This item has been sold, and the description, image and price ($US) are for reference purposes only.
Victorian burr walnut writing compendium excellent example of a two door, single drawer compendium, fitted nicely with curved sections for filing, the top lifting up to reveal largest section, a ribbon holder section to back of left door, pen holder and two inkwell compartments either side, and a pin mechanism that opens/locks drawer, size height 11.81 in., width 38 depth 7.87 in.

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.

Register Now to view actual auction price for this item.

  • Burr - Burr (or in the USA, burl) is the timber from the knotted roots or deformed branch of the tree, which when cut, displays the small circular knots in various gradations of colour. It is always cut into a decorative veneer, most commonly seen as burr walnut on 19th century furniture.
  • Compendium - A compendium is usually a wooden box that has several compartments and drawers for storing the various items. A stationery compendium would be used for storing and organizing various personal or business items including documents, business cards, passports, and other items that need to be organized and easily accessible. It is typically a wooden box t

    A compendium for correspondence would usually have pockets for holding different sizes of envelopes, and sometimes may have a built-in address book or a calendar. It can also have a pen loop or holder, and sometimes a calculator.

    A compendium for games would usually have pockets for holding game pieces, cards and sometimes rule books. It can also have a space for a chess or checkers board.


    A sewing compendium would have compartments for thimbles, bobbins, needles etc.

  • Victorian Period - The Victorian period of furniture and decorative arts design covers the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901. There was not one dominant style of furniture in the Victorian period. Designers used and modified many historical styles such as Gothic, Tudor, Elizabethan, English Rococo, Neoclassical and others, although use of some styles, such as English Rococo and Gothic tended to dominate the furniture manufacture of the period.

    The Victorian period was preceded by the Regency and William IV periods, and followed by the Edwardian period, named for Edward VII (1841 – 1910) who was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India for the brief period from 1901 until his death in 1910.

This item has been included into following indexes:

Victorian burr walnut writing compendium excellent example of a…