What is the history of the Davenport desk style?

The Davenport desk originated in the late 18th century, named after a Captain Davenport who commissioned the compact design from Gillows of Lancaster for use aboard ships. The style gained widespread popularity during the Victorian era as a space-saving writing desk for private residences.

What materials were traditionally used to construct Victorian Davenport desks?

Victorian Davenport desks were typically constructed using solid hardwoods such as oak or mahogany as a secondary wood, veneered with highly figured timbers like burr walnut, rosewood, or birds-eye maple, often featuring boxwood marquetry and cast brass hardware.

How can you identify an authentic 19th-century Davenport desk?

Authentic 19th-century Davenport desks generally feature hand-dovetailed drawer joints, period-correct brass casters, hand-carved decorative supports, and natural age oxidation on the timber linings and drawer undersides.

How do you style a Davenport desk in a modern interior?

A Davenport desk functions well as a compact workspace in a home office, hallway, or living room nook. Pair it with contemporary lighting and minimalist accessories to highlight the intricate wood grain and vintage silhouette.

How should you care for and preserve a burr walnut Davenport desk?

Dust the surface regularly with a dry microfibre cloth and apply a high-quality beeswax polish once or twice a year to nourish the veneer. Keep the furniture away from direct sunlight, radiators, and high humidity to prevent timber warping or veneer lifting.

for sale €2,867 $3,112

£2,450

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Slope Front Writing Desk

Id #SA1176113

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Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlaid Davenport Desk C.1860 19t Century

19th century

For Sale by Regent Antiques

Description

This is a gorgeous antique Victorian Davenport desk, crafted from beautiful burr walnut with striking inlaid decoration and Circa 1860 in date.

The desk features a beautiful green leather inset writing surface that has been hand tooled and elegant turned columns to the front.

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

The Davenport has a door on one side that opens to reveal four drawers, perfectly sized for all the stationary you could possibly need, making it not just a symbol of refinement but a practical furnishing as well.

The compartment at the rear on top has exquisite fretwork on top and opens to reveal pigeonholes for letters, stamps, etc,

It stands on it's original brass and porcelain castors.

It is an absolutely beautiful and perfectly formed piece of furniture which could be placed almost everywhere.

Condition:

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

Dimensions in cm:

Height 98 cm x Width 60 cm x Depth 58 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 3 foot, 3 inches x Width 2 feet x Depth 1 foot, 11 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: A4721

Physical Dimensions

Height

98cm (38.58")

Width

60cm (23.62")

Depth

58cm (22.83")

Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated this Burr Walnut Davenport Desk to the 1860s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1176113

Dealers Internal Reference

A4721

Description

This is a gorgeous antique Victorian Davenport desk, crafted from beautiful burr walnut with striking inlaid decoration and Circa 1860 in date.

“

The desk features a beautiful green leather inset writing surface that has been hand tooled and elegant turned columns to the front.

Regent Antiques

fig 1. A Victorian burr walnut davenport desk featuring a sloped writing surface, carved front support columns, floral marquetry inlay, and a pierced top gallery. — fig 1. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlaid Davenport Desk C.1860 19t Century

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

fig 2. A Victorian burr walnut davenport desk featuring a sloped writing surface, carved front support columns, floral marquetry inlay, and a pierced top gallery. — fig 2. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlaid Davenport Desk C.1860 19t Century

The Davenport has a door on one side that opens to reveal four drawers, perfectly sized for all the stationary you could possibly need, making it not just a symbol of refinement but a practical furnishing as well.

fig 3. A Victorian burr walnut davenport desk featuring a sloped writing surface, carved front support columns, floral marquetry inlay, and a pierced top gallery. — fig 3. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlaid Davenport Desk C.1860 19t Century

The compartment at the rear on top has exquisite fretwork on top and opens to reveal pigeonholes for letters, stamps, etc,

It stands on it's original brass and porcelain castors.

It is an absolutely beautiful and perfectly formed piece of furniture which could be placed almost everywhere.

fig 4. A Victorian burr walnut davenport desk featuring a sloped writing surface, carved front support columns, floral marquetry inlay, and a pierced top gallery. — fig 4. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlaid Davenport Desk C.1860 19t Century

Condition:

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

Dimensions in cm:

Height 98 cm x Width 60 cm x Depth 58 cm

fig 5. A Victorian burr walnut davenport desk featuring a sloped writing surface, carved front support columns, floral marquetry inlay, and a pierced top gallery. — fig 5. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlaid Davenport Desk C.1860 19t Century

Dimensions in inches:

Height 3 foot, 3 inches x Width 2 feet x Depth 1 foot, 11 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 6. A Victorian burr walnut davenport desk featuring a sloped writing surface, carved front support columns, floral marquetry inlay, and a pierced top gallery. — fig 6. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlaid Davenport Desk C.1860 19t Century

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 7. A Victorian burr walnut davenport desk featuring a sloped writing surface, carved front support columns, floral marquetry inlay, and a pierced top gallery. — fig 7. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlaid Davenport Desk C.1860 19t Century

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 8. A Victorian burr walnut davenport desk featuring a sloped writing surface, carved front support columns, floral marquetry inlay, and a pierced top gallery. — fig 8. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlaid Davenport Desk C.1860 19t Century

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 9. A Victorian burr walnut davenport desk featuring a sloped writing surface, carved front support columns, floral marquetry inlay, and a pierced top gallery. — fig 9. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlaid Davenport Desk C.1860 19t Century

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 10. A Victorian burr walnut davenport desk featuring a sloped writing surface, carved front support columns, floral marquetry inlay, and a pierced top gallery. — fig 10. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlaid Davenport Desk C.1860 19t Century

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: A4721