Barrister Bookcase

Why settle for ordinary when you can have stylish, classy, practical barrister bookcases?

Find a barrister bookcase that is perfect for your needs from a wide variety of sizes, styles and designs made available online from the top suppliers and manufacturers at unbeatable prices.

Barrister bookcases, also known as a barristers bookcase, are made up of individual, self-contained shelves that protect their contents typically with glass and stack one on top of the other.  Invented by Frederick Ezekiel Hale in 1907,  they were made so they could be moved separately.  So when a barrister needed to, he could carry them seperately with their books inside instead of the whole bookcase.

Protecting the books from exposure to light, moisture, dust and damage was a major consideration. So the barrister bookcase was given protective doors that covered the individual shelves. The originals had glass doors but today, only the more expensive ones do. Since each section needed to be moved separately, it was not possible to make a single glass door to cover all the shelves, and a new type of door was invented called the "up and over", which opened upwards horizontally and slid back above the books.

Hale's bookcases were soon recognized for their ability to house and protect not just books but other treasures as well, including curios and memorabilia and they still are sought after for this feature. The higher priced modern barrister bookcases are made of solid wood with quality glass inserts and fine brass hardware like handles, knobs and hinges. Many of today's "decorator" barrister bookcases are typically not made robustly enough to allow a heavy load of books to be carried in them because that need has gone away and are just made to look like the originals.  These will have individual doors for each shelf which are in fact collectively a single fixed case just like normal bookcases and not separate sections. However, they continue to be an attractive choice today and are a favorite of book lovers everywhere.

Barrister Bookcase Shopping Tips:

There are several factors to consider, when buying a barrister bookcase including whether it is going to be used in the home or an office and how much shelving space is needed. In addition, you need to consider the kinds of finish and types of wood that would go well with the different room colors and the types and styles of hardware and furniture in those rooms. The range of styles and materials available mean that you will not have trouble finding one for any need. If you are looking for an impressive addition to your library or den, perhaps a barrister bookcase made of mahogany or cherry is what you want. If you need to store valuable items or collectibles, you should look at metal barrister bookcases that can be locked. Nowadays, many bookcases are used to store and display collectibles and curios in the main living room or den and for this use one made of oak may be the answer. In some situations, nothing can give a room more character than an antique and if you are looking to buy one of these, look for tags, stickers or labels, usually in the back, that indicate the manufacturer and the year of manufacture. For more modern versions, look for the kinds of woods being used and the quality of the fittings. A very popular and easily available modern item is made by the Sauder company of Ohio. These bookcases come in a very wide variety of sizes, prices, styles and designs, from the modern/contemporary to the traditional and antique and you should have no trouble finding the perfect barrister bookcase for your needs.