What is a Georgian kneehole desk?

Originating in the early 18th century, a kneehole desk is a compact writing cabinet featuring a central recessed cupboard flanked by pedestals of drawers.

What materials were traditionally used to construct 18th-century walnut desks?

Early 18th-century pieces were typically crafted using solid oak or pine carcases veneered with highly figured walnut, often featuring featherbanding, crossbanding, and cast brass drop handles.

How can authentic 18th-century walnut furniture be identified?

Authentic period pieces feature hand-cut dovetail joints, oak or pine drawer linings, original brass escutcheons displaying natural oxidisation, and hand-carved bracket feet.

How can an antique kneehole desk be styled in a modern interior?

These compact desks function effectively as writing tables in a home office, hallway console tables, or vanity units in a bedroom setting.

How should 18th-century walnut veneer furniture be preserved?

Keep timber furniture away from direct heat sources and excessive sunlight to prevent drying or fading, and apply high-quality beeswax regularly to nourish the finish.

for sale €9,126 $9,906

£7,800

S and S Timms Antiques Ltd

Sellingantiques Verified Since Sep 2007

View Dealers Stock Page

Trade Associations

S and S Timms Antiques Ltd is a registered member of LAPADA BADA CINOA

Id #SA1173430

PDF

SAVE

Exceptional Georgian 18th Century Walnut Kneehole Desk

Name: Exceptional Georgian 18th Century Walnut Kneehole Desk
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1173430
Price: 7800 GBP
Availability: InStock

18th century

For Sale by S and S Timms Antiques Ltd

Description

A Wonderful 18th Century George I Period Burr Walnut Kneehole Desk, The Extremely Well Figured Quarter Veneered Top Wth Crossbanded Decoration And Re-Entrant Corners, Over One Long Drawer and Six Short Drawers With Feather Banded Decoration And Brass Handles, Surrounding Extremely Rare Central Sliding Kneehole Cupboard Door, Flanked By Elegant Reeded Pilaster Columns, Enclosing Shaped Shelf To Storage Space, Raised On Original Shaped Bracket Feet.

Kneehole desks are generally regarded as a smaller, more compact version of the more typically found pedestal desk, with some form of an arrangement of drawers around a central set recessed cupboard being usual form. There are of course various different designs to be found along the same theme, but as a general rule that is what a georgian or earlier kneehole desk will look like.

This particular georgian kneehole desk has the extremely rare feature of the lovely kneehole cupboard actually sliding backwards and forwards, which presumably was designed to allow easy access to the cupboard as and when required, whilst allowing the cupboard to be pushed out of the way when the desk is being sat at. Its a fabulous original feature and something we really love about the piece.

Although originally designed for the use which the name suggests, as a desk in a spot around the home where perhaps space doesn’t suffice for a full size, formal desk, this could of course be utilised in a whole host of different ways now including perhaps in a bedroom, or dressing room, as a dressing table with a dressing table mirror placed atop of it. The recessed cupboard combined with the amount of storage available makes it absolutely perfect for this use.

Generally with kneehole desks, the earlier in date the better and those constructed from walnut are firmly regarded as much more desirable than those constructed from mahogany due to the far more decorative tendancies of walnut veneers.

This particular walnut desk has clearly been made in one of the top workshops of the time. It boasts very attractive and highly figured walnut veneers, which have aged most gracefully indeed and retain a lovely warm colour and patination. The drawers have replacement brass handles, but they are very much in the style it would have had in place originally and sit really well on the piece. It also has original bracket feet which is a nice feature.

As with all items we offer for sale this georgian walnut kneehole desk has been inspected and attended to in our workshops, by our highly skilled antique furniture restorers, where it has received a traditional, natural wax polish to ensure the condition is absolutely spot on before being offered for sale.

Ready to place immediately into the home there is such a huge variety of functions and spots in which this could be utilised.

Circa 1720.

Height 31in.

Width 31.5in.

Depth 20in.

Declaration

S and S Timms Antiques Ltd has dated this Georgian Walnut Kneehole Desk to the 18th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1173430

Dealers Internal Reference

9674

Dealers Notes

A Careful Selection Of High Quality Town And Country Furniture For The Home From The 17th, 18th, 19th And Early 20th Centuries.

Members Of BADA, LAPADA & CINOA.

UK Delivery Available At Reasonable Rates.

Worldwide Shipping Arranged.

Description

Kneehole desks are generally regarded as a smaller, more compact version of the more typically found pedestal desk, with some form of an arrangement of drawers around a central set recessed cupboard being usual form.

“

There are of course various different designs to be found along the same theme, but as a general rule that is what a georgian or earlier kneehole desk will look like.

S and S Timms Antiques Ltd

fig 1. An 18th-century Georgian walnut kneehole desk featuring figured veneer drawer fronts, brass drop handles, and bracket feet. — fig 1. Exceptional Georgian 18th Century Walnut Kneehole Desk

This particular georgian kneehole desk has the extremely rare feature of the lovely kneehole cupboard actually sliding backwards and forwards, which presumably was designed to allow easy access to the cupboard as and when required, whilst allowing the cupboard to be pushed out of the way when the desk is being sat at. Its a fabulous original feature and something we really love about the piece.

fig 2. An 18th-century Georgian walnut kneehole desk featuring figured veneer drawer fronts, brass drop handles, and bracket feet. — fig 2. Exceptional Georgian 18th Century Walnut Kneehole Desk

Although originally designed for the use which the name suggests, as a desk in a spot around the home where perhaps space doesn’t suffice for a full size, formal desk, this could of course be utilised in a whole host of different ways now including perhaps in a bedroom, or dressing room, as a dressing table with a dressing table mirror placed atop of it. The recessed cupboard combined with the amount of storage available makes it absolutely perfect for this use.

fig 3. An 18th-century Georgian walnut kneehole desk featuring figured veneer drawer fronts, brass drop handles, and bracket feet. — fig 3. Exceptional Georgian 18th Century Walnut Kneehole Desk

Generally with kneehole desks, the earlier in date the better and those constructed from walnut are firmly regarded as much more desirable than those constructed from mahogany due to the far more decorative tendancies of walnut veneers.

fig 4. An 18th-century Georgian walnut kneehole desk featuring figured veneer drawer fronts, brass drop handles, and bracket feet. — fig 4. Exceptional Georgian 18th Century Walnut Kneehole Desk

This particular walnut desk has clearly been made in one of the top workshops of the time. It boasts very attractive and highly figured walnut veneers, which have aged most gracefully indeed and retain a lovely warm colour and patination. The drawers have replacement brass handles, but they are very much in the style it would have had in place originally and sit really well on the piece. It also has original bracket feet which is a nice feature.

fig 5. An 18th-century Georgian walnut kneehole desk featuring figured veneer drawer fronts, brass drop handles, and bracket feet. — fig 5. Exceptional Georgian 18th Century Walnut Kneehole Desk

As with all items we offer for sale this georgian walnut kneehole desk has been inspected and attended to in our workshops, by our highly skilled antique furniture restorers, where it has received a traditional, natural wax polish to ensure the condition is absolutely spot on before being offered for sale.

Ready to place immediately into the home there is such a huge variety of functions and spots in which this could be utilised.

Circa 1720.

Height 31in.

Width 31.5in.

Depth 20in.

Date of Manufacture

S and S Timms Antiques Ltd has dated this Georgian Walnut Kneehole Desk to the 18th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Ref

SA1173430

Dealers Internal Ref

9674