A George III mahogany breakfront bookcase

A George III mahogany breakfront bookcase, with three astragal glazed doors enclosing adjustable later glass shelves and a watered silk lining, the back with a servant's peep hole, the base with three central drawers flanked by cupboards, each enclosing shelves, 238.4cm high, 198.8cm wide, 52cm deep.

This bookcase belonged to the Very Reverend RM Bonnor-Maurice (1809-1883), Dean of St. Asaph, North Wales. It comes from a property known as 'Bodynfoel', near Llanfechain, west of Oswestry. It has, in the back of the right section, a small window which matches a similar window in the passage to the butler's pantry at 'Bodynfoel'. The window gave a view over the top of the books allowing the servants to observe the condition of the then owner, an irascible drunk, before going into the study.