Barrister Bookcases

How did barrister bookcases come into being? Well, more than a century ago, attorneys, government officials and others relied on reference books for their livelihood.

Acquiring these books was expensive, and with frequent handling, along with daily exposure to humidity and dust, the books would deteriorate.

People soon realized that they needed to protect the books they depended upon for a living. The first to meet this need was Frederick Ezekiel Hale, who began manufacturing barrister bookcases in 1907. His innovative design included a glass door that covered each shelf.

The door lifted and slid back over the tops of the books in order to allow easy access to the items on each shelf. The shelves themselves were individually made. Hale's design was quickly appreciated for its ability to protect books, as well as other treasured memorabilia.

In addition to protecting items from the elements, barrister bookcases keep children from pulling books and other items off the shelves, making them a good option for the home as well as the office. They also bring a traditional design into any room.

Design Options

Today, there are several design options available. The glass fronts can be etched, or made of safety glass. Different hardware options are also available.

Bookcases can be made from several different wood species. Some designs lend themselves to being stacked, while others work better as individual pieces, having three or four shelves.

How To Choose

Before purchasing one of these bookcases, determine where it will go. Measure the space to know what size it should be. How many shelves are needed? Is versatility important?

In other words, will it be useful to have a bookcase that can be disassembled and used in pieces, possibly in different rooms, or will the unit be stationary?

What wood finish and what hardware finish will work in the room? If standard sizes won't work, custom units, handmade of solid woods, are a more-expensive option. Whatever your needs and available space, there are bookcases that will fit.

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