A LATE GEORGE III MAHOGANY REVOLVING BOOKCASE

CIRCA 1800, RESTORED IN THE 19TH CENTURY WITH LATER BOOKSPINES

Details

A LATE GEORGE III MAHOGANY REVOLVING BOOKCASE
CIRCA 1800, RESTORED IN THE 19TH CENTURY WITH LATER BOOKSPINES
Of tapering form, surmounted by an urn-shaped finial, with four open tiers between leather bookspine dividers, each rotating, the base of drum-form with four cedar-lined drawers and four false drawers, raised on a turned and tapered column support with downswept legs and brass caps and casters, one drawer partially relined, the handles replaced
75 in. (190 cm.) high, 31 in. (79 cm.) diameter

Provenance

Anonymous sale; Christies, New York, 19 October 2000, lot 280.

Lot Essay

A design for a 'circular movable bookcase' under the patent of the Catherine-Street makers Morgan and Sanders was published in Rudolph Ackermann's The Repository of Arts in 1810 (reproduced in P. Agius, ed., Ackermann's Regency Furniture and Interiors, Wiltshire, 1984, p.48, pl.13). According to Ackermann, this 'ingenious and elegant contrivance', derived from the form of dumbwaiters, affords some 'valuable conveniences'.

Another example with tripod base is illustrated in F.L. Hinckley, The More Significant Regency Furniture 1800-1830, New York, 1991, p.32, fig.33. Another of this form was sold anonymously, Christie's, London, 7 July 1988, lot 91.

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