Sheraton Secretaire Bureau
These sheraton secretaire bureau pieces combine fine cabinet-making with clever writing desks, offering elegant storage and workspaces.
Sheraton Secretaire Bureau
A sheraton secretaire bureau brings together a shelved upper bookcase or cabinet with a fitted writing drawer that drops down to reveal pigeonholes and small drawers. These pieces date from the eighteenth century, the Georgian period, and later revival eras through to the Edwardian period.
The most common forms on this page are tall secretaire bookcases and smaller secretaire chests of drawers, often constructed in rich timbers with contrasting inlay.
Makers and workshops of the Georgian and Sheraton periods designed these items for refined domestic interiors, combining display space with concealed writing compartments.
How they were made
Cabinet-makers relied primarily on solid mahogany and figured satinwood veneers, frequently enhanced with detailed marquetry inlay and brass hardware.
Internal elements often include secondary timbers such as oak, whilst glazed upper doors protect books and delicate porcelain displays.
What varies in quality
Superior examples distinguish themselves through the choice of timber figure, such as well-figured mahogany or richly patterned satinwood, matched with precise marquetry and fine brass fittings.
Simpler versions from later revival periods employ more straightforward construction and less intricate internal stationery drawers.
Edwards and Roberts
The Sheraton Secretaire Bureau Glossary
- Secretaire
- A piece of furniture containing a drawer or compartment designed for writing, typically featuring a fall-front that conceals small drawers and pigeonholes.
- Satinwood
- A durable, yellowish wood prized for its lustrous sheen, frequently utilised in fine eighteenth-century cabinet-making and inlay work.
- Marquetry
- Decorative veneer patterns applied to furniture surfaces using different coloured woods and materials to form pictorial or geometric designs.
- Georgian
- The period spanning the reigns of the first four Georges, known for refined proportions and classical design influences in English furniture.
Sheraton Secretaire Bureau: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sheraton secretaire bureau?
It is a cabinet or bookcase featuring a fitted drop-front drawer that serves as a writing desk.
These versatile pieces combine storage, display, and a practical writing surface within a single elegant structure.
How do I date a secretaire bookcase?
Dating relies on timber choices, construction methods, and stylistic details such as the presence of satinwood veneers or marquetry.
Eighteenth-century examples typically show hand-cut dovetails and native secondary timbers like oak inside the drawers.
Were these pieces used for writing?
The drop-front mechanism conceals a dedicated writing space complete with small drawers and pigeonholes for correspondence.
Owners utilised them in private studies and principal rooms for managing letters and personal accounts.