Four circa 1880 Grand Rapids Bookcase & Chair Co Stamped Legal Library Bookcases

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Four circa 1880 Grand Rapids Bookcase & Chair Co Stamped Legal Library Bookcases

About the Item

We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare suite of four Legal Library stacking modular bookcases by Grand Rapids chair and bookcase Co. circa 1880 in panelled mahogany These are as rare as they come, you will see plenty of the Globe Wernicke and Minty stacking bookcases but none from the Grand Rapids Co and never a set of four matching These are some of the oldest known stacking bookcases and are hyper modular, they totally and utterly dismantle, normal later stacking bookcases are one solid piece for each module, with these every single panel separates so they can be totally and utterly flat packed In terms of the condition they are period with lots of small patina marks here and there, we have cleaned waxed and polished them to keep the period patina, they can be totally refinished to include a wash back and French polish, they are quite complicated bookcases so it would be £800 for full polishing per bookcase The bookcases are made up of three different sized sections so you can fit most standard library sized books Dimensions: Height 185.5cm Width 87cm – 348cm in total Depth 36cm Please note all measurements are taken at the widest point Grand Rapids Bookcase and Chair Co. History of successes From its founding until 1880, the company produced chairs and sold surplus logs and lumber. In 1878, they boasted more than 450 styles of chairs. More than 300 boys and girls were employed at the State Reform School in Lansing to cane the seats. In that same year, they began production of upholstery frames for parlor furniture. In 1880 Elisha Foote expanded the styles of furniture made and began manufacturing complete suites. An 1883 article about Grand Rapids Chair Co. mentions that ash is their popular wood for that season, with “carved panels and heavier moldings.” By the late 1880s their product lines had expanded to include medium-grade chamber suites, tables, bookcases, sideboards, and chiffoniers of maple, birch, cherry, and walnut, as well chairs. Ads by the turn of the century stated emphatically that “we make no chairs.” Early 20th century ads show both golden oak case pieces with serpentine fronts and cabriole legs referencing French historical styles, as well as Mission oak pieces. A 1900 article also lists mahogany, birch, maple, and bird’s-eye maple in their lines. Ads from the 1910s and ‘20s show dining room furniture, living room, and hall furniture, and spinet desks in a wide range of period styles, including Spanish Renaissance, Spanish Gothic, Elizabethan, Jacobean, Georgian, Adam, and Early American. Favored woods were walnut and mahogany. A Tudor line called “Castle Oak” seems to have been a flagship product in the early twenties. In 1928 Grand Rapids Chair introduced the “Gaylady” Group, which may have been the name for its first modern line by Kem Weber. Its pieces featured the soft lines of French Art Deco, with light and dark contrasting woods and “artistic color treatments.” During the 1950s the company made the “High-Lo Table,” aimed at newly married couples with small apartments. It featured an adjustable height mechanism, which allowed it to transform from cocktail table to card or dining table. The “Cross Country” line was a modular unit ensemble introduced in 1950 and marketed by Sligh. Its Scandinavian Modern styling and flexibility made it particularly suitable for ranch-style homes. The entire factory was eventually devoted to production of the Cross County line. This item is available for collection from our Wimbledon warehouses SW19-3BE Condition Please view the very detailed pictures as they form part of the description around condition Please note vintage period and original items such as leather seating will always have natural patina in the form of cracking creasing and wear, we recommend regular waxing to ensure no moisture is lost, also hand dyed leather is not recommended to sit in direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time as it will dry out and fade.

Creator:
Grand Rapids Furniture Co. (Maker)
Dimensions:
Height: 73.04 in (185.5 cm)Width: 34.26 in (87 cm)Depth: 14.18 in (36 cm)
Sold As:
Set of 4
Style:
Victorian (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Hardwood,Hand-Crafted
Place of Origin:
England
Period:
1880-1889
Date of Manufacture:
1880
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading.
Seller Location:
GB
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU2823317653812