A substantial table, equipped with drawers or cupboards, and sometimes with an adjustable reading rack, designed to stand in the centre of the library. They took the form either of a pedestal desk at which two people could sit opposite each other, or of a more conventional table form. The tops were generally lined with tooled leather. Many Australian examples in red cedar and sometimes stained pine survive from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

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 more...

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A William IV rosewood library stand, the rectangular top above…

A William IV rosewood library stand, the rectangular top above a moulded frieze on eight pilasters with scroll capitals supporting two adjustable shelves, on a plinth base with concealed castors. *CITES permit required for export, height 94 cm, depth 51…

A fine carved cedar breakfront wardrobe by Hill and Sons Sydney.…

A fine carved cedar breakfront wardrobe by Hill and Sons Sydney. Australian circa 1860. with Hill and Sons paper maker's label to verso. Provenance: Bonhams and Goodman Sydney 06/08/2007 Lot 9. Reference: For a pediment carving of almost identical form,…

A late George III oak breakfront secretaire bookcase, the…

George III Oak Breakfront Secrétaire Bookcase

A late George III oak breakfront secretaire bookcase, the moulded cornice above a plain central frieze above four astragal glazed doors enclosing adjustable shelves, the base with a central fitted secretaire drawer above a slide and cupboards, flanked by…

A large Australian cedar library bookcase, late 19th century,…

19th Century Australian Cedar Library Bookcase - 282cm x 210cm

A large Australian cedar library bookcase, late 19th century, 282 cm high, 210 cm wide

An Australian stained kauri pine open library bookcase with…

Antique Kauri Pine Bookcase

An Australian stained kauri pine open library bookcase with three adjustable shelves, circa 1890, 124 cm high, 106 cm wide, 33 cm deep

An impressive bespoke fruitwood breakfront bookcase, made by…

Bespoke Fruitwood Breakfront Bookcase by Robert Brown, Melbourne

An impressive bespoke fruitwood breakfront bookcase, made by Robert Brown, Cabinetmaker, Melbourne, the bookcase with an extended base having four cupboards, the central section with internal drawers and a slide out tray for electronic equipment, raised…

An impressive bespoke fruitwood breakfront bookcase, made by…

Robert Brown's Bespoke Fruitwood Breakfront Bookcase

An impressive bespoke fruitwood breakfront bookcase, made by Robert Brown, Cabinetmaker, Melbourne, the bookcase with an extended base having four cupboards, the central section with internal drawers and a slide out tray for electronic equipment, raised…

A large cedar library bookcase, late 19th century, with a…

Late 19th Century Cedar Library Bookcase

A large cedar library bookcase, late 19th century, with a stepped cornice above a pair of chamfered and glazed doors enclosing shelves, the projecting lower section with panelled cupboard doors, 240 cm high, 151 cm wide, 57 cm deep

An important Colonial WA jarrah two-door library bookcase, mid…

Colonial WA Jarrah Library Bookcase, Mid 19th Century

An important Colonial WA jarrah two-door library bookcase, mid 19th century Illstd, T. Harris, Colonial WA furniture, page 172. Described in part, 'In 1987 this bookcase set an auction price record for a colonial WA piece of furniture at $25,000.'…

A massive Australian cedar library bookcase, circa 1870. Ex…

Victorian Cedar Library Bookcase with Carved Details

A massive Australian cedar library bookcase, circa 1870. Ex Australian Alliance Assurance Company, 400-402 Collins St Melbourne. The massive double arched dentil moulded pediment above five sliding glazed doors separated by turned columns with carved…

Lenehan (attributed) superb Colonial library bookcase, full…

Colonial Cedar Library Bookcase by Lenehan

Lenehan (attributed) superb Colonial library bookcase, full cedar construction and veneer in fine cuts of figured cedar with Lenehan's typical moulded pediment and cross banded plinth, Sydney origin, circa 1850. 273 cm high, 175 cm wide, 42 cm deep

An Australian library bookcase with adjustable shelves, stained…

Adjustable Kauri Pine Library Bookcase from Early 20th Century

An Australian library bookcase with adjustable shelves, stained kauri pine early 20th century, a€‹163 cm high, 210 cm wide, 30 cm deep

An Australian library bookcase with adjustable shelves, stained…

Adjustable Kauri Pine Library Bookcase

An Australian library bookcase with adjustable shelves, stained kauri pine early 20th century, 163 cm high, 210 cm wide, 30 cm deep

Rare blackwood library bookcase, hand crafted with multiple…

Blackwood Arts & Crafts Library Bookcase

Rare blackwood library bookcase, hand crafted with multiple glazed doors, panelled doors and drawers, in the Arts & Crafts movement

An Australian breakfront open bookcase, solid blackwood…

Melbourne Blackwood Breakfront Bookcase

An Australian breakfront open bookcase, solid blackwood construction with adjustable shelving, most likely Melbourne origin, circa 1885, 135 cm high, 216 cm wide, 38 cm deep

Rare Australian cedar breakfront library bookcase circa…

Antique Australian Cedar Library Bookcase

Rare Australian cedar breakfront library bookcase circa 1840-1850

Late 19th century New Zealand Colonial kauri cabinet bookcase…

Colonial Kauri Cabinet Bookcase with Glazed Doors

Late 19th century New Zealand Colonial kauri cabinet bookcase top the burr totara cornice with four breakfront sections, acanthus mouldings beneath, adjustable shelving enclosed by four arched and glazed panel doors (one pane cracked), 149 cm high, 246 cm…

An Australian red cedar library bookcase of gothic design…

Gothic Cedar Bookcase with Glazed and Wooden Doors

An Australian red cedar library bookcase of gothic design fitted with three glazed panel doors to the upper section, three wooden panelled doors below, the adjustable shelf interior lined in Baltic pine

An Australian red cedar library bookcase of gothic design…

Gothic Cedar Bookcase with Glazed and Wooden Doors

An Australian red cedar library bookcase of gothic design fitted with three glazed panel doors to the upper section, three wooden panelled doors below, the adjustable shelf interior lined in Baltic pine

An impressive library bookcase with early astgragal glazed…

Antique Australian Cedar Library Bookcase with Sliding Doors

An impressive library bookcase with early astgragal glazed sliding doors above a bank of five staggered drawers, Australian cedar, New South Wales origin, mid 19th century, 227 cm high, 193 cm wide, 49 cm deep

Colonial cedar 4 door multi pane glass door bookcase, 198 cm…

Colonial Cedar Multi-Pane Glass Door Bookcase

Colonial cedar 4 door multi pane glass door bookcase, 198 cm high, 122 cm wide, 35.5 cm deep

Large 19th century cedar library bookcase with open shelves…

19th Century Cedar Library Bookcase

Large 19th century cedar library bookcase with open shelves flanked by corbels 4 drawer & 4 door base also flanked by corbels on plinth base, 306 cm wide, 235 cm high, 54 cm deep

Rare Australian cedar breakfront library bookcase circa…

Antique Australian Cedar Library Bookcase

Rare Australian cedar breakfront library bookcase circa 1840-1850

A cedar four door book case, 20th century, with an extended and…

Cedar Bookcase with Glazed Doors and Cupboards

A cedar four door book case, 20th century, with an extended and stepped cornice above a pair of glazed doors flanked by corbels, the base with a single frieze drawer and a pair of cupboards above a plinth base, height 226 cm width 113 cm depth 45 cm

An Australian blackwood breakfront three door bookcase having…

Australian Blackwood Breakfront Bookcase with Glazed Doors

An Australian blackwood breakfront three door bookcase having three doors below, central drawers and glazed doors above. 272 cm high, 174 cm wide, 53 cm deep.

Large 6 door 2 drawer 19th century cedar bookcase with raised…

19th Century Cedar Bookcase with Shield Panel Doors

Large 6 door 2 drawer 19th century cedar bookcase with raised shield panel doors, 154 cm wide, 215 cm high, 54 cm deep

19th century cedar 4 door glass top bookcase

Antique Cedar Glass Bookcase with Four Doors

19th century cedar 4 door glass top bookcase

Large ebonised two door breakfront bookcase, the moulded…

Ebonised Breakfront Bookcase with Glass and Panelled Doors

Large ebonised two door breakfront bookcase, the moulded pediment above a pair of glass doors enclosing adjustable shelves, lower section with four panelled doors, height 239 cm, width 160 cm, depth 51 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, Sydney

Wonderful cedar breakfront bookcase, with stepped pediment top,…

Cedar Pediment Bookcase with Glass Doors and Drawers

Wonderful cedar breakfront bookcase, with stepped pediment top, above four glass panel doors, with adjustable shelves, above two deep long drawers, flanked by two deep short drawers with circular handles on pedestal base

Colonial breakfront bookcase, circa 1845, constructed of pit…

1845 Colonial Red Gum Breakfront Bookcase

Colonial breakfront bookcase, circa 1845, constructed of pit saw cut river red gum, four door panelled base, with petitie height drawers flanked by trefoil turned columns., rising to a four glazed door top, each door flanked by trefoil turned columns,…

Australian Colonial cedar bookcase c.1880's and later the top…

Antique Colonial Cedar Bookcase with Cupboard Base

Australian Colonial cedar bookcase c.1880's and later the top with open adjustable shelves over lower four door cupboard base height 238 cm, width 190 cm, depth 30 cm

A George III inverted breakfront bookcase, the cornice with…

George III Inverted Breakfront Bookcase with Chinese Chippendale Decoration

A George III inverted breakfront bookcase, the cornice with moulded Chinese Chippendale decoration, above astral glazed doors, below four panelled doors, 255 cm wide approx., 40 cm deep. Provenance: Connoisseurs Stores. Melbourne, The Estate of Stanley…

A 19th century Australian cedar breakfront secretaire bookcase,…

19th Century Australian Cedar Secretaire Bookcase

A 19th century Australian cedar breakfront secretaire bookcase, with carved scrolls and shell cartouche to the arched pediment above three arched glazed doors, a central secretaire drawer above recessed doors and flanked by doors with applied carved…

A European walnut bookcase, later 19th century, with an…

19th Century European Walnut Bookcase

A European walnut bookcase, later 19th century, with an extended concave cornice, a single glazed door above an extended section with a pulvinated and fluted frieze drawer, two burr walnut panelled doors upon a breakfront base with squashed bun feet,…

A matched pair of late 19th century cedar library Bookcases,…

Pair of 19th Century Cedar Library Bookcases

A matched pair of late 19th century cedar library Bookcases, each with two glazed doors enclosing shelves, within reeded surrounds, 244 x 112.3 x 25 cm

A large gothic oak library bookcase, circa 1865. 270 cm high,…

Gothic Oak Library Bookcase, 1865

A large gothic oak library bookcase, circa 1865. 270 cm high, 244 cm wide and 64 cm deep. Provenance: Private Collection, Melbourne