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Antique French Victorian Bookcase circa 1890's

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Shelves and Bookcases69 of 77Mid Century Eterage - Iron & Glass - Archectural - Miminalist European Arts & Crafts / Secessionist Style Oak Bookcase
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    Posted 12 years ago

    vinnieapic…
    (1 item)

    My wife and I discovered this magnificent "Antique French Victorian Oak Bookcase" on Ebay posted by a store called "Designs and Styles" located in Phoenix, Az.

    When we inquired about its history the store told us a custom piece like that (W 83''X H117''XD26'') sporting a carved letter ("A") in the top masthead, was usually a wedding gift back in the late 1890's.

    We noticed that the carvings on the lower three doors depicted, the "arts" (an artist's palatte with brushes thru the thumb hole, an artist's "support" prop-stick with padded tip, a rolled canvas?, and a stringed lyre-above the world globe), architecture (the top of an Ionic column, a measurement caliper, a protractor-below the world globe, a ruler and something rolled), and geographic and navigation sciences (a world globe, telescope).

    Which is a departure from the majority of carvings, i.e., birds, flowers, rabbits, bees, cherub faces, and gargoyles, we found on French Victorian furniture, leading us to the conclusion this bookcase must in someway have been made to be used to hold books covering such topics in a wealthy household or educational institution.

    Is there anyone "out there" that may be able to share some information about: 1) the history of this bookcase, 2) where it was made, 3) by whom was it made, 4) what environment was it used in?

    Unsolved Mystery

    Help us close this case. Add your knowledge below.

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    Comments

    1. fox72, 12 years ago
      I would suggest researching the Masons. The carvings depicted look similar to what would have been on pieces used by them as those were considered the enlightened academics.
    2. blunderbuss2 blunderbuss2, 12 years ago
      I'll share this, I love it!
    3. collector2016, 7 years ago
      This sideboard is a Renaissance style often referred to as Henry II (Henri II) style, based on the reign of Henry II (1547 - 1559), although it is surprising that the style was not named for his father, Francis I. Considered to be the great French Renaissance monarch, Francis I (1515 - 1547), a contemporary of Henry VIII in England, was a great supporter of the Arts and the Humanities. Enamored with Italian Renaissance art and architecture, he convinced Leonardo da Vinci and other great Italian artists to move to France and work at his court, decorating his many palaces and chateaux (palaces out in the country rather than in Paris) in the lush Loire Valley. He actively collected artistic works by Raphael, Michelangelo, and Titian, which were the beginning of the magnificent art collection of the French kings on display today in the Louvre in Paris. decorative hallmarks of the Henry II style include arches, pediments, columns, finials, carved flowers, fruit, scrolls and often references to Greek and Roman mythology, including male and female heads, faces or figures.
    4. collector2016, 7 years ago
      Correction, its a Renaissance Revival Style Henri II Buffet Deux Corps all of the above still applies.

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