BREAKFRONT AND LIBRARY BOOKCASES
About 1730 onwards
George III mahogany breakfront bookcase with broken pediment.
Free-standing domestic bookcases were rare before the 18thC. Those made for Samuel Pepys in the 1660s are the earliest known. After about 1720, as people owned more books, substantial bookcases were to be found in the libraries of all large houses; by the [...]

BUREAUX ON STANDS
Late seventeenth century oak bureau showing the evolution from a simple desk to more complex internal drawers and pigeon holes under the fall-front. The bureau is on a stand with a single drawer in it and on
baluster-turned legs with square stretchers, one of which is missing (left-hand side). Note here the ‘desk’ section [...]

BUREAUX — early 18th century
Early eighteenth century bureaux are highly prized as examples of cabinet making at its best. As can be seen from the value points listed at the start of the Bureaux section, the inside fittings are important in determining value, as is size. They are extremely useful in the modern home for, [...]