Not currently on display at the V&A

Bureau

ca. 1730 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Transcribed from the green catalogue
'Mahogany carcase, with veneers of walnut, yew and amboyna and brass drawer handles and lock plates. Flat top, ends and front. In front, above two long drawers, of which the lower is the deeper, and two short drawers, the flap rests, when open, on slides and gives access to the desk, which is lined principally with amboyna veneer and comprises a central locking cupboard door disclosing a drawer and flanked by a pair of ivory columns, four pairs of pigeon-holes, and three pairs of ivory-knobbed drawers, of which the outer two pairs are stepped. Four plain bracket feet. Three keys.'


Object details

Category
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 15 parts.

  • Keys
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Secret Compartment
  • Drawer
  • Secret Compartment
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Cabinet
Materials and techniques
Pine and mahogany carcase with walnut, yew and amboyna veneers, and brass and ivory fittings
Brief description
Bureau, English, ca. 1710, mahogany and walnut
Physical description
Transcribed from the green catalogue
'Mahogany carcase, with veneers of walnut, yew and amboyna and brass drawer handles and lock plates. Flat top, ends and front. In front, above two long drawers, of which the lower is the deeper, and two short drawers, the flap rests, when open, on slides and gives access to the desk, which is lined principally with amboyna veneer and comprises a central locking cupboard door disclosing a drawer and flanked by a pair of ivory columns, four pairs of pigeon-holes, and three pairs of ivory-knobbed drawers, of which the outer two pairs are stepped. Four plain bracket feet. Three keys.'
Dimensions
  • Height: 104.5cm
  • Width: 96.2cm
  • Depth: 57.9cm
taken from object 2019
Credit line
Bequeathed by Miss Amy E. Tomes
Object history
Walnut bureau & walnut bureau cabinet, bequest of Miss Amy E Tomes of Welbeck House 12 November 1940 (killed by enemy action - a bomb)

Notes from R.P. 1532/40, 6607/35, 1403/40

3/10/40 letter, Executors of Tomes to the Museum
listed among the objects bequeathed from Welbeck House, Wigmore Street:
"Walnut bureau with ivory fittings", pencil margin note "veneer needs repair" (W.47)
"Walnut bureau cabinet with arch top" (W.48)

12/11/40 Transit Room notes
"Walnut bureau with ivory fittings (& 3 keys) (split, portions of veneer missing)" W.47
"Walnut bureau cabinet with arch top (& 2 keys) (split, veneer damaged)" W.48
Collection
Accession number
W.47:15-1940

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Record createdAugust 29, 2006
Record URL
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