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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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 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…

George IV mahogany bookcase, c. 1825, the Gothic arched…

Gothic Mahogany Bookcase with Provenance

George IV mahogany bookcase, c. 1825, the Gothic arched astragal glazed doors above a long drawer and a pair of paneled cupboard doors, height 232 cm width 121 cm depth 47 cm. Provenance: Robert Campbell (1769?1846), Duntroon homestead, or Yarralumba, ACT…

North Italian oak bookcase, 18th century, gadroon-carved…

18th Century Oak Bookcase with Carved Details

North Italian oak bookcase, 18th century, gadroon-carved rectangular pediment above frieze with carved relief of acanthus leaves and trellis, two glazed doors enclosing blue-painted interior with adjustable shelves, with a pair of cupboard doors…

New Zealand stained kauri chip carved cabinet bookcase in the…

Stained Kauri Chip Carved Bookcase Cabinet

New Zealand stained kauri chip carved cabinet bookcase in the George III style with moulded cornice, two astragal glazed doors to the top and ornately chip carved panel doors below on box base, 202 cm high 11 cm wide, 37 cm deep

A George III mahogany secretaire bookcase, early 19th century,…

Mahogany Secretaire Bookcase with Hidden Drawer

A George III mahogany secretaire bookcase, early 19th century, with a protruding pediment above twin astragal arch glazed doors with fabric covered shelving, the fall front with elegant oval inlaid panels with stringing opening to a leather writing…

Regency three-tier revolving bookcase, c. 1820, the circular…

Regency Revolving Bookcase with Faux Book Spines

Regency three-tier revolving bookcase, c. 1820, the circular graduating tops with sections of faux book spines, surmounted by an urn finial, on tripartite down-swept legs with hoof feet, height 110 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, Sydney

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,…

George III mahogany secretaire bookcase, 19th century, the…

19th Century George III Mahogany Bookcase with Secretaire

George III mahogany secretaire bookcase, 19th century, the moulded cornice above a pair of glazed glass doors, with a fall front drawer enclosing a fitted interior with writing surface and four long drawers below, raised on bracket feet. Provenance:…

A William IV mahogany bookcase, a William IV San Domingo…

William IV Mahogany Bookcase with Gothic Astragal Glaze Doors

A William IV mahogany bookcase, a William IV San Domingo mahogany bookcase, the upper part with three Gothic-type astragal glaze doors with carved spandrels and a cornice supported by acanthus capitals, the lower cupboard with three paneled doors on a…

A George III style mahogany bookcase, by Colonial Heritage. The…

Colonial Heritage Mahogany Bookcase with Pediment and Bust

A George III style mahogany bookcase, by Colonial Heritage. The architectural pediment centered by a bust of a maiden, with astragal glazed doors below, the lower section fitted with panelled doors, on plinth base. Bearing a paper label. Width 126 cm.

William IV mahogany secretaire bookcase, c. 1830, having a pair…

William IV Mahogany Secrétaire Bookcase, c. 1830

William IV mahogany secretaire bookcase, c. 1830, having a pair of glazed doors with gothic tracery above a long drawer with fitted interior and writing surface, over two arched panel doors flanked by engaged columns, height 235 cm width 112 cm detph 52…

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 hanging shelves, mid-19th century,…

Colonial Cedar Hanging Shelves with Carved Supports

Australian Colonial cedar hanging shelves, mid-19th century, with three adjustable shelves and carved side supports, height 112 cm width 113 depth 21 cm. Provenance: Warwick Oakman Antiques, Hobart. Collection of George and Adisa Pompei, Sydney

The Humphrey Gray Secretaire Bookcase, rare and important…

Humphrey Gray Secretaire Bookcase, Australian Colonial Cedar, 1835

The Humphrey Gray Secretaire Bookcase, rare and important Australian Colonial Cedar, Tasmanian origin, circa 1835, 232 cm high, 124 cm wide, 58 cm deep. Provenance: Orginally made for wealthy free settler Humphrey Gray (1784-1868) who emergrated to Van…

George IV mahogany secretaire bookcase, with brass inlay…

Mahogany Secrétaire Bookcase with Brass Inlay Decoration

George IV mahogany secretaire bookcase, with brass inlay decoration, the astragal glazed upper section enclosing shelves, the lower section with well fitted secretaire drawer, above three long drawers on turned bun feet, height 242 cm width 120 cm depth…

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…

George III mahogany secretaire bookcase, c. 1800, the upper…

George III Mahogany Bookcase with Inlaid Fall Flap

George III mahogany secretaire bookcase, c. 1800, the upper section with a moulded cornice above two astragal glazed doors, the lower section with a fall flap inlaid with satinwood and ebony, above two short and three long drawers with brass handles,…

A George III mahogany library bookcase, circa 1810 the moulded…

George III Mahogany Library Bookcase

A George III mahogany library bookcase, circa 1810 the moulded pediment above three Gothic arch astragal glazed doors enclosing adjustable shelves, the lower section with three panelled door cupboards, the central doors to both sections with sliding…

A George III walnut veneered secretaire bookcase, with an…

George III Secrétaire Bookcase with Elaborate Fitted Interior

A George III walnut veneered secretaire bookcase, with an elaborate fitted interior to the secretaire compartment including secret drawers. 206 cm high, 107 cm wide, 84 cm deep. Provenance: Purchased from Robert Haines Gallery, Sydney

A George III mahogany secretaire bookcase the astragal glazed…

George III Mahogany Secretaire Bookcase

A George III mahogany secretaire bookcase the astragal glazed upper doors with Gothic arched glazing bars, above a secretaire drawer and two panelled doors, bracket feet, 124.5 x 243 x 59 cm Provenance: Purchased from Kent Antiques, Melbourne, 4th October…

A good Regency rosewood open bookcase, circa 1830. The raised…

Regency Rosewood Bookcase with Brass Inlay and Ormolu Mounts

A good Regency rosewood open bookcase, circa 1830. The raised shelf with pierced brass gallery mount on 'S' form ormolu mounted supports, the base with two adjustable shelves and cut brass inlay, on a platform base with ormolu mount, 87.5 cm width x 29 cm…

Cedar open shelved bookcase. Attributed to George Thwaites.…

Thwaites Cedar Bookcase, 19th Century

Cedar open shelved bookcase. Attributed to George Thwaites. This bookcase was purported to have been purchased from the Redmond Barry estate sale in 1881. Height 226 cm, width 120 cm, depth 42 cm