| Blind
tooling |
Embost pattern on leather surface without gilt
or colour added. |
| Bramah
Locks |
'Bramah Patented Locks' (1784 - 2002) "In 1784, Joseph Bramah
patented his lock which for many years had the reputation of being
absolutely un-pickable. He offered £200 to anyone who could
pick his lock and although many tried it - it was not until 1851
that the money was won by an American, A.C. Hobbs, although it took
him 16 days to do it! Joseph Bramah was deservedly honoured and
admired as one of the earliest mechanical geniuses of his day." |
| Bullnose
moulding |
Moulded rounded edge. |
| Chippendale |
Thomas Chippendale was a London cabinet-maker and furniture designer
in the mid-Georgian, English Rococo, and Neoclassical styles. He
became the first cabinet-maker to publish a book of his designs,
titled The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director. His designs became
very popular again during the middle to late 19th century, leading
to widespread adoption of his name in revivals of his style. |
| Cock-beading |
A bead moulding applied to the edges of
drawers. |
| Corbel |
A projecting carved moulding at the top
or bottom of cabinet furniture. |
| Corner
Desk Chair |
A chair with a central leg and a bowed
top rail . |
| Coromandel |
Type of wood from the Coromandel coast
of India used for banding and inlay, popular during the Regency
period. |
| Cornice |
The projecting decorative moulding at the
top of tall furniture. |
| Cross
Banding |
A veneered edge to table tops and drawer
fronts, at right angles to the main veneer. |
| Curl Mahogany |
This mahogany has very small, delicate waves in the grain that
are 'curled' rather than straight as is normal mahogany. |
| Dentils |
Small rectangular blocks applied at regular
intervals to the cornices of furniture. |
| Davenport |
A compact writing desk with a sloped top
above a case of drawers. |
| Drop-in
seat |
An upholstered seat frame that sits in
the main framework of a chair. |
| Dovetails |
A series of interlocking joints, used in
drawers. Hand made dovetails are finer and less uniform that machine
made joints and confirm that the piece of furniture has some age. |
| Dummy
Drawer |
A decorative false drawer, complete with
handle. |
| Ebonized |
Wood stained and polished black to simulate
ebony. |
| End
Support |
A central support at the sides of a writing
or sofa table. |
| Escutcheon |
Brass plate surrounding and protecting
the edges of a keyhole . |
| Front |
The flap of a bureau or secretaire that
pulls forward to provide a writing surface. |
| Feather
or Herringbone Banding |
Two narrow bands of veneer laid in opposite
diagonals. |
| Fielded
Panel |
A raised panel with a bevelled or chamfered
edge that fits into a framework. |
| Figuring |
The natural grain of wood seen in veneers. |
| Flamed
Veneer |
A veneer cut at an angle to enhance the
figuring. |
| Fluting |
Decorative concave, parallel grooves running
down the legs of tables and chairs. |
| Foliate
Carving |
Carved flower and leaf motifs. |
| Fretwork |
Fine pierced decoration often applied over
solid wood and known as blind fretwork. |
| Frieze |
The framework immediately below a table
top. |
| Gilt-tooled
Decoration |
Impressed gold leaf on the edges of leather
desk tops. |
| Improved |
An item that has been altered or added
to at a later date to improve its style. |
| Kneehole
Desk |
A desk with a recessed central cupboard
below the frieze drawer. |
| Loper |
A pull-out arm used to support the hinged
fall of a bureau. |
| Moulding |
A shaped piece of wood applied to a piece
of furniture, comprising a long strip or a small decorative motif. |
| Ogee |
A double curve of slender S-shape. |
| Ovolo |
A moulding comprising a quarter-segment
of a sphere. |
| Partner's
Desk |
A large desk with a configuration of drawers
and cupboards or all drawers to both sides which was originally
for the use of 2 people. |
| Patina |
The build-up of wax and dirt that gives
old furniture a soft mellow look. |
| Pedestal
Desk |
A flat desk, usually with a leather top,
that stands on two banks of drawers. |
| Plinth
Base |
A solid base which with a desk goes around
the pedestal beneath the drawers |
| Reeding |
Parallel strips of convex flutes found
on the legs of chairs and tables. |
| Runners |
The strips of wood on which drawers slide. |
| Sabre
Leg |
A curved chair leg in the shape of a sabre,
strongly associated with the Regency period. |
| Spade
foot |
A tapering foot of square section. |
| Spandrel |
A decorative corner bracket, usually pierced
. |
| Splat |
The central upright in a chair back; loosely
applied to all members in a chair back. |
| Squab |
The loose flat cushion on the seat of
a chair . |
| Thumb
moulding |
Decorative convex moulding. |
| Stretchers |
The horizontal bars that unite and strengthen
the legs of chairs and other furniture. |
| Turned |
A solid piece of wood modeled by turning
on a lathe, i.e. chair or table leg |
| Uprights |
The vertical sides of the back of a chair |
| Veneer |
A thin slice of timber cut from the solid. |
| William
IV |
A transitional period (1830 to 1837) that
lies between the Regency and Victorian eras. A term often used to
describe furniture that incorporates features which are typical
of both the earlier Regency and later Victorian styles. |
| Windsor
Chair |
A type of wooden chair with a spindle and
splat back. |
Do you wish to sell an Antique Desk Chair or Library Chair?
Do you have an antique desk, writing table or desk chair that you would like to sell? If so please send photos and details of size and condition to us and ask for a no obligation quote.
If its something we are looking for we will be happy to offer a fair price collect and pay you usually within 7 - 10 days. We look forward to hearing from you!
About Burrells Antique Desks:
We are a small family business with over 35 years experience in the antique furniture business. Our success is based on careful selection of good quality stock and ensuring it is traditionally and sympathetically restored to enhance its beauty and retain its value. We buy with the customer in mind and offer serviceable, good quality furniture that will look good, last well and retain its value.
We stock antique desks, writing tables, library tables and chairs in a variety of styles and sizes from English periods: Regency, Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian; in Mahogany, Oak, Walnut, Burr Walnut and Rosewood. As a family run antique furniture business we pride ourselves in offering a professional and friendly service to all our customers.
Returns Policy for UK Customers:
We are confident that you will be happy with your
antique furniture from us, but in the unlikely event you are not
happy you can return it to us. Please contact us as soon as you
have any concerns so that we can discuss it and decide how to resolve
the matter with you.
If the reason for return is due to our description
being at fault in any way we will off course accept the piece back
when we have established the problem with you.
If the reason for return is because you have changed
your mind for any reason we will accept the piece back within 7
days of you receiving the piece. In this instance the customer will
be responsible for paying for the return of the item back to us.
Questions relating to UK Deliveries
