What is a partners desk?

A partners desk is a large freestanding writing table originally designed in 19th-century Britain to allow two people, typically business partners, to work facing each other simultaneously with drawers on both sides.

What materials were typically used in Victorian pedestal desks?

Victorian pedestal desks were commonly constructed using solid hardwoods such as mahogany or oak, often faced with decorative burr walnut or rosewood veneers, and topped with tool-embossed leather writing surfaces.

How do you identify an authentic Victorian burr walnut desk?

Authentic Victorian pieces feature hand-cut dovetail joints on drawers, original brass locks, natural age-related patination, and intricate swirl patterns characteristic of natural burr walnut grain.

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

Position the desk centrally in a home study or library to showcase its double-sided construction, pairing it with modern brass task lighting and a contemporary leather swivel chair for an eclectic balance.

How should burr walnut antique furniture be maintained?

Keep the piece away from direct heat sources and sunlight to prevent veneer splitting, feed the wood periodically with high-quality beeswax polish, and use desk blotters to protect the leather insert.

for sale €9,653 $10,478

£8,250

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Burr Walnut Pedestal Desk

Antique Double Pedestal Desk

Victorian Partners Writing Desk

Id #SA958853

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Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Partners Pedestal Desk 19th C

19th century

For Sale by Regent Antiques

Description

This is a fine and very rare antique Victorian burr walnut twin pedestal partners desk, Circa 1860 in date.

It is made from fabulous burr walnut, the rectangular top with a fabulous inset gold tooled green leather writing surface.

One side has an arrangement of three drawers in the frieze over a pair of pedestals each with three graduated drawers, the other side has a central frieze drawer with a cupboard in each pedestal, each opens to a central shelf.

The desk is fitted with the original turned walnut handles and it stands on a plinth base raised on brass castors.

The desk has its original locks and keys and the locks are stamped H&C, By Royal Letters Patent.

Instil the elegance of a bygone era to a special place in your home with this fabulous decorative antique desk.

Condition:

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

Dimensions in cm:

Height 78 x Width 138 x Depth 75

Height 62 x Width 56 - Knee hole

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 7 inches x Width 4 foot, 6 inches x Depth 2 foot, 5 inches

Height 2 foot x Width 1 foot, 10 inches - Knee hole

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.

Our reference: A2304

Physical Dimensions

Height

78cm (30.71")

Width

138cm (54.33")

Depth

75cm (29.53")

Declaration

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

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA958853

Dealers Internal Reference

A2304

Description

This is a fine and very rare antique Victorian burr walnut twin pedestal partners desk, Circa 1860 in date.

“

It is made from fabulous burr walnut, the rectangular top with a fabulous inset gold tooled green leather writing surface.

Regent Antiques

fig 1. An antique Victorian burr walnut partners pedestal desk featuring a green leather inset writing top, multiple drawers with wooden knob handles, and twin pedestal bases. — fig 1. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Partners Pedestal Desk 19th C

One side has an arrangement of three drawers in the frieze over a pair of pedestals each with three graduated drawers, the other side has a central frieze drawer with a cupboard in each pedestal, each opens to a central shelf.

fig 2. An antique Victorian burr walnut partners pedestal desk featuring a green leather inset writing top, multiple drawers with wooden knob handles, and twin pedestal bases. — fig 2. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Partners Pedestal Desk 19th C

The desk is fitted with the original turned walnut handles and it stands on a plinth base raised on brass castors.

The desk has its original locks and keys and the locks are stamped H&C, By Royal Letters Patent.

fig 3. An antique Victorian burr walnut partners pedestal desk featuring a green leather inset writing top, multiple drawers with wooden knob handles, and twin pedestal bases. — fig 3. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Partners Pedestal Desk 19th C

Instil the elegance of a bygone era to a special place in your home with this fabulous decorative antique desk.

Condition:

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

fig 4. An antique Victorian burr walnut partners pedestal desk featuring a green leather inset writing top, multiple drawers with wooden knob handles, and twin pedestal bases. — fig 4. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Partners Pedestal Desk 19th C

Dimensions in cm:

Height 78 x Width 138 x Depth 75

Height 62 x Width 56 - Knee hole

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 7 inches x Width 4 foot, 6 inches x Depth 2 foot, 5 inches

Height 2 foot x Width 1 foot, 10 inches - Knee hole

fig 5. An antique Victorian burr walnut partners pedestal desk featuring a green leather inset writing top, multiple drawers with wooden knob handles, and twin pedestal bases. — fig 5. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Partners Pedestal Desk 19th C

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 6. An antique Victorian burr walnut partners pedestal desk featuring a green leather inset writing top, multiple drawers with wooden knob handles, and twin pedestal bases. — fig 6. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Partners Pedestal Desk 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 7. An antique Victorian burr walnut partners pedestal desk featuring a green leather inset writing top, multiple drawers with wooden knob handles, and twin pedestal bases. — fig 7. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Partners Pedestal Desk 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.

Our reference: A2304