One was Italian, with crossbanding and a circular floral marquetry panel to the fall front which enclosed a fitted interior. The three brass-handled drawers below and the sides also featured floral marquetry panels. Estimated at up to £3000 the bureau went to the Midlands trade at £3700.
Also going to the Midlands was a Dutch marquetry inlaid bureau with fall front, fitted interior and three brass-handled, serpentine drawers which went on its lower estimate at £3000.
Top seller outside the pictures was a 19th century walnut longcase regulator clock with silvered brass dial, subsidiary seconds dial and 24-hour hand. Signed William Rogers, Liverpool, it had a three-train movement striking on a gong and chiming on bells. Although the case needed work, it went to a Northern dealer over estimate at £4300.
Other bids included £2600 on a Regency mahogany and rosewood crossbanded sofa table; a lower-estimate £1800 on a fine-quality Regency rosewood and cut-brass inlaid foldover card table and an unexpected £2000 on a 19th century French ormolu wall clock in the shape of a lyre.
Continental touch helps bureaux sell
ALONG with most examples of standard furniture, 18th and 19th century bureaux are not bringing the prices they were a couple of years back and vendors are having to adjust expectations in order to find buyers. Nevertheless, more unusual examples, or those with an extra degree of quality, still meet enthusiastic reactions and it was interesting to see two 18th century Continental walnut bureaux among the higher sellers at Lawrences' (12.5% buyer's premium) February 3-5 sale.
