A Highly Sophisticated William IV Mahogany Adjustable Combination Reading Stand/table and Music Stand, Circa 1830

A Highly Sophisticated William IV Mahogany Adjustable Combination Reading Stand/Table and Music Stand, circa 1830 Of conventional tripod form with a turned baluster stem and the legs shaped in cabriole form. An unusual feature of the piece is that the book stand is not permanently open. Instead, it folds into the tabletop, with a latch to hold it closed when necessary. The inset leather in the centre of the top is also an unusual feature. The top of the stem of the piece is mounted in brass, this section being adjustable for both pitch and height. The metalware used throughout is of the very highest quality, equal to that found on the most sophisticated patent pieces of the period such as the book stands produced by Joseph Merlin, for example, on the reverse of the top are a series of marks left by the removal of some sort of oval plaque. This plaque is quite probably related either to the maker and/or patent or to a previous owner of the piece, it is a shame that it is no longer present as it might have provided further insight into the design of this lovely piece. Designed to be usable as a reading and writing stand and also as a music stand, this is a highly adaptable and practical piece of metamorphic library furniture.