What materials were traditionally used in 19th-century bookcase construction?

Cabinetmakers primarily constructed these pieces from solid hardwoods like oak, mahogany, and walnut, utilising hand-cut dovetail joints and solid timber backboards.

for sale €2,048 $2,223

£1,750

Martlesham Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Jan 2008

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Trade Associations

Martlesham Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA

Id #SA1245799

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Early 19th Century Oak Bookcase

Name: Early 19th Century Oak Bookcase
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1245799
Price: 1750 GBP
Availability: InStock

19th century

For Sale by Martlesham Antiques

Description

Early 19th Century narrow oak open bookcase, having a nice figured top above a selection of four adjustable shelves, moulded columns either side, the top and sides of the bookcase having decorative patraes, supported on a moulded plinth base. Circa 1840.

23" x 14 1/2" x 60 1/2" high

58cms x 36cms x 154cms high

Date of Manufacture

Martlesham Antiques has dated this Antique Oak Open Bookcase to the 19th Century.

Independent Date Guide ID 09720593

Dealer's Item Date19th Century

Sellingantiques Date19th Century

Sellingantiques agingItem 165-200 years old

Test ResultsPassed dating

Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE 19TH CENTURY:

Wide pine backboards with central shrinkage gap: hand-fitted 19th-century construction.

Carved floral paterae on the frieze: classic architectural ornament of the 1830s and 1840s.

Quarter-sawn oak top showing medullary rays: traditional timber selection.

Moulded upright pilasters: typical early Victorian design.

This Independent Date Guide was compiled by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. It works only from the photographs shown on this page and is never told the date the dealer has declared. It is a guide, not a guarantee of age, and occasional errors can occur.

Physical Dimensions

Height

154cm (60.63")

Width

58cm (22.83")

Depth

36cm (14.17")

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1245799

Dealers Internal Reference

3836

Dealers Notes

We ship worldwide, please email for a shipping quote.

Martlesham Antiques is a family run business and has been trading since 1984. Located in Suffolk just outside Woodbridge, Martlesham Antiques is run from a spacious thatched cottage housing nine large showrooms with a vast adjacent car park.

Specialising in 18th and 19th Century furniture, together with creating custom hand-made furniture which is supplied to various interior designers, trade and the retail market. Every piece on the showroom floor is in excellent condition and ready to go straight into the buyers home or premises.

All of Martlesham Antiques furniture is hand polished by their own French polishers and restorers to a very high standard. We are also a member of LAPADA, the association of art and antiques.

Description

23" x 14 1/2" x 60 1/2" high

58cms x 36cms x 154cms high

Date of Manufacture

Martlesham Antiques has dated this Antique Oak Open Bookcase to the 19th Century.

Independent Date Report ID 09720593

Dealer's Item Date19th Century

Sellingantiques dating19th Century

Sellingantiques agingItem 165-200 years old

Test ResultsPassed dating

Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to the 19th Century:

Wide pine backboards with central shrinkage gap: hand-fitted 19th-century construction.

Carved floral paterae on the frieze: classic architectural ornament of the 1830s and 1840s.

Quarter-sawn oak top showing medullary rays: traditional timber selection.

Moulded upright pilasters: typical early Victorian design.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Physical Dimensions

Height

154cm (60.63")

Width

58cm (22.83")

Depth

36cm (14.17")

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Ref

SA1245799

Dealers Internal Ref

3836

About the Dealer

Martlesham Antiques

Sellingantiques verified Since Jan 2008

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Martlesham Antiques Profile Page

Trade Associations

Martlesham Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA

PDF

SAVE

An early nineteenth-century tall open oak bookcase featuring carved floral roundels on the upper frieze and five open storage shelves.

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Archive I

Early 19th Century Oak Bookcase

Archive II

An early nineteenth-century tall open oak bookcase featuring carved floral roundels on the upper frieze and five open storage shelves. View II

Archive III

An early nineteenth-century tall open oak bookcase featuring carved floral roundels on the upper frieze and five open storage shelves. View III

Archive IV

An early nineteenth-century tall open oak bookcase featuring carved floral roundels on the upper frieze and five open storage shelves. View IV

Archive V

An early nineteenth-century tall open oak bookcase featuring carved floral roundels on the upper frieze and five open storage shelves. View V

Archive VI

An early nineteenth-century tall open oak bookcase featuring carved floral roundels on the upper frieze and five open storage shelves. View VI

Archive VII

An early nineteenth-century tall open oak bookcase featuring carved floral roundels on the upper frieze and five open storage shelves. View VII

Archive VIII

Archive IX

An early nineteenth-century tall open oak bookcase featuring carved floral roundels on the upper frieze and five open storage shelves. View IX

Archive X

An early nineteenth-century tall open oak bookcase featuring carved floral roundels on the upper frieze and five open storage shelves. View X

Archive XI

An early nineteenth-century tall open oak bookcase featuring carved floral roundels on the upper frieze and five open storage shelves. View XI

Bookcases from the early 19th century often incorporate classical architectural proportions, featuring details such as hand-carved rosettes, fluted pilasters, moulded cornices, and solid plinth bases.

Authentic period pieces exhibit signs of period craftsmanship, including hand-planed surfaces, irregular saw marks on rear panels, natural wood shrinkage around joinery, and genuine aged patination.

An open bookcase can be styled by layering literary volumes with curated ceramic vessels, small framed artwork, and decorative objects to contrast historic timber textures against contemporary backgrounds.

Dust the surface regularly with a soft dry cloth and apply a clean beeswax polish sparingly once or twice a year, avoiding placement near direct heat sources or damp areas.

Martlesham Antiques

Early 19th Century Oak Bookcase

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