What defines a Victorian Dickens pedestal desk?

Named after the author Charles Dickens who favoured the layout, this style features raised banks of small drawers on either side of a sloped central writing surface, supported by two drawer pedestals.

What materials were used in Victorian pedestal desks?

Victorian cabinetmakers constructed these desks using solid timbers like pine or oak, veneered in figured burr walnut or mahogany, with leather inset writing surfaces and brass galleries.

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

Authentic pieces feature hand-cut dovetail joints on the drawers, original brass gallery rails, natural grain variation in the burr veneer, and period lock mechanisms.

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

Position the desk as a standalone focal point in a home office or library, paired with contemporary lighting and neutral wall tones to highlight the timber grain.

How should antique burr walnut furniture be maintained?

Keep the timber away from direct heat sources and sunlight to prevent drying or fading, and apply a high-quality beeswax polish periodically along the grain.

for sale €5,558 $6,033

£4,750

Regent Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Sep 2016

Browse dealers 639 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

Relevant Links

Victorian Dickens Desk

Id #SA824561

PDF

SAVE

Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Dickens Pedestal Desk C. 1880 19th C

19th century

For Sale by Regent Antiques

Description

This is a truly superb antique Victorian Period burr walnut Dickens pedestal desk, circa 1880 in date.

The sunken central superstructure is flanked on either side by columns of five drawers centred by a gallery shelf above a hinged surface enclosing pigeon holes and a small horizontal hinged compartment for writing utensils.

The desk is fitted with three faded green and gold tooled inset leather writing surfaces, one on the centre slope flanked by one on either side. There are three drawers to the frieze with three further drawers to each pedestal. The desk is raised on a pedestal plinth base on bun feet.

The central section is ideal for your lap top.

Complete with working locks and keys.

Install the elegance of a bygone era to a special place in your home with this fabulous antique burr walnut Dickens pedestal desk.

Condition:

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

Dimensions in cm:

Height 117 x Width 114 x Depth 82

Dimensions in inches:

Height 3 foot, 10 inches x Width 3 foot, 9 inches x Depth 2 foot, 8 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 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, then 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 by cabinet makers and prestige car manufacturers and is also a favourite material for shotgun stocks.

Inlay was commonly used in the production of decorative burr walnut furniture, where pieces of coloured veneers are inlaid into the surface of the walnut, adding delicate or intricate patterns and designs. Inlays normally use various exotic veneers, but other materials such as mother-of-pearl, brass or bone were also be used.

Our reference: A2143

Physical Dimensions

Height

117cm (46.06")

Width

114cm (44.88")

Depth

82cm (32.28")

Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated this Burr Walnut Dickens Desk to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA824561

Dealers Internal Reference

A2143

Description

This is a truly superb antique Victorian Period burr walnut Dickens pedestal desk, circa 1880 in date.

The sunken central superstructure is flanked on either side by columns of five drawers centred by a gallery shelf above a hinged surface enclosing pigeon holes and a small horizontal hinged compartment for writing utensils.

“

The desk is fitted with three faded green and gold tooled inset leather writing surfaces, one on the centre slope flanked by one on either side.

Regent Antiques

There are three drawers to the frieze with three further drawers to each pedestal. The desk is raised on a pedestal plinth base on bun feet.

fig 1. Victorian burr walnut Dickens pedestal desk featuring raised side drawer banks with brass galleries, a sloping leather writing surface, and carved columns. — fig 1. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Dickens Pedestal Desk C. 1880 19th C

The central section is ideal for your lap top.

Complete with working locks and keys.

Install the elegance of a bygone era to a special place in your home with this fabulous antique burr walnut Dickens pedestal desk.

fig 2. Victorian burr walnut Dickens pedestal desk featuring raised side drawer banks with brass galleries, a sloping leather writing surface, and carved columns. — fig 2. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Dickens Pedestal Desk C. 1880 19th C

Condition:

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

Dimensions in cm:

Height 117 x Width 114 x Depth 82

Dimensions in inches:

fig 3. Victorian burr walnut Dickens pedestal desk featuring raised side drawer banks with brass galleries, a sloping leather writing surface, and carved columns. — fig 3. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Dickens Pedestal Desk C. 1880 19th C

Height 3 foot, 10 inches x Width 3 foot, 9 inches x Depth 2 foot, 8 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 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, then the more expensive and desirable.

fig 4. Victorian burr walnut Dickens pedestal desk featuring raised side drawer banks with brass galleries, a sloping leather writing surface, and carved columns. — fig 4. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Dickens Pedestal Desk C. 1880 19th C

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. Victorian burr walnut Dickens pedestal desk featuring raised side drawer banks with brass galleries, a sloping leather writing surface, and carved columns. — fig 5. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Dickens Pedestal Desk C. 1880 19th C

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

fig 6. Victorian burr walnut Dickens pedestal desk featuring raised side drawer banks with brass galleries, a sloping leather writing surface, and carved columns. — fig 6. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Dickens Pedestal Desk C. 1880 19th C

Inlay was commonly used in the production of decorative burr walnut furniture, where pieces of coloured veneers are inlaid into the surface of the walnut, adding delicate or intricate patterns and designs. Inlays normally use various exotic veneers, but other materials such as mother-of-pearl, brass or bone were also be used.

Our reference: A2143