Contact Seller
Webberley Antiques
Tel07765 233 266Please quote Antiques Atlas.
18th Century walnut bureau
Napoleon III writing desk in polychrome wood.19thC
Italian Louis XVI walnut desk, 18th century.
Victorian Burr Walnut Davenport Desk.
Late Victorian Inlaid Mahogany Writing Desk by Map
French Kingwood Writing Desk. 19th Century.
Italian Louis XVI writing desk. 18th century.
Mid 18th Century Mahogany Bureau of Good Colour
Rare Early 18th Century Walnut Bureau
Good Quality Large Mahogany Pedestal Desk
Fine Edwardian Inlaid Rosewood Ladies Writing Desk
Antique Mahogany Military Campaign Desk
Non UK callers :
+44 7765 233 266
Padauk Bureau in the Chippendale Manner c. 1780
In superb original condition, with a fantastic colour, and retaining the original fine quality brass hardware. This is a very high quality solid Padauk bureau and an extremely rare piece of British Colonial and Canton period furniture dating from around 1760.
This is an incredible piece of artistry and skill, very pure in the making, and it remains in excellent and largely original condition.
What strikes you is not only the extraordinary quality of the cabinet work and hardware but that it contains an usually high number of secret drawers and hidden compartments.
In addition to the interior concealed drawers flanking the architectural door with teak parquetry, the whole central section pulls out and there is a concealed compartment behind this and drawers in the aprons above the pigeon holes. But this bureau also has four shallow sliding drawers set into the reverse of two of the dust boards between the main long drawers and a false base board above the bottom boards/below the lowest principal drawer.
There is a lining of blue paper on the shallow dust board hidden drawers.
I think all of the main drawers once had similar false bottoms raised just a half inch above the base boards of each. These sadly appear very recently lost as the bottom boards are in pristine and clean condition and there is a slim band of the blue paper stuck along the back of each drawer lining – which may have acted as a sort of hinge.
Despite its small size the bureau is the heaviest I have ever encountered and far heavier than if made of any other hardwood.
The lock to the fall has been broken out and changed at some point early in its life - which given the timber and hardware must have taken quite some effort!
The plinth is beautifully carved with a Chinese scroll.
Even the drawer linings are solid Padauk with a beautiful colour and swirling grain.
It would have been made bespoke for someone who needed these secret places and the false bottom board certainly would have allowed a lot of bank notes or important documents to be successfully hidden.
A Padauk bureau bookcase at Christies sold for £16,800 and on line you will find 18th Century Anglo Indian Padauk pieces selling for upwards of £30,000.
Dimensions are:
36 inches wide, 41 inches high, 22 inches deep
(dimensions measured at feet are 37.5 inches wide and 23 max deep)
For metric please multiply by 2.5 I describe and photograph my pieces accurately and with the aim that on arrival each will exceed expectations.
I operate a full refund guarantee and am always happy to give free, honest and friendly advice.
SellerWebberley Antiques
View all stock from
Webberley Antiques
The Barn
Battle Road
Dallington
East Sussex
TN21 9LQ
Tel : 07765 233 266
Non UK callers : +44 7765 233 266
Get directions to Webberley Antiques
This is an incredible piece of artistry and skill, very pure in the making, and it remains in excellent and largely original condition.
What strikes you is not only the extraordinary quality of the cabinet work and hardware but that it contains an usually high number of secret drawers and hidden compartments.
In addition to the interior concealed drawers flanking the architectural door with teak parquetry, the whole central section pulls out and there is a concealed compartment behind this and drawers in the aprons above the pigeon holes. But this bureau also has four shallow sliding drawers set into the reverse of two of the dust boards between the main long drawers and a false base board above the bottom boards/below the lowest principal drawer.
There is a lining of blue paper on the shallow dust board hidden drawers.
I think all of the main drawers once had similar false bottoms raised just a half inch above the base boards of each. These sadly appear very recently lost as the bottom boards are in pristine and clean condition and there is a slim band of the blue paper stuck along the back of each drawer lining – which may have acted as a sort of hinge.
Despite its small size the bureau is the heaviest I have ever encountered and far heavier than if made of any other hardwood.
The lock to the fall has been broken out and changed at some point early in its life - which given the timber and hardware must have taken quite some effort!
The plinth is beautifully carved with a Chinese scroll.
Even the drawer linings are solid Padauk with a beautiful colour and swirling grain.
It would have been made bespoke for someone who needed these secret places and the false bottom board certainly would have allowed a lot of bank notes or important documents to be successfully hidden.
A Padauk bureau bookcase at Christies sold for £16,800 and on line you will find 18th Century Anglo Indian Padauk pieces selling for upwards of £30,000.
Dimensions are:
36 inches wide, 41 inches high, 22 inches deep
(dimensions measured at feet are 37.5 inches wide and 23 max deep)
For metric please multiply by 2.5 I describe and photograph my pieces accurately and with the aim that on arrival each will exceed expectations.
I operate a full refund guarantee and am always happy to give free, honest and friendly advice.
Price
Click here to message the seller The price has been listed in British Pounds.
Conversion rates as of 27/MAY/2026. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer.
Category Antique Furniture
Date c.1780
George III Antiques
Item code as216a2420
Status For Sale
£3500.00 
$4696.65
€4039.70
$4696.65
€4039.70
Looking to Buy?
Arrange a final price and delivery details directly with the dealerClick here to message the seller
Conversion rates as of 27/MAY/2026. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer.
View all stock from
Webberley Antiques
The BarnBattle Road
Dallington
East Sussex
TN21 9LQ
Tel : 07765 233 266
Non UK callers : +44 7765 233 266
Get directions to Webberley Antiques
You may also be interested in
18th Century walnut bureau
Napoleon III writing desk in polychrome wood.19thC
Italian Louis XVI walnut desk, 18th century.
Victorian Burr Walnut Davenport Desk.
Late Victorian Inlaid Mahogany Writing Desk by Map
French Kingwood Writing Desk. 19th Century.
Italian Louis XVI writing desk. 18th century.
Mid 18th Century Mahogany Bureau of Good Colour
Rare Early 18th Century Walnut Bureau
Good Quality Large Mahogany Pedestal Desk
Fine Edwardian Inlaid Rosewood Ladies Writing Desk
Antique Mahogany Military Campaign Desk