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...

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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…

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 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…

A large Australian Colonial cedar and rose mahogany breakfront…

19th Century Colonial Bookcase for Mitchell Library

A large Australian Colonial cedar and rose mahogany breakfront bookcase for the Mitchell Library, mid 19th century, the moulded cornice above stepped frieze, having three pairs of glazed doors flanked by panelled pilasters, the lower section with…

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

A George III mahogany breakfront bookcase, having a moulded and…

George III Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase

A George III mahogany breakfront bookcase, having a moulded and dentil cornice above three astragal glazed doors enclosing adjustable shelves, the base with three cupboards with re-entrant moulded panels, on a plinth base, height 218 cm, width 185 cm,…

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…

Rare Australian cedar breakfront library bookcase circa…

Antique Australian Cedar Library Bookcase

Rare Australian cedar breakfront library bookcase circa 1840-1850

An Empire style mahogany breakfront bookcase, with four glazed…

Empire Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase with Lion Paw Feet

An Empire style mahogany breakfront bookcase, with four glazed doors above the carved cupboard doors, with ebonised figural decoration, on carved lion paw feet. 247 x 348 x 59 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, Sydney

A fine Regency mahogany four door library bookcase, mid 19th…

Regency Mahogany Library Bookcase

A fine Regency mahogany four door library bookcase, mid 19th century, of breakfront form with a dentil cornice above Gothic style astragal glazed, doors, a wide writing slide and a four door cupboard base, with keys. Provenance: Purchased from The Gilt…

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 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,…

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 large Australian cedar and rose mahogany six door breakfront…

1850 Australian Cedar Breakfront Bookcase with Rose Mahogany

A large Australian cedar and rose mahogany six door breakfront bookcase, circa 1850, the moulded cornice above three pairs of geometrically glazed doors divided by applied panelled columns, enclosing later adjustable shelves, above three pairs of panelled…