Scroll Shelf in the Ming Manner

Clean-lined and seamlessly constructed, this bookcase from 1900 is a splendid example of the enduring legacy of Ming-dynasty aesthetics. Once the centerpiece of a scholar’s studio, the bookcase’s open shelves were ideal for an storing treasured scrolls in scroll jars, precious antiques, calligraphy brushes, and other scholarly implements. With its streamlined sophistication, this timeless design holds its own in a contemporary office or living room.