Fourteen artists were involved in the decoration of the bookcase; Edward Burne-Jones, John Anster Fitzgerald, Henry Holiday, Stacy Marks, Albert Moore, Thomas Morten, Edward Poynter, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Charles Rossiter, Frederick Smallfield, Simeon Solomon, William Frederick Yeames, Fred Weeks, Nathaniel Westlake, and Burges himself.

The decoration of the front of the bookcase is divided into two sides, featuring Pagan and Christian themes, the themes are as follows:
On the sides of the bookcase are depicted Saint Augustine by Solomon, Plato by Rossiter, Saint Cecilia by Morten, Orpheus by Yeames, Sirens by Fitzgerald, and Harpies by Weeks.
The base of the bookcase features four metamorphosic figures, in the form of Arachne, the Pierides and Syrinx, all painted by Marks.
Decorative bands run horizontally between each section of the bookcase.
The bands feature paintings by Poynter of the "Sea, the Earth, and the Air", "Shells and Fishes of the Ocean", "Flowers and Beasts of the Field", the "Birds of the Air", and the "Stars of the Firmament".
Two designs on the bands were painted by Burges, of Aesops fables and the story of Cock Robin.

Above the front panels is a cornice decorated with muses painted by Poynter, and surmounting the cornice are three painted gables.
The three gables feature painted depictions of 'Religion' and 'Love' by Westlake, and between them, 'Art' by Burne-Jones.

The interior of the bookcase is also decorated, with birds are painted by Marks.
After the bookcase fell over in 1878, extra decoration was added inside with the addition of allegories of eight metals by Weeks to replace paintings by Fitzgerald damaged in the fall.
Fourteen artists were involved in the decoration of the bookcase; Edward Burne-Jones, John Anster Fitzgerald, Henry Holiday, Stacy Marks, Albert Moore, Thomas Morten, Edward Poynter, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Charles Rossiter, Frederick Smallfield, Simeon Solomon, William Frederick Yeames, Fred Weeks, Nathaniel Westlake, and Burges himself.
The decoration of the front of the bookcase is divided into two sides, featuring Pagan and Christian themes, the themes are as follows:
On the sides of the bookcase are depicted Saint Augustine by Solomon, Plato by Rossiter, Saint Cecilia by Morten, Orpheus by Yeames, Sirens by Fitzgerald, and Harpies by Weeks. The base of the bookcase features four metamorphosic figures, in the form of Arachne, the Pierides and Syrinx, all painted by Marks. Decorative bands run horizontally between each section of the bookcase. The bands feature paintings by Poynter of the "Sea, the Earth, and the Air", "Shells and Fishes of the Ocean", "Flowers and Beasts of the Field", the "Birds of the Air", and the "Stars of the Firmament". Two designs on the bands were painted by Burges, of Aesops fables and the story of Cock Robin.
Above the front panels is a cornice decorated with muses painted by Poynter, and surmounting the cornice are three painted gables. The three gables feature painted depictions of 'Religion' and 'Love' by Westlake, and between them, 'Art' by Burne-Jones.
The interior of the bookcase is also decorated, with birds are painted by Marks. After the bookcase fell over in 1878, extra decoration was added inside with the addition of allegories of eight metals by Weeks to replace paintings by Fitzgerald damaged in the fall.
Great Bookcase