Object Description
A 19th. Century Oak Arts and Crafts Gothic Revival Metamorphic Reading Stand with pegged side columns and fretwork brackets on leaf carved trestle-end bases, the ratcheted adjustable rising top with a book rest and carved geometric border.
The Arts and Crafts movement was founded in the 1860s as an answer to the increasing volume of machine made furniture and objects and to emphasise the beauty of items made by hand. William Morris was a leading member and Liberty & Co. in London were leading proponents of the movement.
Intriguingly, the back of the book rest section is deeply carved with names, dates and places. This must have been recycled from another piece of furniture, possibly church choir pews or something similar.
Circa. 1880
H:31.75”,80.5 cms, W: 29”, 73.5 cms, D: 20.5” 52 cms.