While there are still a few genuine antique barrister bookcases showing up at auctions, they are oftentimes in poor condition. If you like antiques and if you find an antique barrister bookcase in good condition my advice would be to get it as it is an increasingly rare find.
The scarcity of barrister bookcases from the late 19th century and early 20th is not because they have not survived the times, it is because people who own one don’t want to part with an antique bookcase that has true value. If you find one in poor condition and you would like to own a period piece, it is possible to have it restored. The question then is are restored antiques as valuable as original pieces without the restoration. It is a difficult question to answer because many factors have to be considered. However there are many restored antiques that are more valuable than they would be had they not been restored.
True antique barrister bookcases in good condition will be very expensive. Restoring and conserving one would involve the services of a professional trained in the restoration of antique furniture. These professionals have techniques that are non-invasive to help retain the value of the piece. I would therefore recommend this route if ownership of a beautiful, usable and wonderfully antique stackable barrister bookcase is your goal.
Where can you find antique barrister bookcases? The first place that comes to mind is a local antique store, but your search will probably be slow and laborious. It may be a lot of fun, however, if you want to own it soon you may want to broaden your research field.
Online auctions are a possibility. I have seen a few antique bookcases sold on ebay. Far from me to discourage anyone from buying from an online auction, but I would still want to add a word of caution. Most dealers are reputable and will represent the pieces they sell accurately, and then there are a few who may want to deceive. Your own best judgement is your only guide. I should also mention that ebay does offer some form of insurance against fraud, and that might be worth it, when buying something of this nature.
For preparing this article I went to some online auctions and found several good looking bookcases, most did not stipulate a date and ranged from $800 to over $1500 for a 3 stack bookcase. Most where located in England thus increasing the price if you plan on having it shipped to the US.
If you are lucky and can find just the right antique barrister's bookcase for you, what should you look for in terms of brands. Globe Wernicke is the most famous maker and the majority of the cases available were produced by this manufacturer. A genuine Globe Wernicke bookcase will be stamped with a stamp similar to the image below. Gasler is another company that can surface and similarly their furniture was stamped. It is fair to say that all furniture manufacturer of the past were proud of their work and would as was customary stamp their pieces.
