Object Description
A rare and Important late 17th Century Charles II / William and Mary figured walnut two-piece bureau circa 1680, England.
The cross and double feather-banded top is veneered in book-matched figured walnut over a book-matched figured walnut feather and cross-banded fall. The fall opens to a similarly veneered interior of two long, four short, two pigeon holes and a well concealing two hidden drawers stowed within that are only accessible once the ink tray is removed and the candle drawers are fully open.
Candle drawers sit to the left and right of the figured walnut feather banded ogee moulded frieze above two short and two long oak-lined graduating drawers veneered in the same fashion fitted with what appears to be the original solid brass ring-pull handles, escutcheons and locks.
The stepped sides are each book-matched in choice cuts of figured walnut and crossbanded.
The bureau is raised on an ogee cross-grain moulded base and four walnut bun feet.
One of the many captivating features of this compact bureau is not only the patinated condition, the colour, quality and fine construction but also the hardware used. The locks to the fall, two short and two long drawers are very much English in every way but it is the sprung catches to the interior drawers, well and candle drawers that are really very unusual and interesting for a piece of English furniture. They appear to be English in form but relate to that used on the continent in the last half of the 17th century. This is most interesting and would suggest that they were made in England by a Huguenotnot maker.