Antique Office Furniture
Working from home becomes a genuine pleasure when your desk has been standing since Gladstone was in office. Our dealers stock antique pedestal desks, writing tables, bureau bookcases, filing cabinets, captain's chairs, partners' desks and library tables in mahogany, oak and walnut.
Antique office furniture was built for daily use over decades, if not centuries. The result is a quality of construction and materials that makes modern office furniture look decidedly temporary.
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18th Century Dutch Marquetry Walnut Bureau
A splendid Dutch walnut marquetry bureau c. 1760. Well constructed in solid walnut with attractive b...
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Oak Revolving Adjustable Height Office Desk Chair
RESERVED
This Oak Revolving Adjustable Height Office Desk Chair with its curved back and generous b...
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French Tulip Wood Bureau Plat
A superb quality French Louis XVI style bureau plat in Tulip Wood. Excellent construction with stunn...
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A Very Rare Queen Anne Kneehole Desk
A very rare Queen Anne, black and gilt Japanned kneehole desk. Constructed in oak, pine and pear woo...
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Inlaid Rosewood Bonheur Du Jour
A late Victorian period inlaid rosewood bonheur du jour, or writing desk. Well constructed in solid...
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A Superb 19th C French Bonheur Du Jour
A superb 19th C French Bonheur du Jour. In Amboina and kingwood and with ormolu mounts, moldings and...
Superb Mahogany Partners Desk
A superb oak lined mahogany double pedestal partners desk of small proportions, nine drawers to one...
Superb Chippendale Mahogany Pedestal Desk
A super quality Victorian mahogany double pedestal desk, working locks with keys, original red leath...
A Rare Serpentine Knee-hole Desk
A George III flame mahogany, serpentine fronted knee-hole desk. With beautifully selected flame maho...
An English Ormolu Mounted Bureau Plat
An English ormolu mounted bureau plat possibly by Gillows. In burr walnut, tulip-wood and amaranth a...
Fine Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Kidney Shaped Writing Desk
Fine quality 19th century Victorian antique burr walnut freestanding kidney shaped writing desk tabl...
Antique George III Quality Mahogany Bureau
Antique George III quality mahogany bureau having a mahogany fall opening to reveal a fully fitted i...
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Quality Antique Victorian Inlaid Rosewood Marquetry Writing Desk
Quality antique Victorian inlaid rosewood marquetry writing desk with the top section having an attr...
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Unusual Antique Victorian Free Standing Walnut Ladies Davenport
Unusual antique Victorian free standing figured walnut ladies Davenport having the original decorati...
Exceptional Quality Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Bureau
Exceptional quality antique Victorian burr walnut bureau having three drawers above a beautiful shap...
A Fine Marquetry Inlaid Writhing Table
A most attractive small, single drawer, marquetry inlaid writhing table. Raised on elegant cabriole...
Fine Quality Antique Victorian Freestanding Maple & Co. Inlaid Writing Desk
Fine quality Victorian freestanding Maple & Co. inlaid writing desk having original pierced brass ga...
Outstanding Quality Antique Regency Mahogany Secretaire Bookcase
Outstanding quality antique regency mahogany secretaire bookcase having an unusual scroll shaped cor...
Exhibition Quality Library Table
A superb quality C19th rosewood library writing table, or centre table, freestanding with full width...
Antique George III Quality Walnut Kneehole Desk
Antique George III quality walnut kneehole desk having a quality figured walnut crossbanded top abov...
Outstanding Quality 18th Century Antique Dutch Marquetry Inlaid Burr Walnut Bureau Bookcase
Outstanding quality 18th century antique Dutch marquetry inlaid burr walnut bureau bookcase having a...
Antique Victorian Quality Satinwood Freestanding Marquetry Inlaid French Bureau
Antique Victorian quality satinwood freestanding marquetry inlaid French bureau having the original...
Antique George III Quality Figured Mahogany Secretaire Desk/Cabinet
Antique George III quality figured mahogany secretaire desk/cabinet having a quality figured mahogan...
Antique George I Quality Figured Walnut Bureau Bookcase
Antique George I quality figured walnut bureau bookcase having a shaped cornice above a pair of waln...
A Rare Bold 19th Century Brass Inlaid Arm Chair
A rare bold 19th century continental brass inlaid oak desk armchair. Most probably Northern European...
18th Century Mahogany Kneehole Desk
A nice early 18th Century Mahogany Kneehole Desk of good colour and condition retaining the original...
Fine Quality French Antique Victorian Kingwood and Ormolu Mounted Bureau/Desk
Fine quality French antique Victorian kingwood and ormolu mounted bureau/desk having the original or...
Outstanding Quality Antique George III Mahogany Bureau
Outstanding quality antique George III mahogany bureau having a figured mahogany fall with a moulded...
Early 18th Century Burr Walnut Bureau
A fine Queen Anne Burr Walnut Bureau of absolutely glorious colour and patina with fitted interior a...
Early 18th Century Walnut Bureau
18th Century Walnut Bureau of wonderful glowing colour and patina. Retaining fine quality original s...
Outstanding Quality Antique Victorian Mahogany Inlaid Kneehole Desk by Edwards and Roberts
Outstanding quality antique Victorian mahogany inlaid kneehole desk by Edwards and Roberts having a...
Small Antique Regency Quality Figured Mahogany Secretaire Bookcase
Small antique Regency quality figured mahogany secretaire bookcase having a quality carved mahogany...
Antique Regency Quality Mahogany Desk Chair
Antique Regency quality mahogany desk chair having a quality figured mahogany top rail and centre sp...
Unusual Antique Victorian Quality Figured Mahogany Kneehole Architects Desk
Unusual Antique Victorian quality figured mahogany kneehole architects desk having a quality figured...
Superb Quality Antique Regency Mahogany Free Standing Writing Desk
Superb quality antique regency mahogany free standing writing desk having a superb quality mahogany...
Antique 18th Century Rosewood Bureau Bookcase
Antique 18th century rosewood bureau bookcase having a magnificent top section with a shaped moulded...
Outstanding Quality Antique Victorian Carved Mahogany Desk Chair
Outstanding quality antique Victorian carved mahogany desk chair having an outstanding quality carve...
Antique Victorian Quality Carved Mahogany Desk Chair
Antique Victorian quality carved mahogany desk chair having a quality carved mahogany shaped back, c...
Oak Music Filing Cabinet
This Oak Music Filing Cabinet could be used in so many ways in the home to provide useful storage. T...
A superb Chippendale design mahogany Gothic revival desk
A superb mahogany Gothic revival desk. Beautifully constructed, this desk stands on short cabriole l...
Pair of Antique George III Quality Mahogany Desk Chairs
Pair of antique George III quality mahogany desk chairs having a quality mahogany top, carved mahoga...
Antique Victorian French Quality Rosewood Marquetry Inlaid Bureau
Antique Victorian French quality rosewood marquetry inlaid bureau having the original ornate brass g...
Antique Queen Anne Fantastic Quality Burr Walnut and Featherbanded Bureau Bookcase
Antique Queen Anne fantastic quality burr walnut and featherbanded bureau bookcase having a shaped m...
Pair of Antique George III Quality Mahogany Desks Chairs
Pair of antique George III quality mahogany desks chairs having a mahogany shaped reeded top rail an...
Outstanding Quality Antique 18th Century French Walnut Inlaid Parquetry Bombe Shaped Bureau
Outstanding quality 18th century French walnut inlaid parquetry bombe shaped bureau having an except...
Antique Victorian Quality Burr Walnut Freestanding Davenport
Antique Victorian quality burr walnut freestanding Davenport having a quality burr walnut serpentine...
Antique Edwardian Quality Burr Walnut Freestanding Oval Shaped Writing Table
Antique Edwardian quality burr walnut freestanding oval shaped writing table having an oval shaped b...
Antique Willian IV Quality Mahogany Desk Chair
Antique Willian IV quality mahogany desk chair having a quality mahogany shaped top and centre splat...
Antique Victorian Quality Carved Mahogany Desk/Console Table
Antique Victorian quality carved mahogany desk/console table having a quality mahogany serpentine sh...
Outstanding Quality Antique Italian Marquetry Inlaid Burr Walnut Bureau Bookcase
Outstanding quality antique Italian marquetry inlaid burr walnut bureau bookcase with a beautiful ca...
Antique Victorian Quality Figured Mahogany Writing Table/Desk
Antique Victorian quality figured mahogany writing table/desk having a quality figured mahogany rect...
Outstanding Quality Pair of Antique Victorian Carved Walnut Desk Chairs
Outstanding quality pair of antique Victorian carved walnut desk chairs having an outstanding qualit...
Fine Early 18th Century Walnut Cabinet On Chest
Figured Walnut Cabinet on Chest
This very fine quality late 17th century figured walnut cabin...
Antique Victorian Outstanding Quality Burr Walnut Secretaire Bookcase
Antique Victorian Outstanding quality burr walnut secretaire bookcase having an exceptional quality...
Large Antique Edwardian Quality Inlaid Mahogany Freestanding Kidney Shaped Desk
Large Antique Edwardian quality inlaid mahogany freestanding kidney shaped desk having a quality inl...
Fine 18th Century Mahogany Secretaire Cabinet
A magnificent and rare 18th Century George II Parcel Gilt Secretaire Cabinet of wonderful colour, in...
Working at an Antique Desk
The rise of home working has transformed the market for antique office furniture. A Victorian pedestal desk with leather-lined top, brass handles and deep filing drawers does everything a modern desk does, but with the added satisfaction of working at something genuinely well made. Partners' desks, designed for two people to work facing each other, are magnificent pieces that make a statement in any study or office.
Kneehole desks are more compact and suit smaller rooms. Carlton House desks, with their distinctive U-shaped gallery of drawers and compartments, are the Rolls-Royce of writing desks and highly sought after. Davenport desks, small and slope-topped, were designed for correspondence and work perfectly as laptop stations.
Office Chairs
The captain's chair, with its curved back and arms on a swivel base, was the standard office chair of the Victorian and Edwardian periods. They remain supremely comfortable and are well suited to long hours of desk work. Look for examples with the original leather or consider having a worn seat re-upholstered.
Desk chairs on castors, library chairs and reading chairs all serve office purposes and can be found in a range of styles and sizes to suit your space and working habits.
Technology and Antique Desks
Modern technology integrates well with antique desks. Cable management can be discreetly handled through existing holes (originally for inkwell holders) or through the back of the kneehole. Many antique desks offer more drawer space than any modern equivalent, which is useful for storing chargers, papers and stationery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most antique pedestal and partners' desks have generous surface areas that easily accommodate a monitor, keyboard and other equipment. Measure the desk surface and kneehole height before purchasing if you plan to use a large monitor. A laptop works comfortably on virtually any antique desk.
A partners' desk is a large double-sided desk with drawers on both sides, originally designed for two people to sit opposite each other. They are typically made in mahogany with leather-lined tops and are among the most impressive pieces of antique furniture available.
Captain's chairs and desk chairs from the Victorian and Edwardian periods were designed for long working days and can be very comfortable. Many have adjustable height mechanisms that still function well. Try before you buy if possible, and consider a cushion if the original upholstery is firm.
A Davenport is a small, compact desk with a sloping top that lifts to reveal storage, and a column of drawers down one side. They were first made in the late 18th century, reputedly for a Captain Davenport, and were popular throughout the Victorian period as ladies' writing desks.