Exemplary George I Mulberry Bureau Bookcase C. 1720
Dallington, United Kingdom
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Easy returns (14 days)
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Free return if the item isn't as described
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Buyer protection
Damage is rare, and you're fully protected if it happens.
Dimensions
Wear Condition
Good
Style
Antique
Item Location
Dallington, United Kingdom
Product Details
Description
An extremely rare piece of early 18th century English furniture made in mulberry wood and with a fitted upper case retaining its original pigeon hole divisions and its full set of graduated oak lined drawers.
The well fitted interior of the bureau with mulberry faced drawers and original well with two secret oak drawers hidden within the well’s inner framework.
The upper doors with three bookmatched panels of mulberry on each, set within a beautiful and fine featherbanded border. The front of the bureau fall with four bookmatched panels again set within a fine featherbanded border. And the front of each principal drawer beneath the fall with the same mulberry bookmatched panelling within featherbanded borders.
The small drawers within the bureau have incredibly slender and fine oak linings with tiny dovetails. One drawer has a replacement lining but all others are original as are all of the oak linings to the drawers in the upper case and the to the principal drawers. Original backboards, original bun feet with some wear and old worm holes but long since dead. Both locks original and with the same working key.
Mulberry is a very rare timber. It is not taken from a Mulberry bush or tree, it is a thickly cut veneer (usually field maple or sycamore) stained and then washed in an acid which has had copper and other metals dissolved in it. This creates beautiful highlights and contrasts in the wood to make it resemble tortoiseshell.
The necessity within the British Isles in the late 1600s and early 1700s to create a tortoiseshell appearance was driven by work of the French cabinet maker Andre-Charles Boulle who used polished tortoiseshell inlaid with brass scroll work to create ‘boulle work’. Such pieces selling for huge sums and being highly favoured and collected by the British Royalty and aristocracy.
It is believed that very few British cabinet makers knew how to create this mulberry wood and that the staining process was hotly guarded. Prominent exponents were Coxed and Woster - their mulberry-wood work usually inlaid with pewter stringing and mounts.
Very few mulberry wood pieces have ever come to the market. This is a superb quality example from a private estate where it has been in the same family for many generations. The cabinet work is exceptional and the whole is in very original condition. The well developed colour and patina are glorious.
Made by hand in c. 1720 and of small elegant proportions, this is one of the finest pieces of furniture I have had the pleasure of getting to know and it is an extremely important and rare early 17th century bureau bookcase with a sound and long provenance.
The condition, colour and patination is unsurpassed.
Dimensions are:
39 inches wide, 24.5 inches deep and 75 inches high.
When the fall is open the max depth is 36 inches. The height from the floor to the writing surface is 29 inches.
For metric please multiply by 2.5
Wear Condition
Good
Cancellations
We offer free cancellations and full refund for orders cancelled before dispatching. View full policy.
Returns
We have a 14-day return guarantee for orders from individual sellers, within the UK and European Union. View full policy.
Additional Delivery Info from Seller
Estimated delivery time
One to two weeks
Free collection available
Yes
Made to Last
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Reviews
5.0
Based on 2 reviews
Wear conditions
Excellent
Shows little to no signs of wear and tear.
Good
May show slight traces of use in keeping with age. Most vintage and antique items fit into this condition.
Average
Likely to show signs of some light scratching and ageing but still remains in a fair condition.
Apparent Wear and Tear
Visible signs of previous use including scratches, chips or stains.
Please refer to condition report, images or make a seller enquiry for additional information.
Cancellations and Returns
Last updated: 12/02/2026
Clear, predictable protection for every pre-loved purchase.
Simple £75 flat return fee for UK-to-UK mainland furniture when you change your mind.
Applies to furniture with a final selling price of up to £5,000 (excluding delivery and service fees) and delivered from a UK mainland seller to mainland UK addresses. Excludes Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Scottish Highlands & Islands, Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly.
Buying vintage should feel inspiring, not uncertain.
Every order on Vinterior is backed by straightforward returns, free cancellations, and extra peace of mind for UK furniture purchases.
1. Free cancellations
Changed your mind before dispatch?
You can cancel any order before it's shipped for a full refund, including delivery.
To cancel an order, click Create cancellation on the order page.
Once an item has been dispatched, delivery costs are not refundable.
Bespoke, personalised or made-to-order pieces cannot be cancelled.
2. Returning an item
You have 14 days from delivery to request a return.
There are two return types:
A. The item isn't as described (free return)
If your piece arrives and it doesn't match the listing in any material way (incorrect description, undisclosed damage, inaccurate measurements, misleading photos), you are fully protected:
- Free return
- The seller or Vinterior arranges pickup
- Full refund, including outbound delivery costs once the seller receives the item
This applies to all purchases.
B. You changed your mind
UK-to-UK furniture deliveries:
To make UK furniture returns predictable and stress-free, we offer a simple flat return fee of £75.
- Applies to furniture delivered from a UK mainland seller to a mainland UK address. Excludes Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Scottish Highlands & Islands, Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly.
- Pickup arranged for you
- One clear fee, no surprises
We coordinate the return with either the seller's chosen courier or our trusted delivery partner.
All other items
Most smaller items are straightforward to return.
You can still return your item within 14 days.
- For smaller or parcel-sized items, you can choose to post the item back yourself using a tracked service, or the seller can suggest a preferred courier.
- For larger or more fragile pieces, the seller may recommend the safest return method.
- Return delivery costs vary depending on size and courier.
The seller will confirm the best option based on the item.
3. If your item arrives damaged
Damage on arrival is uncommon, especially for UK furniture deliveries.
But if something does go wrong, you're fully protected.
- Let us know as soon as possible (ideally within 72 hours of delivery) so we can resolve things quickly
- Share photos so we understand what happened
- We’ll help arrange a return and refund if needed
You’re always protected when something goes wrong in transit.
Your statutory rights apply for up to 30 days from delivery.
4. What can't be returned
Some items cannot be returned:
- Bespoke, personalised, or made-to-order pieces
- Items altered after delivery
5. How to start a return
- Log in to your Vinterior account
- Open your order
- Click Create a return
- Add notes + photos if relevant
We'll guide you through the rest.
6. What happens next
- We review your request, confirm the return and advise on next steps
- Pickup or return method is arranged
- The item is returned to the seller
- We issue your refund once the seller confirms the item's condition
Returns are completed smoothly once the pickup is arranged.
7. Refunds
Once the seller receives the piece back in the same condition it was sent, we'll issue your refund to your original payment method.
Once a refund is issued, it may take up to 5–10 working days for the funds to appear back on your original payment method, depending on your bank or card provider.
If the item is returned with new damage that wasn't present at delivery, the refund may be adjusted following review.
Need help?
If you have questions about a return or your order, our support team is here to help. Email us at [email protected] or find other ways to contact us here.
What your service fee covers
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14-day return guarantee
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Flat-fee return shipping on UK furniture
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Seller vetting
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Dedicated customer support
| Order Value (£) | Fee (£) |
|---|---|
| 0 — 49.99 | 2.75 |
| 50 — 99.99 | 5.50 |
| 100 — 199.99 | 11.00 |
| 200 — 399.99 | 21.00 |
| 400 — 599.99 | 30.00 |
| 600 — 799.99 | 40.00 |
| 800 — 999.99 | 50.00 |
| 1,000 — 1,499.99 | 55.00 |
| 1,500 — 1,999.99 | 60.00 |
| 2,000 — 4,999.99 | 82.50 |
| 5,000+ | 110.00 |
Added at checkout, based on your basket total.
