Open Sided Bookcase
An open sided bookcase offers unhindered access to volumes while bringing warmth and architectural line to a room.
Open Sided Bookcase
An open sided bookcase provides accessible storage for volumes and decorative objects without the visual weight of solid wooden doors. The examples gathered here span periods from the Georgian era through the Regency, Victorian, and Edwardian periods up to Art Deco and 1930s designs.
Materials and construction
Cabinet makers relied heavily on dense hardwoods such as mahogany, rosewood, walnut, and oak to build sturdy carcases that could support heavy rows of books. Finer examples incorporate timber veneers, satinwood, and partridge wood to create subtle grain patterns across the shelves and panels.
Decorative detailing on these pieces frequently includes brass mounts, cast ormolu enrichment, inlaid stringing, and turned legs. Pitch pine and oak versions often employ pegged joints for stability in larger library formats.
Several pieces include double-sided shelving, allowing books to be reached from either direction in a busy room.
Factors of quality
The distinction between standard utility items and exceptional pieces rests upon the choice of timber and the crispness of the cabinet work. Superior examples show carefully selected veneer figures, integrated brass or ormolu mounts, and precise joinery that remains firm across the shelves.
Proportion and design ambition also separate the tiers of quality, ranging from simple peg-sided utilitarian library shelving to sophisticated breakfront rosewood cabinets with inlaid panels. The integration of functional drawers or marble tops denotes a higher standard of manufacture.
Johnstone and Jeanes·Heals·Betty Joel·Gillows·Collinson and Lock London
The Open Sided Bookcase Glossary
- Breakfront
- A cabinet or bookcase whose central section projects forward from the flanking wings. This architectural arrangement adds depth and shadow to large library pieces.
- Ormolu
- Gilded bronze mounts applied to furniture for decorative effect during the Regency and Victorian periods. The metalwork is cast and chased before gilding.
- Etagere
- A set of open tiered shelves used for displaying small objects and books. Originating in France, these pieces are supported on slender vertical columns.
- Inlay
- A technique of inserting contrasting strips of wood or metal into hollowed spaces on the surface of the timber. This creates geometric patterns and decorative borders.
Open Sided Bookcase: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I style an open sided bookcase?
Arrange books both vertically and horizontally to break up straight lines on the shelves, leaving small spaces for decorative objects or framed pieces.
Keep heavier volumes on the lower tiers to ground the piece visually, and allow the timber grain and open sides of the furniture to remain visible.
Can these bookcases stand in the middle of a room?
Many examples in this selection are double-sided, meaning the back is finished with the same care as the front for placement away from walls.
Freestanding library pieces work effectively to divide large spaces while maintaining light and visibility through the open sides.
How do I care for rosewood and mahogany surfaces?
Dust the timber regularly with a soft, dry cloth to prevent the accumulation of grit that might scratch the polish. Avoid placing the furniture in direct sunlight or near heat sources to protect the wood from drying out or splitting.