The Great Bookcase

This is the Burges escritoire, also known as the "Great Bookcase," a famous piece of Victorian painted furniture designed by architect William Burges and made by William Gualbert Saunders between 1865 and 1867.

Painted wood escritoire with brass fittings and ceramic tiles. The architectural design influenced by French Gothic styles with its gabled roof and arched recess. Painted decoration includes two central allegorical figures representing Historia (history) and Poesia (poetry and five men representing the five occupations in medieval society: a peasant (Rusticu), a knight, king and bishop, and mercator (a merchant). The cabinet also deals with the passing of time, featuring a boy with his tutor (left hand side), an adolescent, a man in the prime of life (virilitas) and an old man. The mounted clock has the Latin inscription "The clock warns of the passing of time, let everything that is written beneath it, Be an offering to the peace of God"

Enjoy full screen