Pair Low Breakfront Bookcases 1900 - 1920

Name: Pair of Breakfront Bookcases
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA518953
Price: 1450 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Cataloguer’s Note

Sustainable Choice

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing

ObjectBookcases
Period1900 - 1920
StyleMid-Century Modern
MaterialBirch, Wood Veneer, Brass
ColourWarm Brown
MotifsBreakfront silhouette, Hand-painted botanical panels, Tapered square legs
SizeH 100 cm (39 in) x W 140 cm (55 in) x D 35 cm (14 in)

This pair of 1920 breakfront bookcases is constructed from birch and wood veneer with a warm brown finish. Each unit measures 100 cm high, 140 cm wide, and 35 cm deep, presenting a mid-century modern style with a breakfront silhouette and tapered square legs. The design incorporates open side shelving sections flanking a central cabinet enclosed by a pair of hand-painted red botanical panels and two small drawers fitted with simple brass hardware. Practical for contemporary interiors, these matching cabinets suit placement in a living room, study, or hallway to display books and decorative items while concealing smaller household essentials. The woodwork shows minor signs of age and wear consistent with the period, ready for domestic placement once cleaning and polishing are complete.

FAQs

A breakfront cabinet is a piece of furniture where the central section projects forward beyond the adjacent side sections. Originally popularised in eighteenth-century Britain, this architectural form was adapted throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries for bookcases, sideboards, and display cabinets.

Mid-century storage furniture often combined solid timber framing and wood veneers, such as birch, walnut, or satinwood, with lacquered or hand-painted decorative panels. Metal hardware, including brass drop handles, and dovetail jointing in drawers were standard construction features.

Authentic mid-century pieces display age-appropriate patina, hand-applied brushstrokes on painted panels rather than printed transfers, and period-specific joinery inside drawers. Check the rear casing and base for original finish variations and maker marks or stampings.

Position the pair symmetrically on either side of a central feature, such as a fireplace, architectural alcove, or large framed artwork. The low height allows the top surface to function as a display area for table lamps and ceramics, while the open side shelves accommodate books.

Dust surfaces regularly with a clean, dry microfibre cloth, avoiding harsh chemical cleaners or abrasive polishes that can degrade painted detailing. Keep timber pieces away from direct heat sources and direct sunlight to prevent veneer cracking and pigment fading.

Michael Youll Antiques

Pair of Breakfront Bookcases

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