Antique Vernacular Oak Bureau

A late 17th century country-made oak bureau, with a fall front revealing a selection of pigeon holes and drawers, with a central cupboard and a well with a sliding cover, over four drawers. The bureau has the most beautiful rich colour and is made from well figured oak, enhanced by a band of herringbone inlay on the slope. This is a gorgeous piece of furniture with lots of charm and character. It has real personality - I keep finding myself giving it a pat whenever I walk past it (and talking to it a bit as well - first sign of madness maybe!) It’s very nicely proportioned and a good size. It’s a solid piece and appears to be completely original other than the handles, which are not original but have certainly been on it for a long time. The little internal cupboard has a working lock and key, and a nicely curved shelf inside. We found a receipt from an antique dealer called James Reeve in one of the little drawers - it was sold to a Mr Baxter of Edgbaston in 1965 for thirty eight pounds and ten shillings! I would date it to between 1680 and 1700.