Antique Furniture Just In at Regent Antiques – Antique Edwardian Inlaid Mahogany Bookcase

Bearing the makers name – James Shoolbred – and dating from around 1900, this is a beautiful flame mahogany bookcase from a celebrated maker based in London’s Tottenham Court Road.

James Shoolbred
Originally began to trade as a textile supplier and expanded quite rapidly by purchasing the properties either side of his own, number 155 Tottenham Court road, expanding his activities too by trading in haberdashery and carpets..

By the 1880s the company needed to move agian, this time into premises that, in fact, became an early department store which proved to be popular from right from the start. In particular, the store was popular for the detailed displays of interior decorative schemes which included furniture, textiles, carpets and various accessories which were be laid out as they would be seen in a real interior – a technique still usd by retailers to this day.

By the 1870s, the company had begun designing and manufacturing their own furniture which, together  with other interior accessories, were displayed in catalogues that began appearing  from around 1873. The catalogues were meant to expand the scope of the business beyond their department store, and more importantly, beyond London.

Furniture design became an increasingly important to the company’s business and featured heavily in the catalogues that the company produced annually. All the major fashionable Revival movements were included, ranging from Gothic to Japanese, and included the numerous French styles.

Because James Shoolbred & Co produced catalogues that were so detailed and wide ranging, these were adopted by his competitors for use as  literal pattern books in order to copy the latest London styles. This became a particular problem in far-flung British outposts like Australia and New Zealand where there was a brisk trade in James Shoolbred & Co furniture design, with details being worked out from the illustrations generously provided by the company. This furniture was then passed off as being part of a locally designed production.

Today, the catalogues provide us with an intriguing view of interior tastes and styles of the late 19th century and have become an invaluable tool for researchers, historians or anyone with an interest in the history of domestic interior design and decoration.

Despite the company’s popularity they struggled to recover from the market crash of 1929 and closed their doors for good in 1931.

This imposing piece of antique furniture measures – Height 237 x Width 194 x Depth 45 (cm) and has a rich and striking grain, with elegant reeded canted corners, a beautiful moulded canted cornice and stands on bracket feet..

There are  three glazed top doors, each  having beautiful thirteen pane astragals with satinwood crossbanding and ebony and boxwood outline stringing. The interior adjustable shelves are also inlaid.

The base of the bookcase has three panelled doors with satinwood crossbanding, ebony and boxwood outline stringing and is completed by the addition of marquetry floral decoration featuring urns and ribbons.

This antique bookcase is complete with the original shelves, locks, glazing, and has a solid mahogany panelled back.

Offered for just £8250, this is an important piece and one not-to-be-missed. It is in excellent, as yet untouched, condition and any minor issues will be attended to by our craftsmen before delivery.

See more photographs here or feel free to visit our showroom or telephone for more information – .+44 20 8809 9605.