"De Luxe" Bureau - Susanna Bonaretti

BESTOYS “DE LUXE” BUREAU - c1959 to 1965

The Bestoys "De Luxe" Bureau as illustrated in the 1959 S. Hoffnung catalogue

The same printer's block was used in Bestoys' 1963 catalogue

First listed in 1959 S. Hoffnung catalogue, this bureau may have been in production since 1957. By 1965, it had been discontinued.
The descriptions read:

The wet-application three-colour decal applied to the bureaux

This modernised, scaled-down version of the roll top desk patented in 1881 in the USA by Abner Cutler, demonstrated the quality Bestoys products achieved in making furniture for children.

The superstructure was made of solid ¾” dressed radiata pine timber, the sides of which were cut to shape on a bandsaw and smoothed off using a large table mounted disc sander. The flexible roller lid consisted of timber slats held together on the underside by a backing of fabric which was glued on using a waterproof adhesive. This adhesive was either rollered or brushed on. The freshly glued lids were laid flat and stacked one upon the other until dry. They were then trimmed of any excess glue. The slats most likely were painted before gluing.

The top could be rolled up or down along the parallel grooves on either side of the frame. These grooves were cut using a router and then waxed to ensure a smooth sliding action. Before final assembly of the body, the flexible top was attached to the writing top/drawer unit so that opening the top pushed the drawer out and closing it pulled it back in.

The wooden shelf had a grooved pencil rack with a plastic inkwell on either side of it. Those were the days when school children were taught cursive handwriting, in pencil first and then graduating to pen and ink – no biros, no rollerballs, no gel or marker pens – only messy, blue Swan ink.

Being ‘de luxe’, this version of the Bestoys bureau had extra decoration. Gold adhesive tape was applied to the front of the drawer and around the leg anchors of the bureau and the matching stool, which was sold separately.

The finish was two coats of semi-gloss clear lacquer, tinted to a maple colour and hand-sanded between coats.

In 1959, the “De Luxe” bureau came in two versions: the standard Swedish-style with tapered legs made of solid ¾” dressed radiata pine or round tapered legs finished off with metal ferrules.

By 1963, only the tapered pine leg version was produced and by 1965, the “De Luxe” bureau was discontinued to make way for more up-to-date models that were less labour-intensive.

Vintage De-Luxe Bureau "finds"

Bestoys "De Luxe" Bureau

Several of these bureaux have turned up over the years.
One superb restored model was found on 360 Modern Furniture website in 2018.

Bestoys De-Luxe Bureau offered for sale in 2018 by 360 Modern Furniture

Bestoys De-Luxe Bureau with non-Bestoys stool offered for sale in 2018 by 360 Modern Furniture

Bestoys De-Luxe Bureau offered for sale in 2018 by 360 Modern Furniture

Described as mid-century roll top desk Bestoys retro vintage Danish Scandi era, this bureau featured round tapered legs fitted with gold-coloured ferrules. It retains its original handle. It would have been manufactured between 1959 and 1965. (The chair is not a Bestoys product.)
Jim Bonaretti would have been very pleased with this excellent restoration.
With thanks to 360 Modern Furniture and with no intention to infringe copyright

Another excellent example of the De-Luxe Bureau that has survived the decades was offered on Facebook Marketplace in September, 2024.
This bureau was manufactured between c1959 and 1965 and featured the standard Swedish-style tapered legs made of solid ¾” dressed radiata pine but the mounting blocks are thinner and do not have the decorative gold tape. This indicates a manufacture date closer to 1965 as it would have been found more economical to eliminate the thicker mounting blocks and the application of gold tape to them.
The interior still has the grooved pencil rack and, amazingly, the two plastic inkwells on either side of it. The lid to the drawer is the original as is the handle.
The face of the sliding drawer still has its decorative gold tape and here it can be clearly seen the painting detail to the drawer face and bottom of the side panels: rosewood tint contrasting the maple tint of the rest of the unit. This feature is almost indiscernible on the Bestoys catalogue illustrations above.
The seller has supplied measurements of the bureau, which correlate with the catalogue measurements of 1959:
36" high x 24" wide x 18" deep = 89 cm high x 60 cm wide.
With sincere thanks to the seller and Facebook Marketplace - no intention of copyright intended: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1484858988880678/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3A5a6ab6d7-2fd3-48ff-b7b3-97761440581f

Bestoys De-Luxe Bureau offered on Facebook Marketplace in September 2024

Bestoys De-Luxe Bureau in the partially opened position offered on Facebook Marketplace in September 2024

Bestoys De-Luxe Bureau in the fully opened position offered on Facebook Marketplace in September 2024

Closeup of the Bestoys De-Luxe Bureau in the fully opened position offered on Facebook Marketplace in September 2024

Detail of the leg mounting on the Bestoys De-Luxe Bureau offered on Facebook Marketplace in September 2024

Width of the Bestoys De-Luxe Bureau offered on Facebook Marketplace in September 2024

Height of the Bestoys De-Luxe Bureau offered on Facebook Marketplace in September 2024

BESTOYS BUREAU - c1956 to c1963

Unfortunately, no catalogue illustrations exist of the earliest bureau produced by the Bestoys factory at 26 Hutchinson Street, St Peters.
By 1st April, 1958, the name of "Bestoys" was officially registered as belonging to Messrs. N. & E. Bonaretti and the rocket and moon trademark was registered 14th September, 1960 even though it had been used prior to that date. (In fact, one of the earliest recollections by the eldest daughter was of her father carefully spray-painting details on the large rocket that was to have hung in front of the burgundy-coloured velvet curtains at the toy fair at the Trocadero around 1957.)
It is feasible that Jim Bonaretti was producing a bureau at the Hutchinson Street address from around 1956 when he moved his family there.

Vintage Bestoys Bureau "finds"

While no catalogue illustrations do exist, several examples of the bureau do. These are now more than that three-quarters of a century old!

The first example is from Dr Mary-Jane Walker of The School of Lost Arts in Geelong, Victoria (Australia).

The pre-owned Bestoys Bureau purchased by Dr Mary-Jane Walker from a secondhand dealer or auction house 20-odd years ago

The stamp under the lift-up desktop warning that there is a registered design application pending E24643

The wet-application transfer of the new Bestoys trademark positioned in the middle of the top shelf between two dome-head pins which served as protectors against the roll top handle striking the top shelf. The handle appears to be original

The Bestoys Bureau in situ after being reclaimed by Dr Walker's adult son

In her own words, Dr Walker relates the history of her bureau pictured above:
We bought our BESTOYS desk second hand in Albury NSW from a secondhand shop I think or maybe a furniture auction house that we used to go to. I can't remember what we paid for it, but it wasn't much. I wanted a small desk that the children could have as their own.
Over the ensuing years all four of our children, now all adults used it as their special space.
It is amazing that when a child has a special respected place for their own 'work', whether that is drawing, painting or playdough or later writing, it seemed to give them a sense of their own creative autonomy. It always sat out in the shared living spaces when they were very young or maybe later in one of their bedrooms.
It was always much loved and used, and featured stickers and decoration over time which changed who was using it. The 'secret' space under the tabletop was especially loved as was the grown-up roll top feature. I believe that this early respect for the children's own learning contributed to all four getting over 99.6 in their final Year 12 scores, but I can't prove it!
The desk has followed us over many moves and was most recently in my art studio as a small useful space near the door. It has now been taken back by our 25-year-old son as a cool mid-century modern bedside table, much admired by his friends and flatmates, so its story continues.
Thank you to your father for valuing children with such a beautifully made piece of furniture.
Kind regards,
Mary-Jane
2nd April, 2024

With sincere thanks to Mary-Jane for supplying this history of her desk and allowing me to publish it.
The School of Lost Arts website can be found here: https://www.theschooloflostarts.com.au/

While this item is not a De-Luxe Bureau, it is a 'standard' Bestoys Bureau made sometime between c1957 and c1959 but certainly before 1963 when it wasn't listed in that year's edition of the Bestoys catalogue. This very good example of the Bestoys Bureau was offered by the seller on eBay in August, 2024. The published details are as follows:
Vintage: BESTOYS “DE LUXE” BUREAU - c1959 to 1965 - Children’s Roll Top Desk
- Original “Bestoys Bureau” for children.
- Has original logo of a rocket going to the moon (as seen in picture 2.)
- Has original ink pen rest & hole for inkwell.
- the desk lifts up to place books etc inside.
“This modernised, scaled-down version of the roll top desk patented in 1881 in the USA by Abner Cutler, demonstrated the quality Bestoys products achieved in making furniture for children.”
See more details about this desk on Susanna Bonaretti’s website (the daughter of the designer/owner of the Bestoys brand.)
https://www.susannabonaretti.com/bestoys-de-luxe-bureau---c1957-1963.html
Unlike the “De Luxe” version, the writing surface on this model does not pull out and storage is accessed by lifting the hinged lid.
The hinges are original. It, too, has a grooved pencil rack on the wooden shelf but only one inkwell.
The top shelf still retains the Bestoys wet-application transfer between the two dome-head pins.
The logo of the rocket and the moon was registered 14th September, 1960.
***measurements are estimates. Will check and edit as soon as possible.
Local pickup only from Forster, NSW, Australia 2428

With sincere thanks to the seller and to eBay with no intention to infringe copyright. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/166927780280?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20150526101527%26meid%3D2cd8702760014789b46060e95898be4f%26pid%3D100417%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D2%26b%3D1%26sd%3D204763712796%26itm%3D166927780280%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D4567159%26algv%3DDefaultOrganic&_trksid=p4567159.c100417.m3734&mkevt=1&mkpid=2&emsid=e90001.m161560.l174180&plmtId=700009&mesgId=3041&mkcid=8&ch=osgood&bu=45536656256&trkId=51dba333-f26b-304e-b5b4-97da3eab2c16&cnvId=700003&recoId=166927780280&recoPos=1

Bestoys Bureau listed on eBay in August, 2024

Item specifications for the Bestoys Bureau listed on eBay in August, 2024

Bestoys Bureau listed on eBay in August, 2024

Detail showing the handle and roller lid of the Bestoys Bureau listed on eBay in August, 2024

Bestoys Bureau listed on eBay in August, 2024

Detail showing the "Bestoys" logo on the Bestoys Bureau listed on eBay in August, 2024

Detail showing the opening of the roller lid of the Bestoys Bureau listed on eBay in August, 2024

Detail showing the inside of the of the Bestoys Bureau listed on eBay in August, 2024

Pen rack and ink well hole in the Bestoys Bureau listed on eBay in August, 2024

The Bestoys wet-application transfer on the top board of the Bestoys Bureau offered on eBay in August, 2024

Bestoys Bureau

Another Bestoys Bureau was offered for sale on eBay in December, 2018.
This bureau is from the same era as those above - between c1957 and c1959 and possibly as late as 1963. The handle may not be original and the top shelf still retains the Bestoys wet-application transfer between the two dome-head pins. The logo of the rocket and the moon was registered 14th September, 1960 - No 162422 - but was in use before formal registration, as seen on the catalogue produced by S. Hoffnung in 1959.
Unlike the “De Luxe” version, the writing surface on this model does not pull out and storage is accessed by lifting the hinged lid. The hinges are original. It, too, has a grooved pencil rack on the wooden shelf but only one inkwell.
As with almost all of the Bestoys range from that time, Jim applied to register all his designs to make sure his competitors could not copy them. This bureau, like Dr Walker's, is stamped on the frame beneath the lift-up lid: BESTOYS REGISTERED DESIGN APPLICATION NO E246432 PENDING
This example is in play-worn condition but still holding together after all the years of usage.