WFH world: Five antique but practical furniture options for working from home

In this era of working from home (WFH) a hefty and sizeable desk can be obtained, for example. The price is often very reasonable too when picked up at auction.

Wilkinson’s of Doncaster is one of the many salerooms offering a wide range of furniture. Here are five suggestions for antique but highly practical items you could find at the Fine Furniture Effects auction on September 6.

Desk to impress (pictured top)

WFH often entails a good-sized desk that doesn’t wobble around and frighten the cat when it strolls across. This Victorian Mahogany pedestal partner’s desk estimated at £400-800 by Wilkinson’s could be the solution. The rectangular top has a tooled leather insert and moulded edge above a frieze compartment with three drawers either side. The pedestals are fitted with three drawers of graduated depths to one side and arched panel-doored cupboards to the other. Standing on moulded plinth bases, it is 74cm high, 1.53m wide and 1.06m deep.

Estimate £400-800.

See thesaleroom.com to bid for this Victorian Mahogany pedestal partner’s desk.

Laptop luxury

George III mahogany veneered bureau - estimated £50-100 at Wilkinson's on September 6.

If you are the kind of possibly Millennial worker happy with just a laptop and a Decaf Latte these days, and maybe have more limited space available, try this George III mahogany veneered bureau estimated at £50-100. The sloped fall front opens on loper supports to reveal a fitted interior of pigeonholes, stepped serpentine fronted drawers and a central cupboard flanked by secret compartments. The two short, over three long, graduated drawers below are edged in cock-beading and fitted with brass swing handles and oval escutcheons. Standing on ogee bracket feet, it is 1.12m high, 1.14m wide and 54cm deep.

Visit thesaleroom.com to view the George III mahogany veneered bureau.

Must-have bookcase

Edwardian mahogany three-tiered library bookcase - estimate £400-600 at Wilkinson's on September 6.

The world of Zoom calls or equivalent means you simply must have a mightily impressive bookcase full of erudite and exciting books behind you that you always meant to read but never got round to (like Wolf Hall or Moby Dick). Estimated at £400-600, Wilkinson’s is offering this Edwardian mahogany three-tiered library bookcase. You do need a decent-sized room though - the overall size is 2.63m high by 2.15m wide (just imagine the envy of your workmates though).

View this Edwardian mahogany three-tiered library bookcase on thesaleroom.com.

Storage solutions

Interplan side cabinet by Robin Day for Hille of London - estimate £200-400 at Wilkinson's on September 6.

If you are WFH you are going to need some decent, easily accessible storage space (except if you thrive in a ‘paperless office’). This Interplan side cabinet by Robin Day for Hille of London is fitted with two adjustable shelves on pegged holes set side by side behind sliding glass doors, and raised on round turned tapering legs. It stands 76cm high, is 1.37m wide and 31cm deep.

Estimate £200-400.

To view the Interplan side cabinet by Robin Day for Hille of London try thesaleroom.com

Splash out your season ticket savings

A 19th century Aesthetic Movement amboyna desk - estimate £3000-4000 at Wilkinson's on September 6.

If you really want to impress and are happy to splash the thousands of pounds you have saved by not buying a season ticket on the 7.30am always-late service from Commuterville, then what about this fabulous 19th century Aesthetic Movement amboyna desk? The estimate of £3000-4000 reflects the quality but just think ‘points failure’ or ‘defective train’ and it’ll all seem worth it.

The top features a slide-out writing surface with tooled leather inset above a central frieze drawer, flanked by side drawers raised on stop fluted legs with carved capitals and base shelves below. It stands 1.27m high, is 1.26m wide and 73cm deep.

You can bid for the 19th century Aesthetic Movement amboyna desk via thesaleroom.com