Heals & Son – Arts and Crafts Oak Bookcase or Side Table

An Arts and Crafts oak bookcase or side table by Heals & Son, of octagonal form with open shelves, produced during the Arts and Crafts movement (1880–1910).

This oak bookcase or side table by Heals & Son reflects the quiet architectural restraint characteristic of the Arts and Crafts movement (1880–1910). Designed in an octagonal form with open tiers, the piece demonstrates the maker’s preference for proportion and practical utility over ornament.

Produced circa 1920, the design belongs to the later phase of the movement, when Heals & Son continued to promote honest domestic craftsmanship in solid oak. The vertical supports rise cleanly to a flat top, framing two fixed shelves that divide the form into equal thirds. The edges are simply chamfered, and the construction employs traditional joined methods consistent with the firm’s workshop practice.

The surface retains its original finish, showing an even tone and natural patina consistent with age and use.