A strong and very well-proportioned Dutch modernist bookcase from the 1920s, executed in solid oak with a black-stained base.
The piece belongs firmly to the Dutch Art Deco and Hague School atmosphere of the interwar period. Its appeal lies in the balance between utility and architecture: broad vertical side panels, a clear rectangular frame, open shelving and a dark plinth that gives the design visual weight.
The bookcase is not decorative in a traditional sense, yet it is highly aesthetic. Its beauty comes from structure, proportion and material. The oak has a warm, lively grain, while the black base gives the piece a sharper, more graphic modernist character. The design is reminiscent of work by Brunott, and also sits naturally near the furniture language of Frits Spanjaard and Hendrik Wouda, especially in its sober use of planes and volume.
A particularly good size: large enough to function as a serious bookcase, but compact enough for smaller spaces. Honest, original and very usable. It will hold a good number of books, and also works beautifully as a display piece for ceramics, glass or a lamp.
The bookcase has been lightly restored and is ready for daily use.
Creator
Design Period
1920s
Production Period
1920s
Country of Manufacture
Netherlands
Identifying Marks
Style
Dutch Art Deco, Haagse School, The Hague School, Modernist
