Hanging Shelves Bookcases
BOOKCASES, HANGING SHELVES
About 1750 onwards
Asmall set of open shelves for books and china which hung on the wall above table height, often called a
‘hanging chiffonier’ in the 19thC. Usually designed for ladies’ rooms, hence
generally rather light and pretty objects.
STYLE AND APPEARANCE
Could have two, three or four shelves, either tiered or of equal depth, and sometimes one or a pair of shallow drawers below. Totally open at front and back, partially at sides.
Mid-18thC examples had fret-cut sides –fashionably in Gothic or Chinese style – extending in a curved outline above the top and below the bottom shelf.
Popular Regency design: Plain shelves with brass pillar supports and brass cross-bars at sides. Sometimes brass gallery too. Victorian: Scroll or turned baluster supports and scrolling back-board above.
Bookstand, 1850-1875, with diminishing shelves and scrolled ends.
Chinese Chippendale style shelves with fretwork sides and galleries.
Top shelf occasionally galleried; sometimes backed by shaped board. Size variable, but mostly small, the average width about 24 inches/60 cm.
MATERIALS
Mostly mahogany, occasionally satinwood or rosewood. Victorian: Mahogany, walnut, oak or deal.
CONSTRUCTION
Shelves rebating into sides. Post-1800 uprights generally dowelled into shelves, set-in slightly from corners.
DECORATION
Fret carving. Small knob handles on drawers.
FINISH
Polish, stain, occasionally paint.
RELATIVE VALUES
A huge range: 18thC examples may be affordable; 19thC a cheaper alternative. Into five figures for a really good mid-18thC Chippendale-style piece.
Tags: BOOKCASES, bookstand, Chiffonier, chinese style, chippendale style, drawers, HANGING, open shelves, Regency, regency design, shelf, Shelves, table, victorian mahogany, Wood