A beautifully proportioned mid-century teak bureau bookcase by Herbert E. Gibbs Limited, retaining its original Gibbs Furniture maker’s label.
Dating from the 1960s, the piece combines open shelving, concealed storage and a generous fall-front writing surface within an exceptionally elegant and practical design. Its tall, slender proportions and restrained detailing are characteristic of British furniture of the period, with a strong Scandinavian Modern influence.
The upper section incorporates two open display areas, providing plenty of space for books, ceramics and decorative objects. Below these sits a large lockable fall front, which opens on brass stays to reveal a generous interior and creates a substantial 87cm wide writing or serving surface. The original key is retained.
Originally conceived as a bureau, this section makes the piece particularly versatile today. As well as providing a compact home workspace, it works brilliantly as a cocktail or drinks cabinet, with the open interior accommodating bottles and glassware while the fall front creates a generous surface for preparing and serving drinks.
Beneath the bureau is a further open shelf, with a low cupboard below enclosed by a pair of sliding doors. The simple recessed timber handles maintain the clean lines of the design while providing useful concealed storage.
The warm teak and teak veneers have developed a lovely mellow colour, with attractive grain throughout. The full-height sides give the piece a particularly architectural quality, while the open sections prevent it from feeling visually heavy.
At 184cm high, the unit provides an impressive amount of display and storage while remaining remarkably compact. The upper section is just 26cm deep, making it particularly useful where floor space is limited.
In excellent resored condition, there are some minor polished in marks as to be expected for its age, the lower rear section has been sympathetically modified by a previous owner to accommodate a skirting board, allowing the unit to sit more closely against a wall. This is a later alteration rather than part of the original construction. Please see photographs for details.
Purchased alongside a matching Herbert E. Gibbs bookcase of identical width and height, the two pieces make particularly attractive companion units and can work beautifully together, while each remains a very practical and complete piece in its own right.
A particularly attractive and versatile piece of British mid-century furniture, equally at home as a bureau bookcase, compact home office, display unit or stylish drinks cabinet.
Dimensions
Overall Width: 91.5cm
Overall Height: 184cm
Depth at Base: 41cm
Depth of Upper Section: 26cm
Open Shelving
Height above Top Fixed Shelf: 29.5cm
Height below Top Fixed Shelf: 29cm
Shelf Depth: 24.5cm
Fall-Front Cabinet
Internal Width: 87cm
Internal Height: 41cm
Internal Depth: 22cm
Writing / Serving Surface
Width: 87cm
Depth when Open: 45cm
Furniture Delivery Service
- Specialist courier: items are fully insured & handled with care by our tried and trusted couriers.
- Delivery charge varies by location, size and weight - automatically applied at checkout.
- Timescales: Usually within 10 working days. Scotland & farther afield may take longer.
- View the main Delivery Page for more information on our furniture delivery service.
- If you have a specific request or need an item urgently, please email us prior to purchase.
Our restoration process
Preparation
We carefully assess every piece, identifying any damage, repairs or replacement parts it may need. Drawers may need new runners, handles can be missing or damaged, and joints may require repair or reinforcement. We look beyond the surface to uncover hidden defects, ensuring each piece is restored to work as it was originally intended.
Restoration
With over 20 years of experience, we know that the right restoration techniques can make all the difference. It’s a delicate process that takes patience, skill and attention to detail — one we’ve taken the time to perfect. Each piece is carefully and sensitively restored, preserving its original character and charm while giving it a new lease of life.
Finishing
Finally, we add the finishing touches — whether that’s painting, oiling or sealing, fitting new handles, hinges or catches, or simply giving the piece a final clean and polish. We make sure every piece is ready for modern living, giving it a new lease of life and a renewed sense of purpose, ready to be loved for generations to come.
Before and after
Each piece is carefully and sympathetically restored to preserve the character, charm and beautiful details that make it unique. The result is a truly individual piece of furniture, thoughtfully restored for
modern living and ready to bring warmth, personality and timeless style to your home for years to come.
