Bookcase
1865 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The architect G. E. Street designed this bookcase for himself, probably for use in his house in Russell Square, London. It was made by the prominent London firm of cabinet-makers, Holland & Sons. Records in their Day books (in the Archive of Art and Design, Victoria and Albert Museum) show that it cost £59 10s (£59 50p) in 1865. Street may have commissioned Holland & Sons to make his bookcase because of the friendship between his first wife, Mariquita Proctor, and Jessie, daughter of William Holland of the firm.
Designed in the Gothic style, the bookcase is fitted with shelves behind the glass doors and drawers inside the lower section. The mirror-backed shelf on the top was probably used for a display of small sculptures or ceramics.
Designed in the Gothic style, the bookcase is fitted with shelves behind the glass doors and drawers inside the lower section. The mirror-backed shelf on the top was probably used for a display of small sculptures or ceramics.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 21 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Bookcase of oak with incised and inlaid decoration, glass doors and brass mounts; designed by G.E. Street and made by Holland & Sons, British 1865. |
| Physical description | Oak bookcase with incised and inlaid decoration, glass doors, a mirror, and brass mounts |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Production type | Limited edition |
| Marks and inscriptions |
|
| Gallery label |
|
| Credit line | Given by members of the Handley-Read family in memory of Charles and Lavinia Handley-Read |
| Object history | G.E. Street (1824-1881) presumably designed this bookcase for himself since it was acquired from his grandson Philip E.W. Street by Charles and Lavinia Handley-Read. It was made by the prominent firm of Victorian cabinet makers, Holland & Sons and their Day Book (now in the Archive of Art and Design) for 1865, R-Z, p.109 records that it originally cost £59 10s (£59-50p). Street's use of this firm to make his bookcase may have been influenced by the friendship between his first wife, Maraquita Proctor, whom he had married in 1852, and Jessie Holland, daughter of William Holland. There are drawers inside the lower section of the bookcase which was given to the Museum by Thomas Stainton, brother of Lavinia Handley-Read. |
| Summary | The architect G. E. Street designed this bookcase for himself, probably for use in his house in Russell Square, London. It was made by the prominent London firm of cabinet-makers, Holland & Sons. Records in their Day books (in the Archive of Art and Design, Victoria and Albert Museum) show that it cost £59 10s (£59 50p) in 1865. Street may have commissioned Holland & Sons to make his bookcase because of the friendship between his first wife, Mariquita Proctor, and Jessie, daughter of William Holland of the firm. Designed in the Gothic style, the bookcase is fitted with shelves behind the glass doors and drawers inside the lower section. The mirror-backed shelf on the top was probably used for a display of small sculptures or ceramics. |
| Bibliographic reference | Jervis, Simon, Victorian and Edwardian decorative art: the Handley-Read collection, London, Royal Academy of Arts, 1972 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.10:1 to 21-1972 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | January 25, 2001 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
