47/2006
Collection
Furniture
Brief description
Mahogany bureau with pull-down writing surface, an arrangement of drawers and a central cupboard, manufactured in England c.1790.
Object name
bureau
Object number
47/2006
Location
On Display
Production date
c.1790 (manufactured)
Production place
England (manufactured)
Period
Georgian (1714-1837)
Material
mahogany
glue
baize
brass
iron
oak
deal
glue
baize
brass
iron
oak
deal
Technique
veneered
joined
glued
marquetry
nailed
joined
glued
marquetry
nailed
Physical description
Mahogany bureau, c.1790. Slope enclosing a baize lined writing surface and an arrangement of pigeon holes and drawers with a central cupboard and pilaster drawers over two short and three long graduated drawers on ogee bracket (S shaped) feet. The drawers and cupboard are made from oak and are edged with cock beading. The internal cupboard and drawers have a marquetry design of flowers and a vase.
There are two small draws underneath the drop down slope and three larger drawers underneath. Each drawer has an iron lock and handle secured by circular brass nuts. The drawer handles and locks are all original and also apparently have original screws. There are traces of lacquer to the circular back plates. However the escutcheon is possibly not original and has been moved. There are splits to several of the drawer bottoms due to shrinkage and wear to bosses of the drawers caused by drawer stops. The dust boards are also worn caused by the action of the drawers. There are losses to the cock beading on the lower left of the top long drawer and the centre bottom of the bottom drawer.
The overall colour is a relatively even faded mahogany. There is a build up of dark patination around the handles graduating in intensity from the top to the bottom drawer. There is some cracking and light bruising to the drawers, fall and the sides of the carcase caused by the lopers (sliding arm extending from the bureau to support the fall front) and/or the left side drawer and a slight crack to the left side of the hinge. The slope is also split in the area of the left and right hinge. There is some light bruising, ink stains etc to the top. There is some damage to the mahogany facing on the rails and carcase sides due to shrinkage (normal). There are some losses on both the right and left sides and significant losses to the rail on the left side above and below the bottom drawer. There is a break to the bracket on the front left foot and a loss on the lower section of back left foot. There are supporting blocks missing from the inside of the back left and right feet. There is a horizontal line of faded timber at waist level on the right side of the carcase.
The back of the carcase, bottom boards and the back of the base mouldings are covered with a red wash which is now oxidised and darkened. The interior of the back boards and the other areas of visible deal are also covered with a red wash. The top board has pulled away from top rebate and split due to shrinkage. Two handles are missing on the left side of the interior drawers and one handle has broken on the right side of the interior drawers. The baize surface is original, faded and discoloured and split along the line of the fold. The hinges are original and the screws are apparently untouched.
The stop to the right loper has become detached from the back of the carcase and is currently in the top right drawer.
There are two small draws underneath the drop down slope and three larger drawers underneath. Each drawer has an iron lock and handle secured by circular brass nuts. The drawer handles and locks are all original and also apparently have original screws. There are traces of lacquer to the circular back plates. However the escutcheon is possibly not original and has been moved. There are splits to several of the drawer bottoms due to shrinkage and wear to bosses of the drawers caused by drawer stops. The dust boards are also worn caused by the action of the drawers. There are losses to the cock beading on the lower left of the top long drawer and the centre bottom of the bottom drawer.
The overall colour is a relatively even faded mahogany. There is a build up of dark patination around the handles graduating in intensity from the top to the bottom drawer. There is some cracking and light bruising to the drawers, fall and the sides of the carcase caused by the lopers (sliding arm extending from the bureau to support the fall front) and/or the left side drawer and a slight crack to the left side of the hinge. The slope is also split in the area of the left and right hinge. There is some light bruising, ink stains etc to the top. There is some damage to the mahogany facing on the rails and carcase sides due to shrinkage (normal). There are some losses on both the right and left sides and significant losses to the rail on the left side above and below the bottom drawer. There is a break to the bracket on the front left foot and a loss on the lower section of back left foot. There are supporting blocks missing from the inside of the back left and right feet. There is a horizontal line of faded timber at waist level on the right side of the carcase.
The back of the carcase, bottom boards and the back of the base mouldings are covered with a red wash which is now oxidised and darkened. The interior of the back boards and the other areas of visible deal are also covered with a red wash. The top board has pulled away from top rebate and split due to shrinkage. Two handles are missing on the left side of the interior drawers and one handle has broken on the right side of the interior drawers. The baize surface is original, faded and discoloured and split along the line of the fold. The hinges are original and the screws are apparently untouched.
The stop to the right loper has become detached from the back of the carcase and is currently in the top right drawer.
Dimensions
Height: 108.5cm
Width: 122cm
Depth: 51.5cm
Width: 122cm
Depth: 51.5cm
Website keywords
furniture
Label
Label text for 1790 Period Room (Room 4), Geffrye Museum, 2010:
Bureau
The sloping top of the bureau can be dropped down to reveal an arrangement of drawers and compartments and provide a writing surface. The bureau could be locked and would have been used for storing papers. The long drawers beneath also provided storage.
Mahogany, c.1780
Bureau
The sloping top of the bureau can be dropped down to reveal an arrangement of drawers and compartments and provide a writing surface. The bureau could be locked and would have been used for storing papers. The long drawers beneath also provided storage.
Mahogany, c.1780
