Antique George III Desk Bureau in Dark Oak with Secret Drawer, 1765

Details

Description

A george iii 1765 desk. Dark oak with a secret drawer.

this impressive antique 18th-century desk bureau, crafted in the … Read more A george iii 1765 desk. Dark oak with a secret drawer.

this impressive antique 18th-century desk bureau, crafted in the george iii style, is a testament to fine craftsmanship and timeless design.

constructed from rich dark oak, it features a plain, authentic craftsmanship design supported by chunky tapered legs. The hinged lid features excellent dark iron pads with a striking bolt finish. The interior includes a drawer panel that opens to reveal two hidden drawers that slide across, adding a touch of period charm.

generous storage space in the base of the interior.

the desk showcases a stunning grain and a deep, warm, dark oak colour, highlighting the natural beauty and quality of the wood. Its clean lines, complemented by subtle detailing, lend it a distinctive character while remaining versatile enough to suit a variety of interiors.

in antique condition, this piece exemplifies the construction and enduring appeal associated with 18th-century furniture. Whether used in a living room, hallway, or as a stylish storage solution, it stands as both a practical and decorative statement of exceptional quality.

the lock mechanism is also detailed, but it lacks a locking function and features an interior key.

the date on the front is tw -1765, crafted in a piercing carving design—an honest piece of furniture with authentic signs of ageing and patina. the information i have was purchased from a private estate.

the inlaid "tw 1765" likely represents the initials of the original owner and the year of the box's creation or a significant event, such as a marriage, that it commemorated. This type of personalisation was common on such pieces, particularly during the 17th and 18th centuries.
the research we have done it possible from the wentworth estate but we are still waiting for confirmation.

sir thomas wentworth (who later changed his name to blackett) was the 5th baronet of the wentworth baronetcy of west bretton in yorkshire. He inherited the title and family seat of bretton hall from his father sir william wentworth. Sir thomas’s mother was diana blackett, a young sister of sir william blackett iii. Her marriage to sir william wentworth brought considerable wealth to the family which enabled the couple to design and build the present bretton hall, demolishing the old hall and chapel in the process.

when sir william blackett iii died in 1728 without a male heir, the blackett lead fortune and associated estates in northumberland passed to his nephew sir walter calverley blackett. Sir walter also died without male issue and under the terms of sir william iii’s will the inheritance was transferred to sir thomas wentworth in 1777. As a condition of his inheritance sir thomas was obliged to change his surname to blackett.

sir thomas was a colourful character. His self-professed interests were hunting, horses and horse racing, drinking, women and improving his estate at bretton hall (it was sir thomas who established the lakes and parkland there). Although he never married, sir thomas is believed by some sources to have fathered at least 10 illegitimate children. Little is known about the maternal pedigree of his offspring but it seems that he acknowledged and supported several of them at least. Although sir thomas benefited substantially from his inherited blackett fortune he appears to have taken little interest in the running of the lead company preferring to leave that in the capable hands of his chief steward in northumberland, john erasmus blackett.

when sir thomas died in 1792 the bretton hall estate and the blackett lead fortune was inherited by his illegitimate daughter, diana, and her husband thomas richard beaumont. See less