Oak Bookcases were exceptionally popular at the turn of the century – from the late 1890s through the first half of the century. Late Victorian, Art Nouveau and Mission or Arts & Crafts style furniture often incorporated Quartersawn Oak due to the beauty of its radial grain patterns. Quartersawn Oak is less often used today due to the lesser amount of lumber that can be realized from the same amount of timber when using this cutting technique.
The following three-door Oak bookcase photo was taken from an original 1909 furniture catalog. This bookcase had adjustable shelving, glass doors and incorporated quartersawn Oak in a glossy “golden oak” finish.
Oak Bookcase From 1909 Crofts & Reed Catalog
Combination bookcases were also sold that incorporated both shelving for books as well as a drop-front desk. This Oak bookcase was also made of Quartersawn Oak, included an oval mirror on the top, bowed glass door, pigeon-holes within the desk compartment as well as 3 front drawers.
Oak Bookcase Desk Combination from 1909 Crofts & Reed Catalog
Mission style furniture made of Quartersawn Oak is still made today which is more that can be said of Victorian-style furniture. The allure of the Arts & Crafts designs are still wildly popular today and can fit in with today’s contemporary decorating tastes.
Whether you are looking for new bookcases that look antique or are actually antique, there are abundant sources for locating an Oak bookcase. Be sure to measure the depth of the shelving before you buy antique specimens. The smaller book dimensions at the time translate to shallower shelf dimensions that are not compatible with today’s larger book dimensions.
Below you will find an antique Mission-style bookcase made by The Globe Wernicke, Co. with leaded glass panels and colored copper banding on this sides. The banding covers the seams between the individual sections as this bookcase can be configured with any number of shelves by stacking them. This bookcase probably dates from between 1910 and 1930.
Decorative copper bands cover the seams
Oak Mission Bookcase with leaded glass panels
