Historical information

This bookcase was from Fintona private school Camberwell Melbourne. Fintona was a Presbyterian school for girls founded by Annie Hughston in 1896 and was originally in Camberwell and now Balwyn, Melbourne. The daughters of Pompey Elliot attended the school and the bookcase contains one of their several awards.

Significance

Colonial Australian cedar secretaire bookcase c.1880 with a piano lid action to the desk lid instead of the more common drop down type.

Physical description

Two door cabinet base with two deep shelves, desk slope inset with gilt tooled leather. desk has rear drawers and one secret compartment and lid. Top section is simple two door glazed cabinet with three moveable cedar shelves topped with a simple pediment.