Can they hold heavy art books?

Standard tiers lack the height for large folios. They were designed for novels and octavo volumes. You can sometimes find larger models built for atlases. Standard slots measure around ten inches high.

My husband inherited one from his grandfather but it wobbles badly whenever we try to spin it around to reach the back shelves. Can it be fixed?

Wobbling usually means the central spindle has worked loose from the wooden base. The bolts holding the cast iron plate to the timber cross-section stretch or strip their threads over time. A restorer can re-tap the holes or fit larger screws. Sometimes the bearing just needs cleaning and re-greasing to stop the unit binding and causing the carcase to rock.

Do they dismantle for transport?

The top section normally lifts straight off the metal base. Two people can pull upwards to separate the wooden carcase from the iron spindle. Do not tip a complete unit on its side to move it. The combined weight of the timber and hardware will snap the central column.

I have a small corner in my sitting room next to a radiator, would it be safe to put a wooden revolving bookcase there?

Wood shrinks and cracks when exposed to direct heat. The thin slats on the sides are particularly vulnerable to warping if placed too close to a radiator. Keep the piece in a stable environment away from temperature extremes. If you must place it near a heat source, leave a wide gap for air circulation.

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Revolving Bookcases

19th century

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Antique Bookcases

Antique Revolving Bookcases from the 19th Century

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Designed to hold reference volumes within arm's reach of a desk, an antique revolving bookcase is a freestanding tiered shelving unit that rotates on a weighted central base.