[*] Dyrham Bookcase

Bookcase of oak, one of a pair, in two stages. The cornice oversails a carvetto frieze carved with upright acanthus over a guilloche. The upper stage has two doors with twenty one panes in each within moulded bars.

Made for the library at Dyrham Park, South Gloucestershire
Probably made in London for William Blathwayt (possibly born in 1649, died at Dyrham Park, South Gloucestershire, 1717)

Notes from R.P. 27/1420

This RP is in the file for Captain H B Murray bequest which provided the £1,000 used to purchase the bookcase from R Blaythwayt Esq, Dyrham Park.

According to notes in green folder: the bookcase and a pair to it were "at Dyrham in 1710". In 1967 there were "2 bookcases at Dyrham", one being "a copy made by Malletts in 1927" (after one was sold to the Museum?). The condition upon acquisition is described as "the bookcase has been varnished: the drop handles, lock plates and feet are modern".

This piece seems to be well-documented already even to the probable maker (Sympson).

A closely similar bookcase was illustrated in Country Life, 21 November 1931 (vol. 70, no. 1818), p. xxx, 'A Bookcase from Cuckfield Park'. This piece was at that time held by Partridge's, Bond Street. The short notice notes that Charles Sergison, who bought Cuckfield Park, Sussex (from which this bookcase was said to have come) in 1691, 'knew Samuel Pepys and his young brother John. Sergison had entered the service of the crown as a dockyard clerk in 1671 and four years later he became clerk to the Clerk of the Acts, whose office was then held jointly by Thomas Hayles and John Pepys, a younger brother of the diarist. From 1689 Sergison was Clerk of the Acts for thirty years, for the most part single-handed, and won the highest opinion of the several administrations with whom he acted. The emoluments of the office were large, though rather by perquisites and fees than by pay, and Sergison was able to house himself and his collection of ship models in dignified comfort.' The notice records that 'The glazed section of the lower stage slides upwards, unlike the similar section of the Dyrham Park bookcase (now in the Victoria and Albert Museum), which is hinged.

A reproduction of one of these bookcases was offered for sale by Ian G. Hastie, Salisbury, Wiltshire and advertised in Country Life 24 October 1985, supplement p. 140. It was claimed to be of the 19th century and to be based on the Pepys bookcases, but might be a reproduction of the 1930s, based on the V&A piece.

Object Type
For convenience the bookcase is constructed in four sections: the lower cupboard with its cornice, the two vertical halves of the upper cupboard, and finally the upper cornice. The lower cornice is carved with acanthus leaves, petals and husks above a running pattern of roses. The upper cornice has a cavetto, or concave, frieze carved with acanthus foliage above a guilloche moulding. Each of the upper cupboard units contains three adjustable shelves. The glass panes in the doors are original. The bun feet are later replacements.

People
The bookcase was one of a pair made for William Blathwayt, who was Secretary of War to William III from 1683 to 1704. His uncle, Thomas Povey, was a friend of the diarist Samuel Pepys and Blathwayt may have seen Pepys's library in Buckingham Street, London. It had twelve similar oak bookcases, which were made from 1666 onwards as required. These are now at Magdalene College, Cambridge.

Place
Blathwayt acquired the Dyrham estate through his marriage in 1686 to the heiress Mary Wynter. In the 1690s he rebuilt west and east fronts, to designs by the architects Samuel Hauduroy and William Talman. The fine woodwork was supplied by London joiners. Thomas Hunter, of the Angel, Piccadilly, who made the sash windows, may have supplied these bookcases.

W.12:1 to 11-1927