Vintage & Antique Bureau Desks & Furniture for Sale

Wide Selection of Antique Bureau Furniture at Love Antiques

A bureau desk usually consists of a chest of drawers with a desk on top, which has a flap that can be closed. There are many different styles of antique bureau furniture with different features, such as built-in bookcases or hidden compartments. If you’re trying to source the perfect antique writing bureau, then Love Antiques should be your first stop. With verified and trustworthy dealers on our site, you enjoy a wide choice and can feel confident when placing your order.

How the Bureau Desk Became a Classic Piece

Bureau is French for ‘office’, and this classic piece of furniture hails back to the beginning of the 17^th century. At first, bureau desks were fairly simple, and if you look at a vintage bureau from the Georgian years, it is likely to be a flat desk with drawers underneath for an elegant, practical look. Look at later pieces such as a 18th century oak bureau, and you may notice more features such as a foldout writing desk.

Things to Look for when you Buy an Antique Bureau Furniture

An antique bureau desk can be an extremely interesting piece to have in your home, as many of them have lots of interesting little design features that make them special. Look out for:

• Pigeonholes – many types of writing bureau have small pigeonholes where you can keep documents or small items
• Drawers – lift the lid of a bureau, and there are often small drawers, which are ideal for stationery and storage
• A cylinder bureau – this type of antique writing bureau has a curved lid, and when it’s open you reveal a fitted interior with neat storage space inside
• A built-in bookcase – some larger types of antique bureau desk have a built-in bookcase on top, often finished off with glass or ornate wooden doors
• A bureau plat – which is a type of bureau that has space for your legs, so it’s more practical as a writing desk

Choose an Antique Bureau Desk Furniture Made from Natural Wood

One of the best things about opting for a vintage bureau desk over a modern piece is that you can choose one in beautiful, natural wood. Many types of wood that are used in antique furniture aren’t used for modern pieces, which may be why you’re looking for an antique bureau desk.

19^th century mahogany looks amazing when used for a vintage bureau, with rich reddish-brown tones that complement any home décor. An antique mahogany bureau is ideal for those who like a classic vintage style in their home.

If you like the look of natural wood, consider a burr walnut bureau, as this kind of piece will show off the unique swirls of the wood. An oak bureau can also be a great choice for modern homes, and while you still get the vintage style, this lighter wood tends to fit in better in contemporary spaces.

Displaying an Antique Writing Bureau in your Home

Love Antiques can help you find the ideal antique writing desk for your home office. While you may use a laptop rather than a quill and ink, an antique bureau desk will add some vintage style to your home.

An antique writing bureau can also be an interesting piece for your living room, opening to reveal a storage space for small items. If you want to add something a little unique to your space, choose a writing bureau from one of our dealers to add antique style.

If you’ve been searching for the perfect antique bureau desk, look no further than Love Antiques. We have some truly beautiful pieces that have stood the test of time and can add an elegant touch to your home.

Vintage and Antique Bureau Furniture FAQs

What is a bureau?

A wooden bureau in the United Kingdom and in other parts of Europe refers to a writing desk with drawers. Wood used in an antique or vintage bureau desk is usually oak, mahogany, burr walnut and rosewood. If you visit our Love Antiques shop, you’d find fine examples of antique bureau furniture for sale. A lot of these tables have hinged flaps that when closed, would rest on a sloping angle and cover small drawers, tiered pigeonholes, and to some, a cupboard. The first version was a flat table with drawers under the top, and appeared in 17th century France. The kneehole type became popular under Louis XIV's reign and had a tier of drawers on both sides as well as a single drawer in the centre, right above the space for the knees.

Do bureaus need to have a desk for writing?

As bureaus refer to certain types of writing desks in the United Kingdom and they act as a compact office, they have to have a desk for writing with a bit of storage. Aside from a writing desk bureau, we also have the antique bureau bookcase, first seen in the early Georgian period and is meant for both writing and study, as it can hold all items you would need for work, such as books, papers and pens. Made of different types of wood like mahogany and walnut, it has bookshelves on top of the desk or cupboard and would have doors with mirror, panel blinds or clear glass panes. Walnut was commonly used for this furniture in the 18th century but in the later Georgian period, mahogany was favoured.

How much is an antique bureau worth?

An antique bureau desk in the United Kingdom could be sold for a price between £150 and £22,000, depending on the design, material, date or period it was created. Check out our types of bureau for sale on the Love Antiques site and should you find one you like, simply click on the item. The item’s page would provide more details like the width, height, colour, whether it was made from oak, walnut, or mahogany and whether it was created in the 18th century, much earlier or much later, as well as details on its style. If you have questions or need more information, our site also links you to the antiques dealer.

How do I get my vintage antique bureau desk valued?

To find out the current price of your antique or vintage bureau desk in the United Kingdom, a number of things to do to find out if your item is not just an ordinary old writing bureau include determining who the manufacturer was through a telltale mark on the item, the age, how rare or desirable your item, and the condition your item is in. While you can do an online research and visit one site and another to compare the different bureau desks for sale, it's still essential to search and contact appraisers. If you have local antiques dealers nearby, approaching them would be a good start. Whether it be the early 18th century, the Victorian or Georgian era, these experts can provide valuable information that can help you sell your item, including a more accurate time period your item was created.