A range of George II white painted and parcel gilt glazed library bookcases designed by William Kent

with carved stiles, comprising a matched pair of bookcases with a pair of glazed doors to top and base, (differences to carved detail and dimensions), a breakfront bookcase comprising a central pair of glazed doors to top and bottom originally enclosing shelves flanked a glazed door to each side with a smaller door below, (incomplete), another bookcase of similar form (incomplete) and the lower part of a bookcase with four doors (incomplete), labelled variously in manuscript Eaton Square

William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire (1698-1755) for the library at Devonshire House and photographed in situ in the Library, known as The Duke's Room, circa 1880; part later at 85 Eaton Square, the London residence of Edward Cavendish, 10th Duke of Devonshire (1895-1950) and part in the School Room at Chatsworth

Devonshire House Inventory, 1811.

Devonshire House Inventory, 1917, p.78

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE
Schidt et al, Holkham, London, 2005, p. 179, pl. 129 for a watercolour drawing design for the Library, Holkham by William Kent.

John Cornforth, Early Georgian Interiors, Yale,  2004, pp.313-316, for interiors of Halkham and Kent's drawing.

Distressed condition in need of restoration and redecoration. There are many losses and some breaks. First hand inspection is recommended
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This and the following two lots formed part of the original library scheme devised by William Kent for the Library at Devonshire House. The design of The Library was formed virtually simultaneously to that by Kent at Holkham Hall, for Thomas Coke, 1st Earl Leicester, which is still in existence (see Schidt et al., op.cit., pl. XXII, for a recent photograph).  Kent's original design, reproduced here, of the Holkham Library shows how the current bookcases would have been integral to a larger scheme, retaining their architectural independence despite being fitments.

The use of the bookcases to enhance the architectural decoration of the room was a new concept in the mid-1730s and demonstrates Kent once again as the complete architect. Prior to this date bookcases would have been secondary to the room scheme, recessed into walls, serving for purpose only. Indeed, the library created for Queen Caroline at St. James's Palace circa 1735, if one agrees with the date on the design in The Soane Museum, now demolished but recorded by W.H. Pyne in his watercolours of The Royal Residences in 1819 and retained in the British Library, shows a rather drab room, with plain, unadorned bookcases projecting, perpendicular to the walls, into the room. 

Kent, having travelled in Rome with Lord Leicester and admired the vaulted ceilings they discovered on their travels, created library schemes in grand, cove-ceilinged rooms with projecting free-standing bookcases, carved with architectural details to match their surroundings and painted in the colours of the walls, the carved decorative motifs enhanced with parcel-gilding to match the architectural mouldings of the room.

The Library at Devonshire House is recorded in some detail in the 1811 Inventory, recorded in the Upper Library as;

'2 setts of Open Bookshelves as fitted up on each side of the fireplace with moving shelves and repository for Jems (?) in the Center of each lin'd with Green velvet and inclosed with Transparent plate Glass doors each on a plinth 

Continued

setts of neat Bookcases fitted to the angles at each end of the Room, moving shelves and Brass wire pannel'd doors to each, Two open bookcases with 5 moving shelves, each on plinths at each end of the Room,'

The bookcases here like the Holkham examples have adjustable or 'moving' shelves and the current ranges retain their five shelves as stated in the inventory.