Penrose Antiques

Description

We have for sale a striking and very decorative arts and crafts Moorish design oak bureau most probably designed by Leonard Wyburd.

This rather stunning oak bureau is constructed from quartered oak panels and consists of a top bordered by a mashrabiya cast brass frieze to the back and sides over a fitted drop leaf bureau, over 5 drawers which are in turn positioned over 3 Moorish arched recesses. The bureau stands on four legs which terminate in brass casters. The bureau is being sold with its original key and the locks are all original.

When Liberty first started selling furniture, the majority of that furniture was derived from the exotic East. However, by the mid 1880s Liberty was having furniture made by local manufacturers and also making furniture designed by Leonard Wyburd. Leonard Wyburd was appointed at Liberty in 1883 and his designs were strongly influenced by the orient. This particular bureau is quite typical of his Moorish designs at this time. It was said that Wyburd was so proficient in his Moorish designs that he could literally draw a Moorish arch with his eyes shut. This particular bureau doesn't carry a Liberty label, but this is hardly surprising seeing as the red or white paper labels used by Liberty at this time were quite easily lost. However, the build is excellent, as is the quality of the materials used in its construction and all are very typical of the Liberty furniture of the mid to late 1880s through to the early 1900s

The bureau is 37.5 inches (95.25cm) high, 36 inches (91.4cm) wide, 16.5 inches (41.9cm) deep and is in a very good original condition although the original casters have just been re-fitted, the red interior does show some aging and as one would expect in a piece of this age, there are a few minor surface marks to the exterior panels.