Bookstand
William Burges RA (London 1827 – Kensington 1881)
Category
Furniture
Date
Unknown
Materials
Wood
Measurements
308 x 303 x 222 mm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Smallhythe Place, Kent (Accredited Museum)
NT 1117707
Caption
This intricately personalized bookstand was made for Ellen Terry by the artist and architect William Burges – a friend and contemporary of her lover Edward Godwin – sometime in the late 1860s or early 1870s. It was designed specifically for a prized set of Shakespearean volumes and many of the motifs featured on the shelf reflect those found on the pages of the 1856 Chalmer’s edition. Further ornamentation is thought to represent Ellen’s ties to the three most important people in her life, roles that she may have performed and Masonic symbolism.
Summary
Bookstand, containing eight volumes of Chalmer's Shakespeare. Ornately decorated.
Provenance
Thought to have been made for Ellen Terry by the architect William Burges, a contemporary of Edward William Godwin. Could have possibly been a prop as it was found in the Barn Theatre.
Makers and roles
William Burges RA (London 1827 – Kensington 1881), maker