| When in search for an antique bookcases, domestic | | | | items had been becoming created for libraries as well |
| pieces will typically date from as far back as 17th | | | | as the smaller compact bureau bookcase for the |
| century when case furnishings began to be | | | | sketching room. Walnut had now turn out to be quite |
| manufactured in considerable volume. Bookcases of | | | | hard to find and mahogany was becoming imported |
| course could be traced back as far as the late 16th | | | | as its alternative. The bookcase wasn't only created to |
| century and you can find some really fantastic | | | | showcase textbooks but also to display the art of |
| examples at Oxford University's Bodleian Library. Early | | | | your cabinet maker and quite a few high-quality |
| good examples of bookcases were typically | | | | examples remain from the time of George III onwards. |
| manufactured of oak, and were rather plain as | | | | Door fronts have been usually glazed within astragal |
| opposed to decorative. Very early books would be laid | | | | mouldings and beading and these attractive glazed |
| flat on the shelving, plus it was only with all the creation | | | | doors could vary from fairly plain to incredibly |
| of the print business that spines and titles could be | | | | elaborate. |
| displayed outwards. | | | | One of the most extraordinary bookcases is the |
| A walnut bureau bookcase in the time of Queen Anne | | | | breakfront. These are big architectural items with |
| (1702-14) is really a very wonderful example of an | | | | broken pediments and moulded cornices, generally |
| early on antique bookcase. Pieces similar to this | | | | created from mahogany. They may well be fully or |
| formed part of a revolution in furnishings creating in | | | | half glazed with cupboards instead of bureaux |
| Britain, with all the arrival of Huguenot worksmen | | | | underneath, commonly with three to four sets of |
| expelled from France at the end of the 17th century | | | | shelving, with all the central set pushed frontward or |
| and these new sorts of manufacture stayed | | | | breaking the front of the piece. |
| throughout the 1700s. The bureau bookcase was an | | | | On the way to the finish of the 17th century designers |
| enveloped set of shelving set upon a bureau or writing | | | | like Robert Adam designed home furniture like the |
| desk. The desk had a flip down flap with sets of | | | | secretaire cabinet and secretaire bookcase into their |
| drawers organized underneath. The cabinet positioned | | | | general house design. The significantly lighter satinwood |
| on top to carry the books had two normally mirror | | | | had develop into popular in this later period and Adam |
| glazed doors that helped to encourage light. These | | | | utilized craftsmen and designers to beautify home |
| cabinetry have been generally pedimented on top to | | | | furniture with marquetry inlay or coated neoclassical |
| offer an architectural quality for the piece. | | | | motifs and garlands of flowers. Some pieces ended up |
| As the 1700s progressed, varying kinds of vintage | | | | incredibly bright and vibrant indeed. |
| bookcase evolved. Very much larger architectural | | | | |