Petite Early 20th Century Dutch Burr Walnut Bureau Bookcase 82" x 33½" x 17"

This petite Dutch bureau bookcase, early 20th century, is veneered in burr walnut with lighter crossbanding and stringing that outline its arched motifs and shaped panels. The upper cabinet is crowned by a double-domed cornice above two arched glazed doors that open to painted shelves. At the center, a fall-front writing surface reveals small drawers and pigeonholes, while the lower bombe case is fitted with long drawers finished with cast brass Rococo-style pulls and escutcheons. The piece stands on bracket feet. The varnish has been removed, leaving a matte, variegated surface that emphasizes the beauty of the walnut burl. In rustic, timeworn condition, it carries a warm, authentic character.

The design follows 18th-century Dutch Baroque and Rococo traditions, where double-domed cornices, bombe contours, and walnut veneers signaled refinement while remaining suited to domestic interiors. The bureau bookcase combined display, storage, and writing functions, with glazed doors for porcelain or books, and a slant front for correspondence. Early 20th-century Dutch workshops revived these forms with skill in veneering, often using richly figured walnut burl and contrasting banding to echo earlier marquetry while adapting the scale for townhouses.

Compact and versatile, this example works beautifully in a study or library as a writing station, or in a living or dining room where the upper section can display Delft faïence, glass, or books. Its stripped finish lends itself equally to traditional, coastal, or farmhouse interiors, blending elegance with a rustic charm.