Colonial Antique Bookcases

Early colonial bookcases were loosely based on designs derived from late 18th century British furniture designers. They were usually two-height bookcases, multi-paned on the top with a cupboard below. There were usually two doors above and two doors below.

The multiple panes were held in place with glazing bars. Often, some form of column or pilaster decorated the edges of the base. In some cases, the decoration extended to the edges of the top as well. Larger, more ostentatious pieces were 'breakfront' bookcases, with three or four doors above and below, and with the middle section (either one or two doors in width) indented or everted.

Multi-paned bookcases became rare after 1840. Each upper door became a single pane of glass. Decoration with columns or pilasters became rare, and short decorative corbels were attached to the outer door stiles. These became more decorative as the century wore on.

Early bookcases tend to have escutcheons on both doors, even though only one can be used for a key to open the lock. Later ones have only a single escutcheon, which is on the lock side of the cabinet and cupboard.

After about 1860, the brass escutcheons became straight-bottomed, rather than the curved variety in use before that date.

Early bookcases have square bolts to hold the doors against the frame. After about 1835, circular bolts were used.

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