Burr Maple Furniture
Burr maple furniture combines rich grain patterns with classical forms, offering functional pieces that anchor a room.
Burr Maple Furniture
Burr maple furniture encompasses desks, chests of drawers, and dining suites that showcase the distinctive, knotted grain of the maple tree. These items span periods from the seventeenth century through the Edwardian era and the Art Deco movement.
The version most commonly met on this page is from the Art Deco period, often featuring blonde tones and streamlined forms by makers such as H.L. Epstein Brothers. Earlier examples, including Georgian dressing mirrors and eighteenth-century commodes, appear alongside Victorian davenport desks.
Makers such as Maple & Co utilise the timber for bedside cabinets and kneehole desks, pairing the figured wood with brass hardware and contrasting timbers like walnut.
How burr maple furniture was made
Craftsmen sliced thin veneers from the knotty growth of the maple tree to reveal intricate swirls and patterns, applying them over solid timber carcases. This technique maximised the visual impact of the figured wood across large surfaces like commodes and wardrobe doors.
Makers integrated secondary woods such as oak and walnut, and incorporated brass handles and leather inserts into desk interiors. Surface finishes were polished to highlight the natural blonde or golden hues of the maple grain.
Burr Maple Furniture Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for burr maple furniture among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
What varies in quality
The distinction in quality rests upon the selection and matching of the burr veneer across the piece. Superior examples display symmetrical grain patterns that flow seamlessly over drawers and doors.
Construction methods and secondary materials further differentiate the pieces, from solid brass hardware to the precision of the cabinetwork inside drawers and compartments.
Thomas Hache of Grenoble·Maple & Co·Fortnum and Mason·H.L. Epstein Brothers·Harry and Lou Epstein
The Burr Maple Furniture Glossary
- Burr veneer
- A thin slice of wood cut from a tree growth or knot, prized for its swirling, intricate grain pattern. It is applied to a stable base timber to create decorative surfaces on cabinets and desks.
- Kneehole desk
- A writing table featuring a central recess for the user's legs, flanked by pedestals of drawers. These desks often include leather-lined writing surfaces and brass hardware.
- Commode
- A low French chest of drawers or cabinet dating from the eighteenth century onwards. These pieces frequently stand on slender legs and display decorative veneer work.
- Davenport
- A compact Victorian writing desk featuring a sloping top and drawers accessed from the side. The interior often contains maple linings and small pigeonholes.
Burr Maple Furniture: Frequently Asked Questions
What periods do these pieces come from?
The listings span several centuries, starting from the seventeenth-century William and Mary era through the eighteenth-century Regence period and the Georgian epoch.
Later examples extend into the Victorian and Edwardian periods, with a strong representation of 1930s Art Deco designs.
How do I care for burr maple surfaces?
Keep the timber away from direct sunlight and excessive heat sources to prevent the veneer from drying out or fading. Dust gently with a dry cloth and avoid silicone-based polishes.
Apply a microcrystalline wax occasionally to nourish the timber and protect the polished finish against moisture.
What types of furniture use this wood?
Makers utilised burr maple for a variety of domestic items, including bedroom suites, wardrobes, and double beds with integral cabinets. Desks and console tables also showcase the distinctive grain.
Smaller items such as bedside cabinets, dressing mirrors, and commodes frequently appear in this timber.
How do Art Deco pieces differ from earlier styles?
Art Deco burr maple furniture from the 1930s tends to feature clean, geometric lines and blonde tones, as seen in pieces by the Epstein brothers and Fortnum and Mason.
Earlier eighteenth and nineteenth-century items rely on traditional classical proportions, often combining the maple with darker woods like walnut and oak.