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ID #SA1203102
FOR SALE
£1,440
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Early 1920s School Library Book Cabinet
For sale by D and A Binder Ltd
for sale €1,685     $1,829
£1,440
D and A Binder Ltd

D and A Binder Ltd

Sellingantiques Verified Since May 2015
Browse dealers 148 items
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Id #SA1203102
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Early 1920s School Library Book Cabinet

1900 - 1920
Description

A fantastic and rather unusual early 1920s school library cabinet, originally made for Henrietta Barnett School in Hampstead Garden Suburb.

The cabinet is made from solid mahogany with glass upper doors with hand-painted lettering for Fiction, History, and Science. The lower cupboard doors feature beautifully painted library rules including “Keep Quiet At All Times” and “All Books To Be Returned On Time”, while the central frieze reads “Treat Books With Respect , No Eating In Library.”

Inside, the cabinet is fitted with shelving for book storage, while the upper section would have allowed staff and students to easily view and organise titles.

Originally intended for use within the school library, today it works beautifully as a bookcase or display cabinet in a home, boutique interior, or hospitality setting.

Date of Manufacture

D and A Binder Ltd has dated this Antique School Library Bookcase to the 1920s.

Physical Dimensions
Height
220cm (86.61")
Width
107cm (42.13")
Depth
48cm (18.90")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1203102
Dealers Notes

All of our prices include current VAT (20%). Thanks.

Description
A fantastic and rather unusual early 1920s school library cabinet, originally made for Henrietta Barnett School in Hampstead Garden Suburb.
“
The cabinet is made from solid mahogany with glass upper doors with hand-painted lettering for Fiction, History, and Science.
D and A Binder Ltd

The lower cupboard doors feature beautifully painted library rules including “Keep Quiet At All Times” and “All Books To Be Returned On Time”, while the central frieze reads “Treat Books With Respect , No Eating In Library.”

fig 1. A two-tier dark brown wooden school library cabinet featuring glazed upper doors with painted category labels and panelled lower cupboard doors with hand-painted instructional rules.
fig 1. Early 1920s School Library Book Cabinet

Inside, the cabinet is fitted with shelving for book storage, while the upper section would have allowed staff and students to easily view and organise titles.

Originally intended for use within the school library, today it works beautifully as a bookcase or display cabinet in a home, boutique interior, or hospitality setting.

Date of Manufacture

D and A Binder Ltd has dated this Antique School Library Bookcase to the 1920s.

Height
220cm (86.61")
Width
107cm (42.13")
Depth
48cm (18.90")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1203102
D and A Binder Ltd
D and A Binder Ltd
Sellingantiques verified Since May 2015
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the D and A Binder Ltd Profile Page

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A two-tier dark brown wooden school library cabinet featuring glazed upper doors with painted category labels and panelled lower cupboard doors with hand-painted instructional rules.
1 / 9
Archive I A two-tier dark brown wooden school library cabinet featuring glazed upper doors with painted category labels and panelled lower cupboard doors with hand-painted instructional rules.

Early 1920s School Library Book Cabinet

Archive II A two-tier dark brown wooden school library cabinet featuring glazed upper doors with painted category labels and panelled lower cupboard doors with hand-painted instructional rules. View II
Archive III A two-tier dark brown wooden school library cabinet featuring glazed upper doors with painted category labels and panelled lower cupboard doors with hand-painted instructional rules. View III
Archive IV A two-tier dark brown wooden school library cabinet featuring glazed upper doors with painted category labels and panelled lower cupboard doors with hand-painted instructional rules. View IV
Archive V A two-tier dark brown wooden school library cabinet featuring glazed upper doors with painted category labels and panelled lower cupboard doors with hand-painted instructional rules. View V
Archive VI A two-tier dark brown wooden school library cabinet featuring glazed upper doors with painted category labels and panelled lower cupboard doors with hand-painted instructional rules. View VI
Archive VII A two-tier dark brown wooden school library cabinet featuring glazed upper doors with painted category labels and panelled lower cupboard doors with hand-painted instructional rules. View VII
Archive VIII A two-tier dark brown wooden school library cabinet featuring glazed upper doors with painted category labels and panelled lower cupboard doors with hand-painted instructional rules. View VIII
Archive IX A two-tier dark brown wooden school library cabinet featuring glazed upper doors with painted category labels and panelled lower cupboard doors with hand-painted instructional rules. View IX
Enlarged Archival View
D and A Binder Ltd

D and A Binder Ltd
Telephone 020 7609 6300 or 07944 356 180
Location
101 Holloway Road
London
N7 8LT
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/danda
Verified Since May 2015
Items For Sale 148
Items Sold 833
D and A Binder Ltd
D and A Binder Ltd
Verified Since May 2015
View Dealer Info
Location: 101 Holloway Road, London, N7 8LT, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/danda
Verified
May 2015
For Sale
148
Sold
833
A two-tier dark brown wooden school library cabinet featuring glazed upper doors with painted category labels and panelled lower cupboard doors with hand-painted instructional rules.
Early 1920s School Library Book Cabinet
Ref: SA1203102
A two-tier dark brown wooden school library cabinet featuring glazed upper doors with painted category labels and panelled lower cupboard doors with hand-painted instructional rules.
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Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectBookcases & Display Cabinets
  • Period1900 - 1920
  • Style1920s Institutional
  • MaterialOak, Glass, Brass
  • ColourWarm Brown
  • MotifsHand-painted signwriting, Glazed upper doors, Panelled lower doors
  • SizeH 220 cm (87 in) x W 107 cm (42 in) x D 48 cm (19 in)

This early 1920s institutional bookcase is an unusual school library cabinet made from solid warm brown mahogany with glass upper doors and panelled lower cupboard doors. The upper glazed doors contain hand-painted lettering for Fiction, History, and Science beneath the Henrietta Barnett School header, while the lower doors carry hand-painted library rules including Keep Quiet At All Times and All Books To Be Returned On Time, complemented by a central frieze instruction to treat books with respect and avoid eating in the library. Additional visible details include simple brass hinges and upright rectangular proportions, measuring 220 cm high, 107 cm wide, and 48 cm deep in overall dimensions. Today, this piece functions practically as a bookcase or display cabinet in a home study, living room, boutique interior, or hospitality setting, offering internal shelving for organisation.

FAQs

Early 20th-century institutional cabinets were built for durability and functional organisation, often featuring glazed upper display sections, panelled lower cupboards, and hand-painted signwriting or classification labels.

Pieces from this era were primarily crafted from solid hardwoods such as oak or pitch pine, utilising traditional joinery methods including mortise and tenon joints, sheet glass glazing, and cast metal or brass drop handles.

Authentic signwriting exhibits subtle hand-painted variations, natural surface craquelure, and age-consistent wear where hand contact occurs, rather than the uniformity of modern vinyl or stencilled graphics.

These cabinets serve as architectural focal points in living rooms, home offices, or dining spaces, offering functional display for ceramics, glassware, or curated book collections while adding historical context.

Dust regularly with a soft, dry cloth and apply a neutral beeswax polish to unpainted wood surfaces. Avoid harsh chemical cleaners or water on painted lettering to prevent lifting and deterioration.
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