Accession Number

2013.026.001

Description

Four metal legs with feet and castors swooping into a single pole. Midway up the pole is a ledge for holding closed books, which is cast with 'L.W. Noyes Chicago.' The pole attaches to the oak book rest with a mechanism that allows the angle of the book rest to be adjusted. The book rest consists of two separate pieces with an adjustable mechanism in between which allows them to fold together. The proper right side features a sticker detailing repair and replacement instructions. A red felt lines the centre piece to protect the book's spine.

Narrative

This metal and oak bookstand by La Verne W. Noyes of Chicago was made during the last quarter of the 19th Century. It is a good example of innovative American patent furniture that was popular in both the United States and Canada during the Victorian period.

The A.H. Andrews Co. of Chicago manufactured Craigdarroch’s fine woodwork, including its library bookcases. The firm may have also provided some of the Dunsmuir’s books through its publishing division, and it is not unreasonable to speculate that they might have also used their furniture department to retail specialty items made by other manufacturers – including La Verne W. Noyes of Chicago.

History of Use

This bookstand was used in the Burch family house in St. Catharines, Ontario (now demolished) from about 1890 onward. Mr. Burch owned and managed a thriving machine and tool factory in St. Catharines, ON. The house was located at 79 Thorold Road and known to the family as the “Thorold Road House”. It was one of most lavish mansions in the area. A high quality period photograph of the library in this house has survived, and it is believed that this book stand is just out of the camera frame. A copy of the photograph forms part of the collection record. The donor is the great granddaughter of George Burch.

Date

circa 1890

Dimensions

104 x 36 x 54 cm

Material

Metal; Wood, oak