concealed by a panel. This stack of side drawers holds up the back of the desk and most of its weight. The front of the desk stands on thick legs or pillars which are often highly carved, somewhat exaggerated, thick cabriole legs, but these are not essential. 19th century Davenport desks had a variety of different leg designs.

The desk shape is distinctive; its top part resembles an antique school desk while the bottom is like one half of the supports of a pedestal desk turned sideways. The addition of the two legs in front completes the odd effect.

This desk owes its name to a Captain Davenport who was the first to commission the design, from Gillow's of Lancaster, near the end of the 18th century. In a sense then it could also be considered a Campaign desk though there are no records indicating if Captain Davenport was in the British Army or the Royal Navy.

This desk form was popular during the 19th century. There have been numerous reproductions during the 20th century, and amateur cabinetmakers sometimes consider a Davenport to be an interesting project.

Burr Walnut refers to the swirling figure present in nearly all walnut when cut and polished, and especially in the wood taken from the base of the tree where it joins the roots. However the true burr is a rare growth on the tree where hundreds of tiny branches have started to grow. Burr walnut produces some of the most complex and beautiful figuring you can find.

Our reference: A4249

Physical Dimensions

Height

86cm (33.86")

Width

55cm (21.65")

Depth

52cm (20.47")

Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated this Burr Walnut Davenport Desk to the 1870s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1138210

Dealers Internal Reference

A4249

Description

This is a gorgeous antique Davenport desk which is crafted from beautiful burr walnut, circa 1870 in date.

“

The desk has a rear stationery compartment which encloses a divided interior with various divisions for ink, pens, paper and envelopes.

Regent Antiques

It is boxwood and ebony strung with marquetry decoration, and is raised on bun feet.

fig 1. A nineteenth-century Victorian burr walnut Davenport desk featuring a slanted green leather writing surface, floral marquetry inlay, side drawers, and turned feet on castors. — fig 1. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlaid Davenport Desk 19th C

The hinged writing fall has a green and gilt tooled leather writing surface enclosing a satin walnut interior with two small drawers.

The front is supported by a pair of carved solid walnut columns and the Davenport stands on it's original brass and porcelain castors.

fig 2. A nineteenth-century Victorian burr walnut Davenport desk featuring a slanted green leather writing surface, floral marquetry inlay, side drawers, and turned feet on castors. — fig 2. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlaid Davenport Desk 19th C

There are four useful drawers on one side and dummy drawers on the other, making it not just a symbol of refinement but a practical furnishing as well.

It has been wonderfully made by a master craftsman, the quality of the work is breathtaking, the burr walnut is of the highest quality and it is finished on all sides so that it can stand freely in the middle of a room, making it extremely versatile.

fig 3. A nineteenth-century Victorian burr walnut Davenport desk featuring a slanted green leather writing surface, floral marquetry inlay, side drawers, and turned feet on castors. — fig 3. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlaid Davenport Desk 19th C

Complete with working locks and keys.

Condition:

In really excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 86 cm x Width 55 cm x Depth 52 cm

fig 4. A nineteenth-century Victorian burr walnut Davenport desk featuring a slanted green leather writing surface, floral marquetry inlay, side drawers, and turned feet on castors. — fig 4. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlaid Davenport Desk 19th C

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 10 inches x Width 1 foot, 10 inches x Depth 1 foot, 8 inches

Davenport Desk - (sometimes originally known as a Devonport desk) is a small desk with an inclined lifting desktop attached with hinges to the back of the body.

fig 5. A nineteenth-century Victorian burr walnut Davenport desk featuring a slanted green leather writing surface, floral marquetry inlay, side drawers, and turned feet on castors. — fig 5. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlaid Davenport Desk 19th C

Lifting the desktop accesses a large compartment with storage space for paper and other writing implements, and smaller spaces in the forms of small drawers and pigeonholes. The Davenport has drawers on one of its sides, which are sometimes concealed by a panel. This stack of side drawers holds up the back of the desk and most of its weight. The front of the desk stands on thick legs or pillars which are often highly carved, somewhat exaggerated, thick cabriole legs, but these are not essential. 19th century Davenport desks had a variety of different leg designs.

fig 6. A nineteenth-century Victorian burr walnut Davenport desk featuring a slanted green leather writing surface, floral marquetry inlay, side drawers, and turned feet on castors. — fig 6. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlaid Davenport Desk 19th C

The desk shape is distinctive; its top part resembles an antique school desk while the bottom is like one half of the supports of a pedestal desk turned sideways. The addition of the two legs in front completes the odd effect.

fig 7. A nineteenth-century Victorian burr walnut Davenport desk featuring a slanted green leather writing surface, floral marquetry inlay, side drawers, and turned feet on castors. — fig 7. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlaid Davenport Desk 19th C

This desk owes its name to a Captain Davenport who was the first to commission the design, from Gillow's of Lancaster, near the end of the 18th century. In a sense then it could also be considered a Campaign desk though there are no records indicating if Captain Davenport was in the British Army or the Royal Navy.

fig 8. A nineteenth-century Victorian burr walnut Davenport desk featuring a slanted green leather writing surface, floral marquetry inlay, side drawers, and turned feet on castors. — fig 8. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlaid Davenport Desk 19th C

This desk form was popular during the 19th century. There have been numerous reproductions during the 20th century, and amateur cabinetmakers sometimes consider a Davenport to be an interesting project.

fig 9. A nineteenth-century Victorian burr walnut Davenport desk featuring a slanted green leather writing surface, floral marquetry inlay, side drawers, and turned feet on castors. — fig 9. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlaid Davenport Desk 19th C

Burr Walnut refers to the swirling figure present in nearly all walnut when cut and polished, and especially in the wood taken from the base of the tree where it joins the roots. However the true burr is a rare growth on the tree where hundreds of tiny branches have started to grow. Burr walnut produces some of the most complex and beautiful figuring you can find.

Our reference: A4249