Object Description
This is a fine quality antique English Victorian burr walnut Davenport writing desk, decorated with extensive boxwood detail, circa 1860, in excellent original condition.
Summary:
• Item: Davenport Writing Desk
• Circa: 1860
• Period: Victorian
• Provenance: England, UK
• Wood: Burr walnut
• Extensive boxwood marquetry decoration
• Raised hinged compartment top
• Original brass gallery
• Black inset leather
• Moulded overhanging writing slope
• Turned & foliate carved writing slope supports
• Four mahogany lined working drawers to right-hand side
• Quarter beaded drawers (sign of quality)
• Faux drawers to left-hand side
• Original turned wooden knobs
• Internal maple lined storage compartment
• Original working locks (with keys)
• Original brass & mug castors
• Excellent original condition
• Free delivery to England, Wales & southern Scotland*
• Free 14-day UK returns policy
Description:
This is a fine quality antique English Victorian burr walnut Davenport writing desk, circa 1860, in excellent original condition. The surface of the desk is decorated with stunning boxwood marquetry detail all over. The Davenport writing desk incorporates a raised hinged compartment, with a moulded top, retaining the original brass gallery, which opens to reveal an assortment of compartments, including a pen tray. An overhanging writing slope in front (allows the user to sit with their knees underneath), boasts a black & gold tool leather insert. The writing slope retains its original lock which, when unlocked, allows the lid to be opened. The lid is secured open by a brass internal stay. Inside the writing slope is a maple lined storage area. The overhanging slope is supported by two decorative turned vertical supports, on carved feet. Below the writing slope, to the right-hand side, are four hand-dovetailed, graduated mahogany lined and quarter beaded drawers. Each drawer retains its original lock and turned wooden knobs. To the left-hand side of the Davenport writing desk is a bank of faux drawers. The Davenport legs rest on its original brass castors. The desk is freestanding, with all sides French polished, therefore could be situated in the centre of a room if necessary.
This antique Davenport desk would look superb in a variety of rooms from the bedroom, living room or office. This item would certainly grace any home and is a great investment as it is an extremely functional item. This is a truly excellent piece with quality design and construction throughout. So, don’t miss out on your chance to own a lovely piece of furniture.
History of the Davenport Desk:
This desk owes its name to a Captain Davenport who was the first to commission the design, from Gillows of Lancaster, near the end of the 18th century. In a sense, then, it could also be considered a Campaign desk, though there are no records indicating if Captain Davenport was in the British Army or the Royal Navy. The design was ingenious and practical because it consumed so little space in an officers’ cabin on a ship. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davenport_desk
Price:
The price for this item is £1,150, which includes free delivery to mainland England, Wales & southern Scotland* and free 14-day returns.
Condition Report:
This is a fine quality antique English Victorian burr walnut Davenport writing desk, decorated with extensive boxwood detail, circa 1860, in excellent original condition. Nominal old use marks to the corners and leading edges, but nothing significant, considering the age of the item. The leather is clean and free from any rips, tears and stains. The drawers are all smooth running and close flush to the frame. The drawers all retain their original working locks (with no key), as well as their original turned wooden knobs. Similarly, the lock to the writing slope lid is original (with no key). As the desk retains its original polish, it has a fantastic colour and patination; this can only be achieved through age and the years of care and cleaning it has received. This antique Davenport desk is solid in joint and ready to use.
Dimensions:
External Height = 86.5cm / 34” / 2ft 10”
External Width (Includes Drawer Knobs) = 54cm / 21¼” / 1ft 9¼”
External Depth = 54cm / 21¼” / 1ft 9¼”
Writing Height (Bottom of Slope) = 71.5cm / 28⅛” / 2ft 4⅛”
Knee Height = 62cm / 24⅜”/ 2ft 0⅜”
Knee Width (Between Shaped supports) = 41.5cm / 16⅜”/ 1ft 4⅜”
Customer Service:
We offer customer satisfaction through the following services:
• Free delivery to England, Wales & Southern Scotland*
• Free 14 Day Returns
• Full money back assurance
• Worldwide shipping
• Full insurance of items in transit
Further Information:
For more information or photographs please email or call us.
Office: 01829 458 070
Julian: 07960 738 212
Yola: 07971 882 567
Customers outside the UK should call:
Office: 00 44 1829 458 070
Julian: 00 44 7960 738 212
Yola: 00 44 7971 882 567
Email: [email protected]
Free UK Delivery*:
We offer free delivery to mainland England, Wales, and Southern Scotland (anywhere south of Stirling). *We do not offer free delivery to locations north of Stirling in Scotland, Northern Ireland, or any British Islands off the mainland; for example, the Isle of Man, Isle of White and Channel Islands. If you live in one of the areas where we do not offer free delivery, please contact us for a delivery quote before purchasing the item. Delivery will be made by our specialised antique furniture delivery service, or in some cases we will use a courier service for distant deliveries.
Delivery times are usually 1-4 weeks depending on location; we aim to deliver the majority of items within 2 weeks. All items are professionally packaged and fully insured in transit; therefore, we can assure you, your items will be securely protected in transit and arrive safely with you.
Once you have purchased an item, we will contact you by email and/or telephone and provide you with a provisional delivery date, in order for you to confirm if it is suitable for you. Once you have confirmed you can accept delivery on the provisional delivery date, we will book the delivery in with our shippers and it then becomes a confirmed delivery date.
We will also provide you with our shippers’ contact details, in case you need to contact the driver on the day of delivery. It’s helpful if you can provide us with both the landline and mobile telephone number, in case the driver cannot reach you on one of the numbers on the day of delivery, they can contact you on your alternative number.
In order to be able to offer you free delivery, it is based on a 1-man delivery only. For any large items that require 2 people to lift the item, we ask that you are available at the time of delivery to be able to give our shipper a lift off the van and into your house with the item. If you are not able to lift items yourself, we ask that you have someone on hand at the time of delivery to assist our shipper with lifting the item.
Free 14 Days UK Returns & Refunds:
A free 14-day “no quibble” returns policy (from the date you receive the item) is available if you are not happy with this item. We will collect the item free of charge from you (we do not charge a return fee / collection fee). You will be given a full refund as long as the item is returned in the same condition. We will collect returns using our own specialist furniture delivery company. We will not accept returns via a courier service (due to experience of damaged items in transit). This refund policy only applies to deliveries to the UK.
UK Buyer Payment:
For UK buyers, we accept cash on collection or delivery; cheque, credit card, BACS (free bank to bank transfer) or PayPal. Payment is requested within 5 days of the sale. Payment must be cleared before the items are collected or delivered.
International Buyers:
If you live outside the UK and you would like to purchase this item, please contact us before purchasing it, so that we can obtain an accurate shipping quote and delivery lead-time. The shipping quote provided is a global estimate only. The actual shipping cost will vary by country and postcode. Due to the distances and costs involved with shipping outside the UK, a returns policy is therefore not available for international buyers. Before placing your order(s) please make sure this is the item for you. We request payment by bank transfer (we do not accept payment via PayPal, credit or debit cards for international purchases). Payment is requested within 10 days of the purchase. Payment must be cleared before the items are collected or delivered to our shippers. The advertised price of the item does not include the shipping cost, sales tax, import duty or custom fees.
Important information regarding PayPal payment:
We only accept payment from fully verified PayPal account holders with confirmed addresses only. Items will only be sent to the confirmed address registered in PayPal. If you purchase an item and your address is not confirmed, your payment will be refunded and the purchase cancelled. It only takes a few moments to verify and confirm your PayPal details.
About the Seller:
This item is being sold by Yola Gray Antiques who is an accredited member of LAPADA (the UK’s largest Trade Association of Professional Art and Antique Dealers) and CINOA. CINOA is the world association of Art & Antique dealer associations. All LAPADA & CINOA members abide by their strict code of practice by adhering to reputable standards of quality, expertise and integrity.
Yola Gray has dealt in fine art and antique furniture for over 40 years. Yola Gray has a special interest in colonial furniture, specifically antique four poster beds. Yola Gray also provides a variety of fine English antique furniture, art and fabrics to clients in the UK, Europe and further afield.
Please visit the Yola Gray website at www.yolagray.com for further items and information.
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