English Dwarf Bookcases
ENGLISH DWARF BOOKCASES
About1800 onwards
The burgeoning popularity of reading at the turn of the 19thC, particularly among women, created demand for small, readily accessible bookshelves of only table height, where books of relatively small value could be stored openly in rooms used in an informal way. Especially popular during the Regency period when they were made in pairs to stand at either end of a room, or as moveable ‘bookstands’.
Right, Regency rosewood chiffonier with brass gallery and shelf supports.
Above, simple Regency bookcase with open shelves.
STYLE AND APPEARANCE
Three standard types evolved:
Chiffonier: A cupboard fitted with two open shelves above; usually a frieze drawer too. (Also popularly used by the Victorians as a form of sideboard in the dining-room — see SIDEBOARDS P. 120). Door panels fashionably fitted with brass wire grilles backed by pleated silk. Substantial pilasters or columns at either
Above, fine Regency bookcase with pilasters in Egyptian style. The brass grilles were originally backed by pleated silk.
side, fashionably in Egyptian style. Low turned, or lion’s paw, feet. Plinth base increasingly common after 1810.
Similarly, marble tops. Upper shelves at back. supported on slender turned columns (sometimes brass). Occasionally mirrored rather than wooden backboard. Victorian versions of similar form, but plainer: wooden door panels and tops.
Turned spindles supporting shelves.
Could also be of breakfront form, without superstructure and with additional open or
Above, simple mahogany bookcase.
enclosed shelves at sides. (See also cup-BOARDS p. 43) Occasionally all sections had open shelves.
Tiered set of two, three or four open shelves, shallowest at top. Continuous uprights forming sides, shaped on front edge. Generally two drawers below, occasionally small cupboard instead. Four short turned legs or stump feet. Top bordered by sides and backboard or by low, brass or wood, gallery.
Bookstand (or ‘moving library’): Similar to above, but arranged as two sets placed back-to-back. Sometimes legs as two columns supported on splayed feet linked by stretcher
Below, double sided mahogany bookcase
as seen on contemporary sofa tables — see TABLES: SOFA, P. 181). Feet fitted with castors. Occasionally sides of brass wire trellis.
MATERIALS
Most commonly rosewood, satinwood, mahogany, and, later, walnut. Sometimes painted beech. Highly figured exotic veneers used during Regency for cross-banding.
CONSTRUCTION
Standard practices employed. Many plain Victorian chiffoniers have now become ‘Regency’ following replacement of their door panels with brass wire trellis and pleated silk, and their wooden tops and superstructure with a marble slab. Look for signs of fresh saw marks and staining on the relevant sections.
DECORATION
Much use of Grecian and Egyptian ornament during Regency. Brass inlay and applied gilt brass ornament in the form of sunbursts, paterae, anthemlons, sphinxes and other Egyptian heads, feet etc. Lion handles on larger frieze drawers, otherwise turned knobs.
FINISH
Polish, occasionally paint, partial gilding.
RELATIVE VALUES
All types are sought after and expensive, Regency especially so. Pairs always at a premium.
Above, ormolu-mounted Regency showing French Empire influence.
Tags: Bookcase, BOOKCASES, Bookshelves, bookstand, brass inlay, Chiffonier, cupboard, DWARF, ENGLISH, mahogany, open shelves, regency period, rosewood, sideboard, SIDEBOARDS