The glass-fronted bookcase entered the English cabinetmakers' repertoire about the mid-17th century, and the bookcase in one form or another has been an indispensable part of the civilized person's home ever since.The 17th century bookcase tended to be a glazed cabinet from plinth to pediment, with square glass panes. The later Stuart period saw the introduction of the bureau bookcase or the secretaire bookcase, where the bookshelves were double-heightened above a desk or cupboard base. Early bureau bookcases often had mirror or blind-panelled door fronts, although these have frequently been replaced with clear glass panes. During the Regency period, the fashion arose for small cabinet bookcases, rarely more than three feet in height, which left the walls clear for hanging prints and pictures, known in the trade as a 'dwarf bookcase'. Such bookcases were sometimes open at the front, others had elegant brass-grille more...

43 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

If you are seeking to purchase similar items CLICK HERE to view 45 similar items being offered for sale by dealers at our AntiquesPlus site.

An English reproduction dwarf secretaire bookcase in the…

An English reproduction dwarf secretaire bookcase in the Georgian style, yew and boxwood, circa 1950s, retailed through George's of Melbourne, 186 cm high, 65 cm wide, 39 cm deep

A late Georgian mahogany low bookcase, early 19th century, the…

Georgian Mahogany Low Bookcase with Glazed Doors

A late Georgian mahogany low bookcase, early 19th century, the moulded cornice and frieze, above a pair of glazed doors and two cabinet doors to the base, 140.5 cm high, 102.5 cm wide, 32 cm deep.

An antique English Regency breakfront low bookcase, rosewood…

Regency Rosewood Bookcase with Ormolu Mounts and Carved Columns

An antique English Regency breakfront low bookcase, rosewood with ormolu mounts and carved columns, circa 1820, 95 cm high, 157 cm wide, 40 cm deep

An antique dwarf bookcase secretaire, finely selected flame…

Antique Flame Mahogany Dwarf Secretaire Bookcase

An antique dwarf bookcase secretaire, finely selected flame mahogany fronts with fold out writing slope and compartments, early 19th century, 177 cm high, 85 cm wide, 40 cm deep

Victorian mahogany dwarf bookcase adjustable shelving enclosed…

Mahogany Dwarf Bookcase with Adjustable Shelves and Glass Doors

Victorian mahogany dwarf bookcase adjustable shelving enclosed by two glazed doors on box base 102 W x 113 H x 35 D

A 19th century French pine faux bamboo bookcase on commode, the…

French Faux Bamboo Bookcase and Commode

A 19th century French pine faux bamboo bookcase on commode, the double glazed door bookcase with elaborate pediment and three adjustable shelves; married with a conforming faux bamboo detailed, white marble topped commode, with four full width drawers and…

An English oak dwarf bookshelf, early 20th century, 87 cm high,…

Early 20th Century English Oak Dwarf Bookshelf

An English oak dwarf bookshelf, early 20th century, 87 cm high, 38 cm wide, 25 cm deep

Edwardian mahogany low bookcase, with three glazed doors…

Mahogany Low Bookcase with Glazed Doors and Claw Feet

Edwardian mahogany low bookcase, with three glazed doors opening to three shelves, the whole raised on ball and claw feet, 125 x 152 x 33 cm

Pair 19th century Tasmanian cedar dwarf open bookcases measure…

19th Century Tasmanian Cedar Dwarf Bookcases (Pair)

Pair 19th century Tasmanian cedar dwarf open bookcases measure 117 cm high, 45.5 cm x 26 cm (2)

An impressive low mahogany bookcase, two glazed doors and three…

Mahogany Bookcase with Glazed Doors and Open Shelves

An impressive low mahogany bookcase, two glazed doors and three open shelved cavities, dentil moulding, shaped apron to base. 274 cm x 45 cm x 114 cm.

A pair of Victorian mahogany dwarf bookcases, adjustable…

Victorian Mahogany Bookcases with Glazed Doors

A pair of Victorian mahogany dwarf bookcases, adjustable shelving enclosed by two glazed doors on box bases

A Victorian walnut four door breakfront dwarf bookcase, 114 cm…

Victorian Walnut Bookcase with Four Doors

A Victorian walnut four door breakfront dwarf bookcase, 114 cm high, 214 cm wide, 35 cm deep.

A stepped Regency mahogany dwarf bookcase, early 20th century,…

Stepped Regency Mahogany Dwarf Bookcase

A stepped Regency mahogany dwarf bookcase, early 20th century, the dwarf bookcase with stepped shelves above two panel doors on a plinth base, 142 cm high, 78 cm wide, 31 cm deep

An impressive Victorian walnut four door dwarf bookcase. 114 cm…

Victorian Walnut Bookcase - 4 Doors

An impressive Victorian walnut four door dwarf bookcase. 114 cm high, 164 cm wide, 49 cm deep.

A William IV rosewood dwarf bookcase, c.1830 two door glazed…

William IV Rosewood Glazed Bookcase

A William IV rosewood dwarf bookcase, c.1830 two door glazed with boxwood stringing inlay work height 104 cm;. Width 90.5 cm; depth 30.5 cm

William IV mahogany squat bookcase

Mahogany Squat Bookcase by William IV

William IV mahogany squat bookcase

A Tasmanian huon pine dwarf bookcase, 19th century, 95 cm high,…

Huon Pine Bookcase, 19th Century

A Tasmanian huon pine dwarf bookcase, 19th century, 95 cm high, 187 cm wide, 51 cm deep

A William IV rosewood dwarf breakfront bookcase by Gillows of…

William IV Rosewood Breakfront Bookcase by Gillows

A William IV rosewood dwarf breakfront bookcase by Gillows of Lancaster, circa 1835, 99 cm high, 183 cm wide, 45 cm deep, Note: The above lot relates to a design for a 'commode' which appears in the Gillows Estimate Sketch Books for 1836 with cupboard…

An early 20th century Australian blackwood dwarf bookcase, in…

Australian Blackwood Bookcase with Carved Gum Leaves

An early 20th century Australian blackwood dwarf bookcase, in the manner of Prenzel, the frieze carved with foliate decoration, above open shelves flanked by panelled doors, each carved with gum leaves and foliate, 139 cm high, 148 cm wide, 45 cm deep

A rare ships dwarf bookcase, mahogany with acid etched frosted…

19th Century Mahogany Dwarf Bookcase with Acid Etched Glass Doors

A rare ships dwarf bookcase, mahogany with acid etched frosted glass doors, English or Scottish,19th century

A quality Victorian rosewood bookcase, low long rectangular…

Victorian Rosewood Bookcase with Brass Inlay and Reeded Columns

A quality Victorian rosewood bookcase, low long rectangular form with two fitted shelves, brass strung inlay, full reeded turned columns to the front corners, platform base with thumb moulded edge. 168 cm x 31 cm x 91 cm

Victorian oak dwarf bookcase with scroll and fruit moulded…

Victorian Oak Bookcase with Leather Spines

Victorian oak dwarf bookcase with scroll and fruit moulded capitals, the central cupboard applied with full leather book spines on box base (in two parts)

A mahogany two door bookcase, 19th century, the low bookcase of…

19th Century Mahogany Bookcase with Arched Doors

A mahogany two door bookcase, 19th century, the low bookcase of shallow form, with two large slightly arched glazed doors opening to two shelves, and raised on a plinth base. Height 98 cm. Width 153 cm. Depth 24 cm.

Vintage pine 2 door bookcase with adjustable shelves, on squat…

Vintage Pine Bookcase on Cabriole Legs

Vintage pine 2 door bookcase with adjustable shelves, on squat cabriole legs, 107 cm wide, 31.5 cm deep, 119 cm high

A Victorian period walnut long low bookcase with two glazed…

Victorian Walnut Bookcase with Glazed Doors

A Victorian period walnut long low bookcase with two glazed doors, three adjustable shelves, short serpentine upstand and plinth base. 136 cm x 30 cm x 89 cm

A cedar dwarf bookcase, Australian, circa 1860, 75 cm high, 133…

1860 Australian Cedar Dwarf Bookcase

A cedar dwarf bookcase, Australian, circa 1860, 75 cm high, 133 cm wide, 22 cm deep

A fine French 19th century breakfront kingwood dwarf bookcase,…

French Kingwood Bookcase with Parquetry Frieze

A fine French 19th century breakfront kingwood dwarf bookcase, with an inverted cornice a decorated parquetry frieze, above four open shelves on a plinth. 148 cm high, 314 cm wide, 41 cm deep

Victorian mahogany dwarf bookcase with three adjustable shelves…

Adjustable shelf mahogany bookcase on box base

Victorian mahogany dwarf bookcase with three adjustable shelves on box base

A French boulle and ormolu style low bookcase late 19th century…

French Boulle & Ormolu Style Low Bookcase, Late 19th Century

A French boulle and ormolu style low bookcase late 19th century and later. The bookcase is decorated in the 'Boulle' style with pierced-cut brass and red tortoiseshell inlay, against a black 'ebonised' patinated finish with bronze ormolu figural mounts.…

Dwarf Bookcase: Australian cedar & pine. Height 114 cm, width…

Australian Cedar Dwarf Bookcase

Dwarf Bookcase: Australian cedar & pine. Height 114 cm, width 108 cm, depth 31 cm

A William IV mahogany dwarf bookcase, the stepped shelves, each…

William IV Mahogany Dwarf Bookcase with Pierced Fret

A William IV mahogany dwarf bookcase, the stepped shelves, each with pierced fret on ring turned columns. 126 cm high, 67 cm wide, 20 cm deep

Rocke & Co Fiddleback blackwood dwarf bookshelf, late 19th…

Late 19th Century Rocke & Co Fiddleback Bookshelf

Rocke & Co Fiddleback blackwood dwarf bookshelf, late 19th century. Height 52 cm, 122 cm, depth 23 cm

An early Victorian mahogany low bookcase, English circa 1860,…

Victorian Mahogany Low Bookcase, 1860

An early Victorian mahogany low bookcase, English circa 1860, 120 cm high, 123 cm wide

A long low Victorian period walnut bookcase with two glazed…

Victorian Walnut Bookcase with Glazed Doors and Adjustable Shelves

A long low Victorian period walnut bookcase with two glazed doors, three adjustable shelves, plinth base and short serpentine upstand on the top. With key. Edge moulding of door damaged. 360 x 30 x 88 cm

A mahogany dwarf bookcase, the moulded top, above a pair of…

Mahogany Dwarf Bookcase with Glazed Doors

A mahogany dwarf bookcase, the moulded top, above a pair of glazed doors, enclosing shelves on a plinth.

A Regency oak dwarf bookcase. The black marble top, above a…

Regency Oak Bookcase with Arched Glazed Doors

A Regency oak dwarf bookcase. The black marble top, above a frieze with roundels decoration, below four arched glazed doors, flanked by pilasters. 97 cm high, 160 cm wide, 41.5 cm deep.

French walnut dwarf bookcase. With grey marble top, above open…

French Walnut Bookcase with Grey Marble Top

French walnut dwarf bookcase. With grey marble top, above open shelves, flanked by canted corners.

Antique Regency mahogany dwarf bookcase cabinet, with ebony…

Regency Mahogany Bookcase with Ebony Inlay (9 words)

Antique Regency mahogany dwarf bookcase cabinet, with ebony string inlay, 96 cm long

English country pine dwarf bookcase. Early 19th century. 172 cm…

19th Century English Country Pine Bookcase

English country pine dwarf bookcase. Early 19th century. 172 cm x 66 cm x 34 cm

A Victorian mahogany dwarf bookcase, late 19th century, the…

Victorian Mahogany Bookcase with Fretwork and Spindles

A Victorian mahogany dwarf bookcase, late 19th century, the three tiered stepped shelves with a backing board, fretwork and turned spindle decorations, upon a raised base with a curved apron and sides and bracket feet. Height 86 cm. Width 60 cm. Depth 36…

A Sheraton Revival mahogany dwarf bookshelf. 113 cm high, 84 cm…

Sheraton Revival Mahogany Dwarf Bookshelf - 113x84x28cm

A Sheraton Revival mahogany dwarf bookshelf. 113 cm high, 84 cm wide, 28 cm deep.

A 19th century Australian cedar secretaire bookcase, with a…

Australian Cedar Secretaire Bookcase with Fitted Interior

A 19th century Australian cedar secretaire bookcase, with a chamfered cornice above two glazed doors enclosing shelves, the projecting lower section with a fall front secretaire drawer opening to a fitted interior above two cupboard doors, raised on squat…

A French mahogany dwarf bookcase, with a white marble top,…

French Mahogany Dwarf Bookcase with Ormolu Corbels

A French mahogany dwarf bookcase, with a white marble top, above three open shelves flanked by ormolu corbels on tapering legs terminating in brass caps. 121 cm high, 101 cm wide, 36 cm deep