Bay Colony Antiques is proud to offer for sale this wonderful early 20th century Antique Oak double door Larkin bookcase / China cabinet. The bookcase was made by the Larkin Furniture Company of Buffalo, New York and retains its original paper factory label and Inspector’s seal label on the underside of one of the shelves. We immediately knew this was a Larkin when we were sent the photos from the estate but it is always nice to have the paper labels from a historical perspective. Because the labels are inside of the glass they saw less oxidation & humidity than most, remaining in remarkable condition and completely legible.
For those unfamiliar with Larkin, the company offered a mail order catalog with a wide array of goods employing a direct from manufacturer to consumer business model. Furthermore, when clients purchased items from Larkin, they could earn certificates and fractional certificates on goods they needed to buy anyway which they could save & later exchange for additional ordinary or superfluous items such as furniture, lighting, jewelry, fine clothing, etc.. Larkin encouraged sharing the catalogs with friends and a savvy woman of the house could even earn bonus certificates by referring others. It proved to be a great business model and the company prospered.
The bookcase has glass doors that retain their original old wavy glass. The glass doors open to reveal 4 adjustable wood shelves that are strong and plenty capable of accepting a hefty library or dining service. The bookcase has shallow incised carvings at the feet and retains its original casters that still roll around well. There is a cupids bow scrolled baseboard at the bottom with a fine bead and sausage carving above and another above the doors. The version of this bookcase without the extra carvings is much more common as the carving work was an add on which would incur additional costs. The bookcase is in wonderful condition and sure to serve its next owners well. The bookcase measures 38 1/2” wide x 12 1/4” deep x 55 1/2” tall.
