Tall Skønvirke Bookcase #2
Martin Nyrop
Denmark, 1905

Description:

A free-standing bookcase designed by architect Martin Nyrop and made by Rudolph Rasmussen before 1905.

The bookcase until recently was part of Copenhagen City Hall, the Danish Art Nouveau* National Romantic style building which it was designed and built for. Nyrop was responsible for the design of the City Hall's totality: shell, accessories, furnishings. Construction on the building began in 1892 and concluded in 1905, therefore the bookcase was designed, built and installed before 1905. This makes the bookcase one of the first major collaborations for cabinetmaker Rudolph Rasmussen.

In keeping with a main tenet of the Arts and Craft movement which inspired *Skønvirke (Danish Art Nouveau), the bookcase not only reveals its construction but makes a feature of the methods used to make it. This can be seen on the sides of the bookcase where the central fixed internal shelf punctuates through the side panel to create maximum strength.

Similarly, the materials used have been worked in order to allow them to speak clearly of their properties, the solid pine has been crown cut to display the irregular elliptic grain shapes of the wood. The tops of these cabinets have an interesting crenellation detail, aiding in their beauty. 

We have two bookcases available from the Copenhagen Town Hall. They make an excellent non-matching pair. If you are interested in purchasing the pair, please email info@sigmarlondon.com

Both cabinets are structurally sound and absolutely usable and practical pieces. The colour of the pine used throughout is spectacularly rich and warm. 

Specifications:

The bookcase is in good vintage condition with wear commensurate with age and use. There is a repair to the centre-front of the first shelf, and two shelves are missing which makes the two upper shelves much larger. 

Height: 213cm

Width: 94cm

Depth: 45cm

Shelf Depth: 41cm