What is this piece of furniture?

by Gloria T

+70

Answered

It's probably mahogany, it's about 4 ft tall, 3 ft. wide, and the "shelves" are actually two slanted slabs for each. Slabs are both slanted inwards, so making a "v". No drawers. I think it's old. I just can't determine what it would have been used for. Anybody have any ideas? Appreciate any ideas.

q id of shelf piece of furniture, painted furniture

67 answers

Gloria T on Jul 31, 2015
I also see that the back slats can be raised and the front slats can be lowered (about an inch each).

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Wendy on Jul 31, 2015
Bookshelf.

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Gloria T on Jul 31, 2015
The books wouldn't stand straight, so I don't think that's what it was designed for, and the space is so small it would only hold paperbacks or very small books.

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Shirley Kalinosky on Jul 31, 2015
Isn't this one like they have in the libraries for magazines and papers?

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Gloria T on Jul 31, 2015
No.. The slats are flat, about 2 inches wide and all point inward and are currently at same level. It's very different from anything I've seen before.

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Linda Santo on Jul 31, 2015
Shoe rack???

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Gloria T on Jul 31, 2015
I'll probably use it as a shoe rack but I'm still not sure that's what it is.

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Cindy9450 on Jul 31, 2015
How about a shelf to hold VHS tapes? maybe

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Marie on Jul 31, 2015
This is a old book shelf as in paperback books. I was given one almost exactly like it from my grandma

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Gloria T on Jul 31, 2015
Thanks. So, the books were at a slant when on the shelf? While adjustable, they shelves will always be slanted in some way.

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Gloria T on Jul 31, 2015
That's kind of what we thought too, but it seems older than VHS tapes. Thanks for the idea.

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Lori Jackson on Jul 31, 2015
I have seen bookshelves like this one.

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Gloria T on Jul 31, 2015
Thanks, Lori.

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Nell on Aug 01, 2015
Yeah, my sister had one in college. Pretty neat little bookcase. Hers came apart and the pieces could fit in a suitcase

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Angela Smith on Aug 01, 2015
May have held crown green bowling balls

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- Gloria T on Aug 01, 2015
  Now that's an interesting idea :)
  
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Boodica on Aug 01, 2015
I have seen bookcases like this used normally - the idea is that the slant of the books makes the titles easier to read when you are looking down on them - but sometimes they are used for displaying the covers face out rather than the spines.

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Rosie Slyboots on Aug 01, 2015
I have this in my living room. It is to hold CD cases

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Carole on Aug 01, 2015
Would make a good shoe rack??

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Gloria T on Aug 01, 2015
Interesting! Thanks for your ideas.

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Anne Lorraine South on Aug 01, 2015
I think books as well.. But CDs and DVDs are a good idea.

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Kathleen Conery on Aug 01, 2015
Boodica is correct, It's a bookcase built to hold the books at a tilt for easier spine viewing. I have one from the 1950's that's shorter, but with the same angled shelves. That's not to say that it can't be anything you want it to be now!

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Deanna Rebelo on Aug 01, 2015
OLD VHS Tapes.

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Heliane Ripley on Aug 01, 2015
It's a bookshelf to have near your reading chair. You can see the spines of the books when you are sitting down.

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Liz2020056 on Aug 01, 2015
shoe rack

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Liliana Wells on Aug 01, 2015
It's bookcase.

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Mary Cagney on Aug 01, 2015
A rack for hanging pasta to dry?

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- Gloria T on Aug 02, 2015
  @Mary Cagney Best answer yet :)
  
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Helen on Aug 01, 2015
bookshelf

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Carolyn h bowen on Aug 01, 2015
It is a book rack---a family member had one ,but only 3 high.

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Naa102399 on Aug 01, 2015
Shoe rack/shelf

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J Masterson on Aug 01, 2015
vhs shelf

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Lisa Whitaker on Aug 01, 2015
i agree with helen and carolyn...book shelf designed for books to sit at an angle that prevents them from falling out. nice piece!

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Bwatkins on Aug 01, 2015
It is called a barrister case. We inherited one from step grandfather that was a lawyer, and then judge. For law books!

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- See 1 previous
- Gloria T on Aug 01, 2015
  Interesting, thanks.
  
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- Emily on Aug 01, 2015
  @Bwatkins I think a barrister bookcase is one with glass doors on the shelves. These doors lift up. I agree that it is a bookcase, but not a barrister bookcase.
  
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Kathy on Aug 01, 2015
it's a bookcase. We had a smaller beat-up one growing up.

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Pam on Aug 01, 2015
Maybe use it for hanging quilts, or cosey fuzzy blankets, maybe hang some of your artwork or hand sewing work, etc.

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Robin Fox Machado on Aug 01, 2015
VSH tape storage, before there were DVD 's. Less than thirty years old more likely 15-20 years old. Stored the tapes in the shelves then played the videos on the tape player.

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Dale on Aug 01, 2015
Now store high-heel shoes on it?

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Brenda Rublesky on Aug 01, 2015
I had one that was a DVD movie holder.

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E4lizerd on Aug 01, 2015
might also work for cds or dvds

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Brenda Prins on Aug 01, 2015
looks like a vcr or dvd holder

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- SheWhoMustBeHeard on Aug 01, 2015
  @Brenda Prins That is exactly what it is. I have 2 of them.
  
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Kari Bucklin on Aug 01, 2015
It is an old library shelf, for books.

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- Debbi on Aug 01, 2015
  @Kari Bucklin You are right! It's for books.
  
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Diane-Nicole L. Hertzler on Aug 01, 2015
Yes I was going to say ---it is a bookshelf and it works really well. The way it is constructed allows it to firmly hold books and also lets you get to them easier that pulling them out from a really tightly stacked batch of books on a regular bookshelf.

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Wendy Tellson Armistead on Aug 01, 2015
I wonder if you could use it for shoes??

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Donald Johnson on Aug 01, 2015
Book case. I think.

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Kathy Belland on Aug 01, 2015
I think it could be to house VHS tapes, you can also use it for dvd's and cd's

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Cindy on Aug 01, 2015
I agree with Kathy, it's for VHS tapes or DVDs.

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MikkiGirl on Aug 01, 2015
It's an old bookcase, but could be used now for tapes or DVD's.

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Mary on Aug 01, 2015
Definitely bookcase

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Trish skirving on Aug 02, 2015
Bookcase.Having the shelves at an angle like that makes it easier to read the titles on the spine.

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Audrey johnson on Aug 02, 2015
I have one exactly the same. Fantastic for CDs, DVDs, or even books. I've used it for all these things at some time. Hope this helps.

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JoAnna Cooper on Aug 02, 2015
Old bookcase, they slanted them to keep books from falling out too easy if case got bumped.

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Renata on Aug 02, 2015
Yep, a book case we used to use for the VHS tapes

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Rose Marie Wilson on Aug 02, 2015
I used to see these advertised to hold videotape collections.

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Eileen Proctor on Aug 02, 2015
somebody also told me they were shoe racks!!

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Suzanne on Aug 02, 2015
Old bookcase. they often had built in bookends as well.

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Barbara on Aug 02, 2015
Bookshelf

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Jim L on Aug 02, 2015
These were for video tapes...later they were used for CD's.

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Mark on Aug 02, 2015
Used to hold DVD's, CD's. I have one.

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Cathy on Aug 02, 2015
its for the old video tapes... we had one it was always filled with kids movies, VHS/Beta tapes..

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Marie Stuart on Aug 02, 2015
I think it was a shoe rack. I have seen something that resembles it and that was a shoe rack

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Mel on Aug 02, 2015
It is a bookshelf, the books rest at a tilt so it's easier to read the book titles

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Pamela Geimer on Aug 03, 2015
It came with sets of encyclopedias

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Mary Solt on Aug 03, 2015
Its actually a book shelf but you could use it for DVD's or CD.s

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Monique Burkes on Aug 03, 2015
Yep, bookshelf.

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Olivia Bishop on Aug 03, 2015
BOOKSHELF. HAD ONE GROWING UP THAT CAME WITH A SET OF ENCYCLOPEDIAS. ANYONE REMEMBERTHOSE?

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Lisa Cuddy on Aug 04, 2015
VHS shelf

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Kari Samuel on Aug 18, 2015
book shelf.... you could use it as a shoe rack!

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Ann|The Apple Street Cottage on Jan 29, 2023

It was for VHS tapes back in the day. You could still use it for books.

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