We've recently purchased this great bookcase and would love to know if anyone out there can help us identify it. The bookcase is solid and very heavy, full of quartersawn oak, wavy glass windows and has brass strap hinges. There is a number "963" stenciled on the back and the number is also carved into each of the sides of the shelves (which are adjustable). The top alone is a solid piece of quartersawn oak that's 1 1/4 thick--very beautiful.

An antique dealer friend of ours believes this is more of a transitional piece than mission, but it blends in extremely well with our other mission items.

Approximate measurements are:
47" wide
61" tall
14" deep

Thank you!
Mark & Melissa

Hinge close-up

Straps

A better shot during the day.

I would like to add that its about 63" tall not 61" thats with the back splash. I found this on craigs list and had bought it to make money off it but seeing that we do not have a bookcase and how nice it looked we decided to just keep it for now. I just wish I knew who made it. I believe that it was built in Michigan cause of the hardware but I could be dead wrong. Everything on this bookcase is solid even the sides. So, please, any information would be helpfull or any information that leads us to someone who would know!


Thanks again
Mark & Melissa

Are the numbers stenciled or written in crayon? On the base underneath does it look like it might have had legs before? It seems kind of squat, I guess with the moulding around the base it was meant to be that way. When I heard numbers on the back I was thinking Stickley Bros but it doesnt look like any I have seen before.

Dano

Yes, there stenciled on the back and carved into the sides of the shelves. The bookcase is original and did not have legs.

Thanks, Mark!

That's an interesting bookcase. Not pure mission, but I'm sure the quartersawn oak helps it fit in nicely with its cousins. The patina on the oak and the (what appears to be) brass is beautiful. Any side pictures?

Hello Friend,
Looking through three of my Stickley catalogs I found nothin that even closely resembles your book case as all of their book cases had the muntins in the doors to run the full length of the doors. I have one more that I might look through but as yet no matches.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones

Thanks for your time Ralph I appreciate it and Frank, I'll be posting more pics later. AS far as this bookcase being Stickley brothers, I don't know. What I do know is that the hardware on it is michigan hardware and I have seen it on limbert peices. I was looking at my auction catalogs and came across a Limbert bookcase that kinda looked like mine but that one was up on legs. It had the same shape of doors with the arch and half mulins. Do you guys think if I send some pics to Jerry cohen or dennis bertucci that they would be able to identify this for me?

Thanks again,
Mark & Melissa

Mark,

It would be a great idea to send images to Cohen and Bertucci. They are exposed to a great many furniture examples and may be able to recognize the maker. Please get back to us if they respond so we can all learn.

Congratulations on your find,

The issue of it having no legs is what made me discount Stickley Bros as well, the stenciled numbers though reminded me of their inventory system and the metal work I agree is probably Grand Rapids, I think the Russians did alot of piece work in the area so alot of the work will have a similar look to them.

BTW Mark, is that a small Grueby cabinet vase on top of the case to the right?

Dano

Thanks everyone for the input. I'll attach a few more photos here in case they help.

Mohawk--the little vase isn't a Grueby (although we do have a Grueby console bowl elsewhere). It's a Kellogg flower vase. It has holes all over the top to put the stems through. Not valuable, but I thought it was cute and ingenious! No need for the flower frog insert.

Close-up of woodgrain on side.

Side view...

I would doubt it is Stickley Bros. for a veriety of reasons. Not the least that their stenciled numbers were the item number followed by the clients number, 345-5678 for example. Limbert used this sort of number and the piece is certainly reminiscent of some of their case forms. There so many other cabinet shops in Grand Rapids that it could also be any number of them since they all copied each others work. It looks like a very handsome period piece, I wouldn't call it transitional at all.

I would add that in looking again, I doubt it is Limbert, I don't believe they used those added moldings like under the top or on the back splash.