Antique Victorian Burr Walnut & Crossbanded Twin Pedestal Desk C1900 157x95cm

This is a fine antique late Victorian burr walnut twin pedestal desk, Circa 1900 in date.

The rectangular top is fitted with a fabulous inset gold-tooled green leather writing surface and features satin wood, ebony and boxwood banding.

There are three drawers in the frieze over a pair of pedestals, each with three graduated drawers all fitted with their original brass handles. The desk stands on plinth bases raised on hidden brass castors.

The desk is free-standing and complete with its original locks and tasselled keys.

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

Condition:

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

Dimensions in cm:

Height 80 cm x Width 157 cm x Depth 95 cm

- Knee hole

Dimensions in inches:

Height 31 inches x Width 62 inches x Depth 37 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, 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 by cabinet makers and prestige car manufacturers, and is also a favourite material for shotgun stocks.

Our reference: A5302a