French Louis XVI Mahogany Bookcase

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This stylish mahogany bookcase belongs stylistically to the French-influenced Louis XVI Revival of around 1900. The gently curved front, the … Read more This stylish mahogany bookcase belongs stylistically to the French-influenced Louis XVI Revival of around 1900. The gently curved front, the fine veneer grain, and the decorative brass appliqués lend the piece a calm, elegant effect with clearly defined proportions. Historical Context: In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, bookcases of this type served for the organized storage and representative display of books, documents, household items, or decorative objects. A typical feature was the combination of functional storage space and a bourgeois design language inspired by historical models. Wire-mesh or glazed doors were primarily used where contents needed to remain visible yet protected. Such furniture found its place in salons, libraries, reception rooms, or upscale residential interiors. Features: The side doors are crafted with fine mesh panels, creating a space between a closed cabinet and a display piece. Also striking are the applied brass ornaments with floral garlands and figurative corner fittings, which decoratively accentuate the more austere basic form. Design: The piece combines classically ordered surfaces with a slightly undulating front line and decorative hardware. The veneer patterns are mirrored and framed by fillet lines, creating a clear division of the panels. The tapered base and the subtly curved apron soften the overall form without compromising its cohesiveness. Formally, the piece thus occupies a space between a prestigious parlor cabinet and a functional library cabinet. Function: In the past, a cabinet of this type primarily served for the protected storage of books, papers, porcelain, or decorative household items in living rooms and reception rooms. Today, it is still suitable as a bookcase or display cabinet, as well as for tableware, collectibles, or textile home accessories. Dimensions: Height 172 × Width 147 × Depth 42 cm. Material and Condition: Mahogany, brass. Very good used condition with visible patina. Professionally refurbished, veneer well preserved and maintained, very stable and not disassemblable, delivered as one piece. See less