Victorian Cast Iron Holloway Reading Stand & Dictionary Holder Side Table

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THE PATENTED HOLLOWAY READING STAND - Circa 1875 Holloway reading stand and dictionary holder, almost robotic in its complexity: combining … Read more THE PATENTED HOLLOWAY READING STAND - Circa 1875 Holloway reading stand and dictionary holder, almost robotic in its complexity: combining a dictionary holder, book rest, lamp stand and writing table. It was manufactured by the Holloway Company of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, marked thus and "Holloway Reading Stand & Dictionary Holder" on the reticulated upper iron lamp shelf, which is flanked by articulated wooden holders for your book and a dictionary volume below which are two racks for a two-volume dictionary set. The pierced tapered square column rests on four scrolled claw foot legs with integral metal casters. Some gold detailing to the cast iron, roughly 39" tall, 17" square base, all folds into a compact space. Iron is repainted, otherwise completely intact and functional. I have included in the photos original advertisement images of the table in use.

I do think the reading stand would adapt well to the laptop environment, and could hold food, drink and a favorite novel at the same time. And, I suppose, a reasonably sized dictionary as well. Clearly our generation is not the first to multi-task.

In house museum collections like Winterthur in Delaware. Would look great in a Conservatory or Library environment, or anywhere where adjustable tables and reading tablets combined with antiquity and finer things are desired. See less