Beschreibung:

Edward William Godwin (1833-1886), a rare set of Anglo-Japanese ebonised hanging book shelves, with an extending lower shelf and a two door hanging book cupboard beneath, brass hinges and escutcheon, 128cm high, 88.5cm wide, 19.5cm deep. See Soros, Susan Weber 'The Secular Furniture of E.W. Godwin', p. 178, p. 184, illus. 305 and p. 226 plate 6. This set by Godwin has the reeded moulded edge to the sides and front of the extended shelves identical to the one illustrated on p. 266, pl. 6 shown in William Watts catalogue of 1877. This differs from the one illustrated on p. 184 which has had its extended shelf restored. To the front of the top two sides as they start to angle back it has the unique details of a 'circle above an acute pyramid', which can be clearly seen on the hanging shelves in p. 266 plate 6 and on the hanging shelves on p. 184, illus. 305. The sides, doors and extended shelf on this example are made from mahogany yet the three upper shelves and the back are made of deal. Godwin's first pieces of furniture were made from deal which he later discarded for the preferences of mahogany due to its instability. In an article in 'Architect', he describes his early furniture to be made of deal and to be ebonised '.... but I found deal to be a mistake and had very soon to get rid of it and have a new lot made of mahogany'. This may suggest that this set of hanging shelves is more likely to be a prototype or experimental piece possibly in the transitional period of changing from deal to mahogany as Godwin was still trying to keep the costs down and he admits using deal as it is a less expensive but softer wood. Godwin particularly liked his hanging bookcases, claiming it was 'the best and cheapest thing I ever designed'.