E.E. Meyer for Binnehuis | Mid-Century executive desk L-Shaped Imbuia Desk
E.E. Meyer for Binnehuis Mid-Century executive desk L-Shaped Imbuia Desk
A rare and striking mid-century L-shaped desk, designed by celebrated South African maker E.E. Meyer for Binnehuis. Made from richly toned imbuia, this executive desk showcases Meyer’s signature attention to proportion, detail, and craftsmanship.
The desk features five drawers, including one fitted for hanging files, as well as a two-door cabinet offering generous storage. The clean architectural lines are softened by sculpted inset drawer pulls and softly rounded edges reflect a distinctly South African interpretation of modernism. The thoughtful L-shaped layout provides ample workspace and elegant presence from every angle.
A rare collector’s piece, this exquisite large desk with integrated sideboard is ideal for a design-led home office or statement studio.
An exceptional example of South Africa’s mid-century design legacy, seldom seen in this format.
Designer and Maker E.E. Meyer
Country South Africa
Date 1970s
Materials A combination of solid and veneered Imbuia crafted to a very high standard.
Dimensions 191 x 91.5 cm, 73 cm high, and 175 x 43.5 cm, 57 cm high
Condition Presented in overall good vintage condition. The piece has been gently refurbished and refinished, with minor areas of veneer loss that have been sealed and are not visually distracting. As with all vintage pieces, light signs of age and use are to be expected.
A true treasure that encapsulates the essence of South Africa's most sought-after mid-century furniture manufacturer. With a legacy rooted in timeless craftsmanship and iconic design, EE Meyer creations have become highly sought after. Owning an EE Meyer piece means not only acquiring a beautiful work of art but also preserving a valuable piece of South African design history.
Meyer was the South African master of understated midcentury elegance, defined by sober and clean designs. The majority of Meyer's furniture was made in beautiful hardwood imbuia.
The Binnehuis furniture stores were located in Cape Town, Stellenbosch Somerset-West, Newlands, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg and were owned by a Dutch businessman and his wife, Mr and Mrs van Ewijck, who moved between South Africa and the Netherlands. It seems they were most prolific during the 1960s
Imbuia is not listed in the CITES Appendices, but is classified as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
As with many quality Mid-Century pieces, this design thoughtfully pairs solid wood construction with a premium wood veneer—an approach widely used at the time to highlight beautiful grain patterns while ensuring lasting stability.
We try to capture the condition of our items in our photographs as best as possible. Prior to dispatch all items are carefully cleaned and re-coated with danish oil to ensure your item is looking its best when delivered.
Prices do not include delivery.
Contact us to arrange to view, discuss collection or if you have any queries.
We deliver locally within Cape Town for a small fee and can accommodate collection by courier or in person. Collections must be made within two weeks of purchase as we cannot hold furniture for extended periods.
As to be expected with vintage items, this item may have minor amounts of wear. All of our items are available to view prior to purchase.
Although all effort is made to lighly refurbish and clean our furniture to best represent their original state, it must be noted that the majority of the items we source date from before 1980’s. For this reason signs of their vintage condition & age might still be visible. We try to point out any visible concerns.
Please note that all items are described to the best of our ability, we strongly encourage our clients to closely inspect item photos, descriptions, and details before purchasing anything. Please review all images as they are considered part of the item description.We are happy to answer any questions you may have.
VINTAGE CONDITIONS:
excellent - Like new, exhibiting minimal to no indications of wear, with scarcely any visible signs of age or use.
very good - Light use marks and signs of age, such as minor scratches and minimal wear on areas like feet or inconspicuous spots on veneer or leather.
good - Displays light to moderate scratches, with some more noticeable blemishes. May have small damages and stains, and the possibility of ring marks. Leather may exhibit small rips.
fair - Exhibits more pronounced scratches, including lighter ones in many prominent areas (e.g., the top of a sideboard). Leather may show tears and stress marksUnfortunately we currently only deliver in Cape Town area, but you are welcome to arrange courier on your side, we can also arrange on your behalf.
Shipment outside of Cape Town is NOT calculated at check-out and is quoted based on the item's dimensions and or weight.
Unfortunately we can not reserve any items until shipping has been finalized (the item should be purchased and checked out, with payment confirmation received if paid via EFT).
After purchase, we can assist you with costs from our preferred supplier.
Please note that all items shipped outside of Cape Town are wrapped extensively, we charge a small packaging fee depending on the item, starting cost of R100 per individual item. The cost of wrapping depends on the size of the item. For ALL our items, especially fragile items, i.e. glass and mirrors we recommend professional crating.
For fragile items or items that have glass elements we don't recommend shipment and transport outside of Cape Town.
Please refer to our Shipping Policy
Restoration Process:
In our studio workshop, every item undergoes an inspection and careful restoration process. We prioritize maintaining the original charm and patina of the piece, while also making it a beautiful addition to modern interiors.
Our Approach Includes:
- Examining and reinforcing the joints
- Cleaning the wood and removing any stains
- Conducting veneer repairs as necessary
- Polishing or refinishing surfaces to enhance their appearance
