Davenport desk - Engels schrijfmeubel - Bureau cabinet - with a lid and a secret compartment - Cast brass, Mahogany, Walnut, harness leather [cow leather] - A lesson notebook with leather

English Antique Davenport Desk with Inlaid Leather Writing Surface & Brass Gallery – ca. 1880-1900

Description
A particularly elegant and characterful antique English writing cabinet / Davenport desk, imported from the United Kingdom. This refined piece combines a compact size with surprisingly thoughtful functionality and a beautiful historical appearance.

Provenance, Style & Period
Provenance: England (UK)
Style: Late Victorian / Edwardian
Period & Age: ca. 1880–1900 (late 19th / early 20th century)
Historical context: Originally designed for use in country houses, libraries, or captain's cabins where space had to be used efficiently. The slanted writing surface with inlaid leather offered optimum comfort for letter writing and administration at the time.

Details & Layout

The Writing Surface & Large Compartment:
The main compartment is equipped with the original, blind-stamped leather writing surface. When the surface is opened, a generous storage space is revealed (internal dimensions: 46 cm wide x 36 cm deep, tapering from 9 cm to 5 cm in height). On the inside of the lid there are stay wires/column ribbons. This space is surprisingly practical and ideally suited for storing a modern laptop, tablet, or iPad.

Lock: The large compartment includes the original lock (in good condition). There is currently no key, but a suitable key can easily be made by a locksmith.
Upper Compartment (Letter/Ink Tray):
The top compartment, prominently crowned with an elegant copper/brass pierced gallery, also folds open. Inside are various compartments for writing paper and cards, as well as the original compartment for an inkwell and a pen tray. A clever detail is that the pen tray can be lifted, revealing an additional hidden layer underneath.

Base & Ergonomics:
The piece rests on a refined frame of turned wooden columns and features two generous tiers/shelves with a 28 cm gap, perfect for books, binders, or decorative objects. Thanks to the ergonomically shaped half-round curved recess in the shelves, one can sit comfortably close to the writing surface.

Application & Interiors
Thanks to the smart proportions and warm wood patina, this classic piece is highly versatile in contemporary interiors:

Use: Perfect as a unique home workstation, stylish laptop desk, atmospheric reading table, or a receptionist’s desk.

Interior Style: It fits excellently in a classic English country house, Eclectic, or even modern-classic interiors where it serves as a focal point with a story.

Dimensions & Weight
Total dimensions: 53 cm wide x 45 cm deep x 80 cm high
Table height (writing surface): 78.5 cm
Clear height under the surface: 66 cm
Space between shelves: 28 cm
Internal size of large drawer: 46 cm wide x 36 cm deep x 9 cm (tapering to 5 cm)
Weight: approx. 7 kg

Condition
In beautiful, authentic antique condition with a fantastic patina. The piece shows light, age-related signs of use and aging that enhance its character (see all detailed photos for an accurate depiction of the condition). Constructively solid.

Packaging & Shipping
To ensure safety during transport, this piece will be professionally packed with extreme care on a pallet.
The furniture is multi-wrapped with bubble wrap, protective foam, and sturdy cardboard.
Shipping takes place via specialized pallet transport and is shipped fully insured with Track & Trace.
The pallet is always delivered from door to door at the entrance downstairs.

Important information about shipping costs:
We do our utmost to calculate shipping costs as accurately as possible in advance. For specific destinations—such as islands, remote mountainous areas, or addresses with limited accessibility—the actual transport costs may differ from the standard quoted price.
If this applies to your address, you will receive an additional/adapted shipping quote after the auction ends. If these adjusted shipping costs are not to your liking, we can cancel the order at no cost after mutual agreement.

P.S.: The second and last photo were created with the help of AI to create atmosphere.