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 desk / Davenport desk, imported from the United Kingdom. This refined piece combines a compact size with surprisingly thoughtful functionality and a beautiful historic appearance.

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

Details & Layout

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

Lock: The large compartment houses the original lock (in good condition). There is currently no key present, but a suitable key can easily be made by a key specialist.
Upper Compartment (Letter/Ink Tray):
The upper compartment, prominently crowned with an elegant copper/brass openwork gallery, also folds open. Inside there are various compartments for writing paper and cards, as well as the original slot for an ink pot and a pen holder. A clever detail is that the pen holder can be pushed up, revealing an additional hidden lower layer.

Base & Ergonomics:
The piece stands on a refined frame of turned wooden columns and has two generous tiers/shelves with a 28 cm gap between them, perfect for books, folders, or decorative objects. Thanks to the ergonomically shaped semi-circular curved notch in the shelves, one can sit comfortably close to the work surface.

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

Use: Perfect as a unique home workspace, stylish laptop table, atmospheric reading table, or reception desk.
Interior style: Fits excellently into a classic, English country house, eclectic, or even modern-classic interior 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 (work surface): 78.5 cm
Clear height beneath surface: 66 cm
Space between shelves: 28 cm
Internal size of large compartment: 46 cm wide x 36 cm deep x 9 cm (tapering to 5 cm)
Weight: Ca. 7 kg

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

Packaging & Shipping
To ensure safety during transport, this piece is professionally packed with utmost care on a pallet.
The piece is wrapped multiple times with bubble wrap, protective foam, and sturdy cardboard.
Shipping is via specialized pallet transport and is fully insured with Track & Trace.
The pallet is always delivered door-to-door, down at the entrance.

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 mountain areas, or addresses with limited access — it may happen that the actual transport costs deviate from the standard quoted price.
If this applies to your address, you will receive an additional/adjusted shipping quote after the sale ends. If these adjusted shipping costs are not to your liking, we can cancel the order at no cost in mutual agreement.

ps ; the second and the last photo were created with the help of AI to create atmosphere