Large Liège Bookcase, 19th Century

Large Liège bookcase or display cabinet from the first half of the 19th century.

This outstanding piece of furniture comes from a upper-class household of a château or manor house, where it served as a prestigious storage unit for books and was a valuable part of the interior décor.

Exceptionally tall and shallow, moulded oak body with side panelling, rounded corner posts and a curved plinth frame ending in volute-shaped feet. Typical relief-carved Rococo decoration in the form of floral and rocaille motifs adorns mainly the plinth area, which features two lockable drawers. The absolute highlight of the piece are the two large door panels, each hung on three external brass hinges, with their largely original glazing bars. The upper section is crowned by a curved, moulded cornice with a carved central cartouche.

Inside, the display cabinet is fitted with four shelves that are height-adjustable on toothed rails. The remnants of the original blue paintwork also provide a lovely colour accent against the light wood tone.

The doors can be locked using the original bar lock.

Shelves, panelled back panel and drawer body are made of poplar wood.

Dimensions

Height: 283.5 cm / 111.61 in.

Width: 163.5 cm / 64.37 in.

Depth: 34 cm or 39 cm (incl. top rail) / 13.39 in or 15.35 in (incl. top rail).

Shelf depth: 28.5 cm / 11.22 in.

Due to the shallow body depth and the large doors, the cabinet should be secured to the wall (e.g. with a screw) for safety reasons.



In good condition, with slight age-related signs of wear, some repairs and later additions to stabilise the base. Some of the glass panes have been replaced. Added key included.

The surface has been stripped of its dark finish, revealing the beautiful grain and texture of the old oak wood in its unsealed state.

The cabinet body cannot be dismantled for transport. Only the shelves can be removed and the doors can be unhinged.