Sheraton Style Writing Desk
A sheraton style writing desk brings classical geometry and refined inlay into a room, offering a neat surface for correspondence.
How They Were Made
Cabinet makers utilised solid and veneered timbers, pairing sturdy carcasses of mahogany or rosewood with smoother surfaces of satinwood. Delicate boxwood stringing and marquetry panels provided visual contrast along drawer fronts and table edges.
Inlaid details required precise hand-cutting, where contrasting woods were fitted flush into channels carved within the primary timber. Writing surfaces were typically inset with tooled leather, secured neatly around the perimeter with brass tacks.
What Varies in Quality
Quality rests upon the crispness of the inlay and the selection of timber veneers. Finely figured satinwood and carefully matched mahogany grain distinguish superior pieces from simpler workshop production.
Construction details such as dovetailed drawer linings and the retention of original brass hardware indicate the level of care invested in the piece. Well-executed hand-painted decoration or complex marquetry elevates certain examples above standard utilitarian writing tables.
Sheraton Style Writing Desk Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for sheraton style writing desk 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.
Several ladies desks include hidden compartments designed for secret love letters and miniature trinkets.
Edwards & Roberts·Gillows of Lancaster
The Sheraton Style Writing Desk Glossary
- Satinwood
- A lustrous timber native to the tropics, prized for its golden sheen and smooth grain. It was frequently used for veneers and decorative panels on refined writing furniture.
- Stringing
- Narrow strips of contrasting wood inlaid into the surface of a piece to form borders and geometric outlines. This technique defines the linear elegance associated with Sheraton design.
- Cylinder Top
- A curved wooden shutter that rolls back into the desk body to reveal a fitted interior of small drawers and pigeonholes. It offers a tidy way to conceal correspondence.
- Marquetry
- The art of forming decorative patterns using thin veneers of various woods applied to a supportive background. It often depicts floral motifs or classical urns on cabinet fronts.
- Secretaire
- A cabinet or desk incorporating a pull-down writing flap that conceals inner compartments. It combines storage capacity with a dedicated writing surface.
Sheraton Style Writing Desk: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I identify Sheraton Revival furniture?
Sheraton Revival pieces date mostly from the late Victorian and Edwardian periods, mimicking the light neoclassical style of the seventeen-eighties and nineties. They often feature satinwood, tapered legs, and delicate floral inlay.
These later interpretations retain the refined geometry of Georgian prototypes while employing nineteenth-century construction methods.
Are these desks suitable for daily use?
Most writing desks provide adequate height and surface area for modern correspondence or laptop use. Leather writing inserts offer a durable base for writing.
Care should be taken to protect polished satinwood and mahogany surfaces from moisture and heat through the use of proper desk pads.
What is a bureau bookcase?
A bureau bookcase combines a sloping drop-front writing desk with upper shelving enclosed by doors. The fitted interior includes small drawers for papers.
This form provides both display space for books and a concealed writing area within a single upright piece of furniture.