Description: GRAND ENGLISH LIBRARY BOOKCASE England, 1600s From the Collection of US Ambassador Alexander Weddell H: 102 3/4, W: 139 1/4, D: 27 1/2 in. (approx.) Item Description: Ornately hand-carved bookcase made of English oak. Late seventeenth to early eighteenth century with later restorations. Historical Provenance: Held by repute in the library collection of the first Earl of Mansfield (1705-1793); William Murray, England’s great Chief Justice. From the former collection of United States Ambassador Alexander Weddell (1876-1948); appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to represent his administration in Argentina and Spain. Acquired by the Historical Society of the State of Virginia and subsequently housed in the Virginia Museum of History and Culture (1948-2018); deaccessioned to benefit future preservation, acquisitions and care of collections.Regarding the provenance of this elaborate case, Weddell records it was “bought in London in about 1930 from a reputable dealer who declared that it once stood in the library of the mansion in Bloomsbury Square, the home of William Murray, first Earl of Mansfield, (1705-1793), England's great Chief Justice. If true this would indicate that members of the mob who sacked and burned the house during the Lord George Gordon riots in 1780 were like to John Gilpin's wife, (who, 'though on pleasure bent' yet 'had a frugal mind'), and took pains to remove this massive piece to safety with a view to sale! But [we] bought the bookcase without regard to its possible historical associations.” ________________________________Rare Bibles specializes in early printed English Bibles, books, manuscripts, and objet d’art. Items listed on eBay are merely representative of our broader inventory. Please do not hesitate to enquire regarding other early printed books and manuscripts. In addition, we are currently offering one of the world's most significant collections of biblical manuscripts and early printed Bibles. The Legacy Collection may be viewed at: CrawfordSterling.com.
Price: 55000 USD
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
End Time: 2025-01-18T15:25:32.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Antique: Yes
Sub-Style: American
Material: Solid Wood
Region of Origin: England
Depth: 27 1/2
Type: Bookcases
Number of Shelves: 3
Original/Licensed Reproduction: Original
Features: Carvings
Height: 102 3/4
Time Period Manufactured: Pre-1800
Width: 139 1/4
