Regency Burr Elm Davenport Desk

An exceptional quality and extremely rare early 18th century regency burr elm davenport. Having hinged swivel top with inset leather, retaining elegant original ormolu gallery with pierced handle. Over rare mechanical slide and four ash lined drawers with bobbin moulded decoration, raised on original turned bun feet.

The term Davenport is owed to Captain Davenport, the first person to commission an item of furniture in this form. He purchased it from the well known and hugely respected cabinet making firm Gillows of Lancaster, towards the end of the 18th century.

As a general rule, as time progressed, most davenports began to lose their elegance and simplicity, resulting in the majority of those made in the Victorian era being overly fussy and often of questionable construction quality.

This particular davenport dates very much before that, early 19th century in fact, and as a result is incredibly elegant, beautiful and well put together. It is fabulous quality in all areas, from the figuring elm veneers, which would have been incredibly expensive to purchase as a raw material, right through to the fine ormolu details on top, and the secondary timbers which are mahogany and ash.

Another incredible feature, which we have not actually come across before, is the mechanical action connected to the swivel top. This results in a writing slide automatically popping out of the opposite side to that on which the top finishes up. We believe this feature may even be unique, and therefore quite possibly specially commissioned, having not come across it before, but are happy to be corrected if somebody knows differently.

As with all items which we offer for sale, the regency davenport has received a natural wax polish and general tidy in our workshops, by our traditional antique furniture restorers before being placed on sale, ensuring that it is ready to be placed immediately.

Circa 1810.

Height 31in.
Width 18in.
Depth 23in.

Price

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

Stock number