The original designs are in fact US Mid-Western dating to before the 1880s. The range included rolltop desks, cupboards and wooden swivel chairs - the sorts of things you would see in Sheriff's offices in post-Civil War Westerns. They were originally made of oak and were quite heavy.

Sometime before 1900, a Finnish furniture company, based at a place west of Helsinki called Bilnäs (Beakness), bought the rights to the design to make the range in Finland. It was copied exactly. In the 30's a lot of the Finnish range was available in birch. And new designs were added for contract furnishing. Post-WWII a lot of it was taken out of offices and burnt in the yard, fired by a general desire to get away from 'Dour'. Marimekko was a successful post-war company because it brought colour to the home.

Anyway I used to have a house full of Bilnäs, but when you're on the move more it gets to be a drag needing 4 guys every time to move your roll top. I've still get some cupboards and chairs, but I finally sold the old roll top before this last move.

And in the synchronicity dept: the maestro of distressing, who builds all the Bonk machines and artefacts, is currently making exact reproductions of your barrister's bookcase. They sell very well.


You can't be me, I'm taken

Hard to put a date on it, but I would guess Edwardian (first decade of the 20th C) by the wood colour and finish. I'll have to unpack some more books and see if I can find my Bilnäs bible.

You can't be me, I'm taken