A Rare Regency Rosewood and Parcel-Gilt Revolving Bookstand - Apter-Fredericks Antique Regency Furniture Dealer

Of wonderful colour and excellent proportion. The circular pierced brass galleried top above four graduated revolving circular tiers with rope-twist brass mouldings and brass retaining bars to each compartment. Supported on a fluted trumpet stem with a concave sided triangular plinth which in turn stands on gilt bun feet.

Literature
Christian, Lady Hesketh, 'Easton Neston, Nicholas Hawksmoor's Baroque Creation in Northamptonshire', Architectural Digest, January 1991, p.143

A related circular revolving bookcase is illustrated in Ackermann's Repository of 1810, plate 1, (see page 48 Ackermann's Regency Furniture & Interiors, text by Pauline Agius), This particular form of bookcase was secured by patent by Morgan and Sanders of Catherine St, Strand, London. For a further related example see Francis Collard, Regency Furniture, 1985, p.16.

The column support of this bookcase derives from a design for a floor standing torchere designed by Thomas Hope and which is illustrated in his Household Furniture & Interior Decoration, 1807, pl X.

The distinctive ebonised and fluted column support and the use of gilt-metal mounts are also reminiscent of the details on some of the furniture supplied to Southill, Bedfordshire for the Whitbread family. Much of this furniture was to the design of Henry Holland and made by Edward Marsh, whose business was subsequently re-named Marsh & Tatham. The trumpet stem on this bookstand also closely relates to that on an octagonal rosewood library table from Normanton Park, Rutland, (illustrated in M. Jourdain, Regency Furniture 1795-1830, fig.172). It is possible that the Normanton Park table formed part of the furniture commissioned by the Heathcote family from Thomas Chippendale the Younger.