Anthony Short Antiques has dated this Tall Mahogany Revolving Bookcase to the 19th Century.
Of elegant, tall proportions, the bookcase is constructed from beautifully figured solid mahogany and features a square top with a finely moulded edge. A particularly charming feature is the adjustable leather-covered reading slope incorporated into the top, complete with integrated cupholders. Below, the bookcase is arranged over three generous tiers, each divided into quarter sections by slender mahogany slats running vertically from top to base and secured with decorative brass studs. This clever arrangement provides ample storage while allowing books to remain easily accessible from all sides. The whole is supported on substantial cross stretchers above a framed iron revolving mechanism with original iron fittings, terminating in brass castors. The revolving action allows the entire bookcase to turn smoothly, making it both a highly practical and remarkably inventive piece of 19th-century library furniture. The quality of the cabinetmaking is evident throughout, from the choice of beautifully figured mahogany to the refined proportions and carefully considered construction. Most importantly, the bookcase remains in excellent original condition, retaining a superb rich colour and wonderfully warm patina developed naturally through generations of careful use. The combination of its unusual revolving design, three-tier configuration, adjustable reading slope and Bibliothèque Terquem, Paris label makes this a particularly interesting and desirable example of 19th-century French library furniture. Both highly decorative and immensely practical, this exceptional bookcase would make a striking addition to a library, study or drawing room, equally at home in a traditional period interior or as a statement piece within a contemporary setting.
Height 118cm (46.5in)
Width 62cm (24.4in)
Depth 62cm (24.4in)
Anthony Short Antiques has dated this Tall Mahogany Revolving Bookcase to the 19th Century.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Anthony Short Antiques Profile Page
19th Century Tall French Mahogany Revolving Bookcase, C1880
