Webberley Antiques

Description

With superb colour and patination, this is an exemplary Queen Anne English mulberry bureau walnut featherbanding to drawers and fall c. 1710-1720.

The interior fitted with an arrangement of shaped drawers including two concealed secret drawers and a deep well.

In superior condition for age, the veneers butterfly matched across the fall and drawers and now having aged over the last 300 years to this superb honey colour.

Mulberry is the name given to burr maple or sycamore that was been carefully treated with 'aqua fortis' (a weak acid often containing dissolved precious and base metals which each gave a different tincture to the wood). It produced this spectacular 'tortoiseshell' effect and had been in use since the early 1680s. The London cabinet maker John Coxed and others used this process and then, as now, mulberry furniture is extremely rare and of the finest quality.

The drawers are all oak lined and constructed correctly for period. All are very robust, all open and close smoothly. There is a doubled moulding to the drawer frames, around the fall and the well, and to the sides and top of the bureau and a deep ovolu crossbanding around the base. Solid walnut high necked bun feet and brasses have been replaced but many years ago, brasses are smoothed with age, hand cast and have been on the bureau most of its life. Minor marks and dings, a few veneer replacements and some light restoration consistent with age and a well cared for family piece. Some old worm as is to be expected but long since dead. Original lock to fall and working key. Deep padded leather skiver of pale gold colour with gold tooled border.

With provenance from the estate sale of a longstanding private English family collection, this is an outstanding and rare example.

Webberley is pleased to offer Worldwide shipping at reasonable rates. We believe in old fashioned personal service and offer third generation experience in fine antique furniture.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this beautiful piece and please call if you would like any further information or to view 0044 (0) 1892 784322