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ID #SA1236940
FOR SALE
£8,750
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Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Breakfront Bookcase Circa1860 19th Century
For sale by Regent Antiques
for sale €10,238     $11,113
£8,750
Regent Antiques

Regent Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Sep 2016
Browse dealers 667 items
  • About Us
    We specialise in english and continental furniture, silver, porcelain and decorative items.
  • Trade Associations
    Regent Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA  CINOA
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Id #SA1236940
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Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Breakfront Bookcase Circa1860 19th Century

19th century
For Sale by Regent Antiques
Description

A superb antique English mid-Victorian top-quality three-door breakfront bookcase, masterfully crafted in rich burr walnut, Circa 1860 in date.

This magnificent bookcase features a flared breakfront cavetto cornice over three glazed doors. It has twelve original shelves, and they can all be adjusted according to the height of your books. 

The lower section has three panelled doors, all of which open to reveal spacious cupboards with shelves.

The glazing and the shelves are all original; the drawer linings and the bookcase back are all made from solid mahogany, and it is raised on a plinth base.

There is no mistaking its superb quality and very grand design, which is certain to make it a talking point in your home and stand proud in whichever room you choose to display it.

Complete with working locks and keys.

 

Condition:

The bookcase is in excellent condition, having been professionally cleaned and polished in our workshops. Please see photos for confirmation of its condition. 

 

Dimensions in cm:

Height 239 cm x Width 220 cm x Depth 53 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 7 foot, 10 inches x Width 7 foot, 3 inches x Depth 1 foot, 9 inches

Walnut & Burr Walnut

Walnut is a hard, dense, tight- grained wood that polishes to a very smooth finish. It is a popular and attractive wood whose colour ranges from near white in the sapwood to a dark hew in the heartwood. When dried in a kiln, walnut wood tends to develop a dull brown colour, but when air-dried, it can become a rich purplish-brown. Because of its colour, hardness and grain, it is a prized furniture and carving wood. Walnut veneer was highly priced, and the cost would reflect the ‘fanciness’ of the veneer – the more decorative, the more expensive and desirable.

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.

Walnut "burrs" were often used to make fabulous furniture.  Veneer sliced from walnut burl is one of the most valuable and highly prized materials by cabinet makers and prestige car manufacturers, and is also a favourite material for shotgun stocks.

Our reference: A5327

Physical Dimensions
Height
239cm (94.09")
Width
220cm (86.61")
Depth
53cm (20.87")
Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated this Burr Walnut Breakfront Bookcase to the 1860s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1236940
Dealers Internal Reference
A5327
Description
A superb antique English mid-Victorian top-quality three-door breakfront bookcase, masterfully crafted in rich burr walnut, Circa 1860 in date.

This magnificent bookcase features a flared breakfront cavetto cornice over three glazed doors. It has twelve original shelves, and they can all be adjusted according to the height of your books. 

“
The lower section has three panelled doors, all of which open to reveal spacious cupboards with shelves.
Regent Antiques
fig 1. A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors.
fig 1. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Breakfront Bookcase Circa1860 19th Century

The glazing and the shelves are all original; the drawer linings and the bookcase back are all made from solid mahogany, and it is raised on a plinth base.

There is no mistaking its superb quality and very grand design, which is certain to make it a talking point in your home and stand proud in whichever room you choose to display it.

fig 2. A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors.
fig 2. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Breakfront Bookcase Circa1860 19th Century

Complete with working locks and keys.

 

Condition:

The bookcase is in excellent condition, having been professionally cleaned and polished in our workshops. Please see photos for confirmation of its condition. 

fig 3. A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors.
fig 3. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Breakfront Bookcase Circa1860 19th Century

 

Dimensions in cm:

Height 239 cm x Width 220 cm x Depth 53 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 7 foot, 10 inches x Width 7 foot, 3 inches x Depth 1 foot, 9 inches

Walnut & Burr Walnut

Walnut is a hard, dense, tight- grained wood that polishes to a very smooth finish. It is a popular and attractive wood whose colour ranges from near white in the sapwood to a dark hew in the heartwood. When dried in a kiln, walnut wood tends to develop a dull brown colour, but when air-dried, it can become a rich purplish-brown. Because of its colour, hardness and grain, it is a prized furniture and carving wood. Walnut veneer was highly priced, and the cost would reflect the ‘fanciness’ of the veneer – the more decorative, the more expensive and desirable.

fig 4. A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors.
fig 4. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Breakfront Bookcase Circa1860 19th 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.

fig 5. A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors.
fig 5. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Breakfront Bookcase Circa1860 19th Century

Walnut "burrs" were often used to make fabulous furniture.  Veneer sliced from walnut burl is one of the most valuable and highly prized materials by cabinet makers and prestige car manufacturers, and is also a favourite material for shotgun stocks.

Our reference: A5327

Height
239cm (94.09")
Width
220cm (86.61")
Depth
53cm (20.87")
Date of Manufacture

Regent Antiques has dated this Burr Walnut Breakfront Bookcase to the 1860s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1236940
Dealers Internal Ref
A5327
Regent Antiques
Regent Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Sep 2016

We specialise in english and continental furniture, silver, porcelain and decorative items.

Dealer Profile

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

Trade Associations

Regent Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA  CINOA

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A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors.
1 / 15
Archive I A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors.

Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Breakfront Bookcase Circa1860 19th Century

Archive II A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors. View II
Archive III A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors. View III
Archive IV A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors. View IV
Archive V A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors. View V
Archive VI A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors. View VI
Archive VII A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors. View VII
Archive VIII A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors. View VIII
Archive IX A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors. View IX
Archive X A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors. View X
Archive XI A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors. View XI
Archive XII A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors. View XII
Archive XIII A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors. View XIII
Archive XIV A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors. View XIV
Archive XV A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors. View XV
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Regent Antiques

Regent Antiques
Telephone 020 8809 9605 or 020 8802 3900
Location
Manor Warehouse
318 Green Lanes
London
N4 1BX
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/regentantiques
Verified Since Sep 2016
Items For Sale 667
Items Sold 2,655
Regent Antiques
Regent Antiques
Verified Since Sep 2016
View Dealer Info
Location: Manor Warehouse, 318 Green Lanes, London, N4 1BX, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/regentantiques
Verified
Sep 2016
For Sale
667
Sold
2,655
A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors.
Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Breakfront Bookcase Circa1860 19th Century
Ref: SA1236940
A mid-19th-century Victorian burr walnut breakfront bookcase featuring three upper glazed doors, turned pilasters, and three lower panelled cupboard doors.
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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectBookcases
  • Period19th century
  • StyleVictorian
  • MaterialBurr Walnut, Walnut Veneer, Glass, Brass, Oak
  • ColourWarm Brown
  • MotifsBreakfront profile, Burr walnut veneering, Glazed doors, Fielded door panels
  • SizeH 239 cm (94 in) x W 220 cm (87 in) x D 53 cm (21 in)

FAQs

A Victorian breakfront bookcase features a central section that projects forward beyond the two flanking side sections. Originating in the 18th century and widely produced throughout the 19th century, this structure allowed for maximum storage capacity while creating architectural depth within library interiors.

Mid-19th-century pieces frequently utilise burr walnut veneers applied over solid oak or pine carcasses. Traditional construction traits include hand-cut dovetail joints on drawers, mouth-blown glass panes in the upper door frames, and adjustable wooden shelves supported by wooden pegs or slotted tracks.

Authentic pieces exhibit natural variations and swirling grain patterns in the burr timber, hand-carved details on pilasters or mouldings, and period-correct iron or brass lock mechanisms. Inspecting for natural timber shrinkage splits on backboards and age-related oxidisation on non-visible surfaces also aids identification.

A breakfront bookcase creates a focal point when positioned against a primary wall in a living room, dining room, or home office. Displaying a combination of books, ceramic vessels, and glass art within the upper glazed section balances the visual weight of the solid timber base.

Maintain the timber finish by dusting regularly with a soft, dry cloth and applying a beeswax polish once or twice a year in the direction of the grain. Avoid direct sunlight and damp environments to prevent veneer lifting, and clean glass surfaces using a microfibre cloth lightly dampened with water.
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