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ID #SA1208753
FOR SALE
£3,500
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Rare and Fine Padauk Wood Bureau in the Chippendale Manner C. 1780
Webberley Antiques
for sale €4,095     $4,445
£3,500
Webberley Antiques

Webberley Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Nov 2008
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Rare and Fine Padauk Wood Bureau in the Chippendale Manner C. 1780

18th century
Description

In superb original condition, with a fantastic colour, and retaining the original fine quality brass hardware. This is a very high quality solid Padauk bureau and an extremely rare piece of British Colonial and Canton period furniture dating from around 1760.

This is an incredible piece of artistry and skill, very pure in the making, and it remains in excellent and largely original condition.

What strikes you is not only the extraordinary quality of the cabinet work and hardware but that it contains an usually high number of secret drawers and hidden compartments.

In addition to the interior concealed drawers flanking the architectural door with teak parquetry, the whole central section pulls out and there is a concealed compartment behind this and drawers in the aprons above the pigeon holes. But this bureau also has four shallow sliding drawers set into the reverse of two of the dust boards between the main long drawers and a false base board above the bottom boards/below the lowest principal drawer.

There is a lining of blue paper on the shallow dust board hidden drawers.

I think all of the main drawers once had similar false bottoms raised just a half inch above the base boards of each. These sadly appear very recently lost as the bottom boards are in pristine and clean condition and there is a slim band of the blue paper stuck along the back of each drawer lining – which may have acted as a sort of hinge.

Despite its small size the bureau is the heaviest I have ever encountered and far heavier than if made of any other hardwood.

The lock to the fall has been broken out and changed at some point early in its life - which given the timber and hardware must have taken quite some effort!

The plinth is beautifully carved with a Chinese scroll.

Even the drawer linings are solid Padauk with a beautiful colour and swirling grain.

It would have been made bespoke for someone who needed these secret places and the false bottom board certainly would have allowed a lot of bank notes or important documents to be successfully hidden.

A Padauk bureau bookcase at Christies sold for £16,800 and on line you will find 18th Century Anglo Indian Padauk pieces selling for upwards of £30,000.

Dimensions are:

36 inches wide, 41 inches high, 22 inches deep

(dimensions measured at feet are 37.5 inches wide and 23 max deep)

For metric please multiply by 2.5

Declaration

Webberley Antiques has dated this Chippendale Padauk Writing Bureau to the 18th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1208753
Dealers Notes

I describe and photograph my pieces accurately and with the aim that on arrival each will exceed your expectations.

I operate a full refund guarantee and am always happy to give free, honest and friendly advice.

Description
In superb original condition, with a fantastic colour, and retaining the original fine quality brass hardware.
“
This is a very high quality solid Padauk bureau and an extremely rare piece of British Colonial and Canton period furniture dating from around 1760.
Webberley Antiques
fig 1. An eighteenth-century Chippendale style dark padauk wood writing bureau featuring an open fall-front writing surface, architectural pigeonhole section, brass handles, and bracket feet.
fig 1. Rare and Fine Padauk Wood Bureau in the Chippendale Manner C. 1780

This is an incredible piece of artistry and skill, very pure in the making, and it remains in excellent and largely original condition.

What strikes you is not only the extraordinary quality of the cabinet work and hardware but that it contains an usually high number of secret drawers and hidden compartments.

fig 2. An eighteenth-century Chippendale style dark padauk wood writing bureau featuring an open fall-front writing surface, architectural pigeonhole section, brass handles, and bracket feet.
fig 2. Rare and Fine Padauk Wood Bureau in the Chippendale Manner C. 1780

In addition to the interior concealed drawers flanking the architectural door with teak parquetry, the whole central section pulls out and there is a concealed compartment behind this and drawers in the aprons above the pigeon holes. But this bureau also has four shallow sliding drawers set into the reverse of two of the dust boards between the main long drawers and a false base board above the bottom boards/below the lowest principal drawer.

fig 3. An eighteenth-century Chippendale style dark padauk wood writing bureau featuring an open fall-front writing surface, architectural pigeonhole section, brass handles, and bracket feet.
fig 3. Rare and Fine Padauk Wood Bureau in the Chippendale Manner C. 1780

There is a lining of blue paper on the shallow dust board hidden drawers.

I think all of the main drawers once had similar false bottoms raised just a half inch above the base boards of each. These sadly appear very recently lost as the bottom boards are in pristine and clean condition and there is a slim band of the blue paper stuck along the back of each drawer lining – which may have acted as a sort of hinge.

fig 4. An eighteenth-century Chippendale style dark padauk wood writing bureau featuring an open fall-front writing surface, architectural pigeonhole section, brass handles, and bracket feet.
fig 4. Rare and Fine Padauk Wood Bureau in the Chippendale Manner C. 1780

Despite its small size the bureau is the heaviest I have ever encountered and far heavier than if made of any other hardwood.

The lock to the fall has been broken out and changed at some point early in its life - which given the timber and hardware must have taken quite some effort!

fig 5. An eighteenth-century Chippendale style dark padauk wood writing bureau featuring an open fall-front writing surface, architectural pigeonhole section, brass handles, and bracket feet.
fig 5. Rare and Fine Padauk Wood Bureau in the Chippendale Manner C. 1780

The plinth is beautifully carved with a Chinese scroll.

Even the drawer linings are solid Padauk with a beautiful colour and swirling grain.

It would have been made bespoke for someone who needed these secret places and the false bottom board certainly would have allowed a lot of bank notes or important documents to be successfully hidden.

fig 6. An eighteenth-century Chippendale style dark padauk wood writing bureau featuring an open fall-front writing surface, architectural pigeonhole section, brass handles, and bracket feet.
fig 6. Rare and Fine Padauk Wood Bureau in the Chippendale Manner C. 1780

A Padauk bureau bookcase at Christies sold for £16,800 and on line you will find 18th Century Anglo Indian Padauk pieces selling for upwards of £30,000.

Dimensions are:

36 inches wide, 41 inches high, 22 inches deep

(dimensions measured at feet are 37.5 inches wide and 23 max deep)

For metric please multiply by 2.5

Date of Manufacture

Webberley Antiques has dated this Chippendale Padauk Writing Bureau to the 18th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1208753
Webberley Antiques
Webberley Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Nov 2008

Specialists in 18th century and earlier furniture for more than 45 years

Dealer Profile

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

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An eighteenth-century Chippendale style dark padauk wood writing bureau featuring an open fall-front writing surface, architectural pigeonhole section, brass handles, and bracket feet.
1 / 10
Archive I An eighteenth-century Chippendale style dark padauk wood writing bureau featuring an open fall-front writing surface, architectural pigeonhole section, brass handles, and bracket feet.

Rare and Fine Padauk Wood Bureau in the Chippendale Manner C. 1780

Archive II An eighteenth-century Chippendale style dark padauk wood writing bureau featuring an open fall-front writing surface, architectural pigeonhole section, brass handles, and bracket feet. View II
Archive III An eighteenth-century Chippendale style dark padauk wood writing bureau featuring an open fall-front writing surface, architectural pigeonhole section, brass handles, and bracket feet. View III
Archive IV An eighteenth-century Chippendale style dark padauk wood writing bureau featuring an open fall-front writing surface, architectural pigeonhole section, brass handles, and bracket feet. View IV
Archive V An eighteenth-century Chippendale style dark padauk wood writing bureau featuring an open fall-front writing surface, architectural pigeonhole section, brass handles, and bracket feet. View V
Archive VI An eighteenth-century Chippendale style dark padauk wood writing bureau featuring an open fall-front writing surface, architectural pigeonhole section, brass handles, and bracket feet. View VI
Archive VII An eighteenth-century Chippendale style dark padauk wood writing bureau featuring an open fall-front writing surface, architectural pigeonhole section, brass handles, and bracket feet. View VII
Archive VIII An eighteenth-century Chippendale style dark padauk wood writing bureau featuring an open fall-front writing surface, architectural pigeonhole section, brass handles, and bracket feet. View VIII
Archive IX An eighteenth-century Chippendale style dark padauk wood writing bureau featuring an open fall-front writing surface, architectural pigeonhole section, brass handles, and bracket feet. View IX
Archive X An eighteenth-century Chippendale style dark padauk wood writing bureau featuring an open fall-front writing surface, architectural pigeonhole section, brass handles, and bracket feet. View X
Enlarged Archival View
Webberley Antiques

Webberley Antiques
Telephone 07765 233266
Location
East Sussex
United Kingdom

By appointment only.
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/webberley
Verified Since Nov 2008
Items For Sale 80
Items Sold 422
Webberley Antiques
Webberley Antiques
Verified Since Nov 2008
View Dealer Info
Location: East Sussex, United Kingdom, , By appointment only.
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/webberley
Verified
Nov 2008
For Sale
80
Sold
422
An eighteenth-century Chippendale style dark padauk wood writing bureau featuring an open fall-front writing surface, architectural pigeonhole section, brass handles, and bracket feet.
Rare and Fine Padauk Wood Bureau in the Chippendale Manner c. 1780
Ref: SA1208753
An eighteenth-century Chippendale style dark padauk wood writing bureau featuring an open fall-front writing surface, architectural pigeonhole section, brass handles, and bracket feet.
Detail View 1
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Detail View 3
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FAQs

Chippendale style furniture is characterised by Mid-Georgian proportions, dark timber construction, and detailed carved ornament. Design elements often incorporate classical motifs, architectural arches, and bracket feet.

Eighteenth-century bureaux were primarily constructed using dense hardwoods such as mahogany, walnut, and exotic timbers like padauk. Internal structures often utilised oak or pine drawers fitted with brass handles and escutcheons.

Authentic Georgian bureaux exhibit hand-cut dovetail drawer joints, irregular hand-worked backboards, and natural timber patination inside the casing. Original brass handles will display age-appropriate oxidisation and cast construction marks.

A writing bureau serves as a compact workstation or focal piece in a study or living area. Pairing dark timber with neutral wall tones creates balanced visual contrast while keeping modern technology concealed behind the fall-front lid.

Maintain timber surfaces by dusting regularly with a soft dry cloth and applying high-grade beeswax twice yearly along the grain. Keep the item away from direct heat sources and extreme humidity fluctuations to prevent wood movement.
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