Antique Victorian Mahogany Astragal Glazed Breakfront Bookcase Display Cabinet

A superb quality antique Victorian mahogany breakfront bookcase and display cabinet dating to circa 1870. This is a particularly impressive piece with wonderful architectural detail, excellent proportions and a rich warm colour. The upper section is surmounted by an elegant swan neck pediment centred by a finely carved urn finial above a dentil moulded cornice. Four astragal glazed doors open to reveal a spacious interior with adjustable shelves, providing an excellent area for displaying books, porcelain, glassware or collections. The breakfront base is equally decorative with three further glazed cupboard doors to the centre, each with distinctive geometric glazing. These are flanked by a pair of bowed drawers retaining their original brass handles. The rounded ends incorporate open display shelves which add to the unusual and highly decorative design. The cabinet stands on square tapering reeded legs terminating in spade feet and united by a substantial shaped mahogany under shelf. The quality of the cabinetmaking can be seen throughout in the moulded detail, glazing, brass fittings and beautifully shaped construction. Pieces of this scale and quality would originally have been made for a substantial drawing room, library or dining room where they provided both storage and an impressive display for books, porcelain and treasured objects. Today it makes a wonderful statement piece while still offering a great deal of practical display and storage space. An exceptional example of late 19th century English cabinetmaking with excellent presence, fine detailing and a highly decorative design. Date of manufacture: c.1870 Origin: England