The history of libraries received a new chapter in the late nineteenth century as they responded to increased literacy and social reform. Previously a counter service beyond which the public would not be admitted, precious books were ordered and retrieved by librarians. With greater interest and improved access to books new efforts to organise collections evolved— a new practical storage for this new age had to be designed.
In the 1880’s Arthur Lambert teamed up with W Lucy & Co, an iron and steel fabricator in Oxford to manufacture the ‘Perfect Adjustable Shelving’ system. Strong steel upright columns feature continuous grooves to carry shelf brackets that adjust to a desired height and then lock into any place. This free standing system was accessible from both sides to enable browsing and could be assembled in long rows to suit the space.
Lambert’s shelving was installed in many prominent institutions such as the Bodleian Library in Oxford, the Linnean Society and at the Patent Office on Chancery Lane.
Our shelving units are extremely versatile as they can be configured in numerous ways; bookshelves, clothes hanging, home and shop use. We have installed the Shelving in many homes and commercial spaces, proving that Lambert’s design still offers the flexibility it was designed for and a practical solution for contemporary use.
A tailors on Savile Row. The shelving lends itself to the style of the traditional, durable and British made, gentleman’s outfitters.
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An aside. Retrouvius has saved several iterations of adjustable shelving and like many of our salvage hauls the unexpected arises with the change in context of use/reuse.
After saving hundreds of metres from the former UK Patent Office we were faced with an excess of timber shelves as the long rows were reused in shorter lengths: the demand for end columns was greater than the interconnecting shelves. The tulip wood planks with thin oak fronts have since become a design resource and used across numerous projects… such as this joinery in the home above. We await the reuse solution for the excess of metal shelves we currently have!
