Search 0
56,165  PAGES BROWSED TODAY PAGES TODAY • 108 ANTIQUES UPLOADED TODAYNEW ARRIVALS
Sorted by
Per page
JOIN AS A SELLER DEALER LOGIN
Selling Antiques Logo
0
Saved
GIFTS
108 ITEMS ADDED TODAY
Home
Return
Dealer Login
500+ Shops
Dealers
Newly Added
0
Saved
Antiques dealer?
Join as a Seller
Sort Order
Items Per Page
sellingantiques.co.uk
Browse Categories
Sort order
Relevant Links
Items per page
ID #SA1229348
FOR SALE
£3,150
Email Phone Buy
Save
E18thc English Tall Walnut Escritoire Writing Desk
For sale by Mike Melody Antiques
for sale €3,686     $4,001
£3,150
Mike Melody Antiques

Mike Melody Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Jan 2013
Browse dealers 140 items
  • About Us
    Combined 85 years of buying and selling quality antiques and still loving it.
  • Trade Associations
    Mike Melody Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA 
↓ Relevant Links
Id #SA1229348
PDF SHARE
SAVE

E18thc English Tall Walnut Escritoire Writing Desk

18th century
Description

Acquired from a local residence an unusual and rare walnut escritoire ( writing desk) c1720.

In great original condition including handles and the elaborate " top hat"

It measures 180cms h 113cms w and 47cms d.

Over the years we have always bought these as not only are they magnificent country house pieces of furniture but also they give a glimpse into the yesteryear .

Originally found in holland but when william and mary came to the throne in the late 17thc a lot of their artisan woodworkers / cabinetmakers followed them and set up shop in london.

Escritoires were highly prized by the arostocrats of the time.

They were the " safes" of the period.

Many secret drawers etc. This is no exception.

This piece is in 2 parts for moving and is contructed using walnut and burr walnut veneers on oak and pine.

In original condition apart from replaced insert leather and the bracket feet which are georgian replacements . The hardware is also original.

A rare model and always difficult to find in this condition .

UK delivery included

All forms of payment including ccs etc

Lapada_cinoa members since1985

Established in1977 in chester

Date of Manufacture

Mike Melody Antiques has dated this Antique Walnut Escritoire Desk to the 1700s.

Independent Date Guide ID 09605436
Dealer's Item Date1700s
Sellingantiques Date1700s
Sellingantiques agingItem 285-330 years old
ResultsDates match
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE 1700s:
Burr walnut veneers with feather banding: early 18th-century cabinet work.
Fitted interior with pigeonholes and small drawers: the standard arrangement for these writing cabinets.
Engraved brass escutcheons and drop handles: early 18th-century metalwork.
Bracket feet: a later 18th-century update to the original base.

This Independent Date Guide was compiled by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. It works only from the photographs shown on this page and is never told the date the dealer has declared. It is a guide, not a guarantee of age, and occasional errors can occur.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1229348
Dealers Notes

All credit cards and paypal accepted

All items backed by LAPADA guarantee

All consumer rights observed

Description
Acquired from a local residence an unusual and rare walnut escritoire ( writing desk) c1720.

In great original condition including handles and the elaborate " top hat"

It measures 180cms h 113cms w and 47cms d.

“
Over the years we have always bought these as not only are they magnificent country house pieces of furniture but also they give a glimpse into the yesteryear.
Mike Melody Antiques

.

fig 1. An early eighteenth-century English burr walnut escritoire featuring a carved architectural crest, fall-front writing surface, brass drop handles, and a chest of drawers base resting on bracket feet.
fig 1. E18thc English Tall Walnut Escritoire Writing Desk

Originally found in holland but when william and mary came to the throne in the late 17thc a lot of their artisan woodworkers / cabinetmakers followed them and set up shop in london.

Escritoires were highly prized by the arostocrats of the time.

fig 2. An early eighteenth-century English burr walnut escritoire featuring a carved architectural crest, fall-front writing surface, brass drop handles, and a chest of drawers base resting on bracket feet.
fig 2. E18thc English Tall Walnut Escritoire Writing Desk

They were the " safes" of the period.

Many secret drawers etc. This is no exception.

This piece is in 2 parts for moving and is contructed using walnut and burr walnut veneers on oak and pine.

In original condition apart from replaced insert leather and the bracket feet which are georgian replacements . The hardware is also original.

A rare model and always difficult to find in this condition .

UK delivery included

All forms of payment including ccs etc

Lapada_cinoa members since1985

Established in1977 in chester

Date of Manufacture

Mike Melody Antiques has dated this Antique Walnut Escritoire Desk to the 1700s.

Independent Date Report ID 09605436
Dealer's Item Date1700s
Sellingantiques dating1700s
Sellingantiques agingItem 285-330 years old
ResultsDates match
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to the 1700s:
Burr walnut veneers with feather banding: early 18th-century cabinet work.
Fitted interior with pigeonholes and small drawers: the standard arrangement for these writing cabinets.
Engraved brass escutcheons and drop handles: early 18th-century metalwork.
Bracket feet: a later 18th-century update to the original base.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1229348
Mike Melody Antiques
Mike Melody Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Jan 2013

Combined 85 years of buying and selling quality antiques and still loving it.

Dealer Profile

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

Trade Associations

Mike Melody Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA 

PDF SHARE
SAVE
An early eighteenth-century English burr walnut escritoire featuring a carved architectural crest, fall-front writing surface, brass drop handles, and a chest of drawers base resting on bracket feet.
1 / 7
Archive I An early eighteenth-century English burr walnut escritoire featuring a carved architectural crest, fall-front writing surface, brass drop handles, and a chest of drawers base resting on bracket feet.

E18thc English Tall Walnut Escritoire Writing Desk

Archive II An early eighteenth-century English burr walnut escritoire featuring a carved architectural crest, fall-front writing surface, brass drop handles, and a chest of drawers base resting on bracket feet. View II
Archive III An early eighteenth-century English burr walnut escritoire featuring a carved architectural crest, fall-front writing surface, brass drop handles, and a chest of drawers base resting on bracket feet. View III
Archive IV An early eighteenth-century English burr walnut escritoire featuring a carved architectural crest, fall-front writing surface, brass drop handles, and a chest of drawers base resting on bracket feet. View IV
Archive V An early eighteenth-century English burr walnut escritoire featuring a carved architectural crest, fall-front writing surface, brass drop handles, and a chest of drawers base resting on bracket feet. View V
Archive VI An early eighteenth-century English burr walnut escritoire featuring a carved architectural crest, fall-front writing surface, brass drop handles, and a chest of drawers base resting on bracket feet. View VI
Archive VII An early eighteenth-century English burr walnut escritoire featuring a carved architectural crest, fall-front writing surface, brass drop handles, and a chest of drawers base resting on bracket feet. View VII
Enlarged Archival View
Mike Melody Antiques

Mike Melody Antiques
Telephone 07534 226563
Location
Chester
Cheshire
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/melodyantiques
Verified Since Jan 2013
Items For Sale 140
Items Sold 752
Mike Melody Antiques
Mike Melody Antiques
Verified Since Jan 2013
View Dealer Info
Location: Chester, Cheshire, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/melodyantiques
Verified
Jan 2013
For Sale
140
Sold
752
An early eighteenth-century English burr walnut escritoire featuring a carved architectural crest, fall-front writing surface, brass drop handles, and a chest of drawers base resting on bracket feet.
E18THC ENGLISH TALL WALNUT ESCRITOIRE WRITING DESK
Ref: SA1229348
An early eighteenth-century English burr walnut escritoire featuring a carved architectural crest, fall-front writing surface, brass drop handles, and a chest of drawers base resting on bracket feet.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
Detail View 6
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.

Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectDesks & Writing Cabinets
  • Period18th century
  • StyleQueen Anne
  • MaterialBurr Walnut, Walnut, Oak, Brass
  • ColourWarm Brown
  • MotifsBurr walnut veneer, Carved cresting rail, Fall-front panel, Bracket feet

This early eighteenth-century English escritoire writing desk exhibits a Queen Anne style in warm brown burr walnut, walnut, oak, and pine. The piece includes an elaborate carved architectural cresting rail at the top, a fall-front writing surface panel with a central keyhole, decorative rope-twist mouldings, brass drop handles, and bracket feet at the base. Visible details encompass burr walnut veneers, brass key escutcheons, and visible wear on the timber surfaces. Measuring 180 cm high, 113 cm wide, and 47 cm deep in two sections, it functions practically as a writing cabinet or writing desk for home studies and private libraries.

FAQs

An escritoire is a specialized form of writing cabinet featuring a fall-front panel that lowers to create a writing surface, concealing internal drawers and pigeonholes. This furniture form gained prominence in England during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, particularly throughout the William and Mary and Queen Anne periods.

Eighteenth-century English escritoires were constructed using solid hardwood carcasses, predominantly oak or pine, veneered with highly figured burr walnut. Construction characteristics include hand-cut dovetail joints, oak-lined drawer interiors, brass drop handles, engraved escutcheons, and moulded borders.

Authentic period pieces display evidence of hand manufacturing, such as hand-sawn markings on timber backs, uneven dovetail joints, and age-related veneer movement. Original brass hardware, hand-forged iron locks, and natural patination across the surfaces also indicate authenticity.

An escritoire functions as a focal statement piece in a study, living room, or hallway. Positioning the warm burr walnut tones against neutral wall finishes, contemporary lighting, and modern artwork creates a balanced contrast between historical craftsmanship and current design styles.

Keep the cabinet positioned away from direct heat sources and prolonged sunlight to prevent the timber veneer from drying, cracking, or lifting. Regular dusting with a soft cloth and occasional applications of natural beeswax polish will protect the surface and preserve the timber patina.
items
Add keywords to the filter
Price
£100
£250000
Era
Period
Style
Material
Origin
Stock Location
Recently Added
Online Payments
Categories