48 - Danish-designed bookshelf. Denmark, circa 1960.

Danish-designed bookshelf. Denmark, circa 1960. Rosewood. In good overall condition. Measurements: 120 × 75 × 24 cm. Provenance: Estate of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. Artistic and heritage collection originating in the legacy of Catalan painters Ramon Martí Alsina (1826–1894), a seminal figure of 19th-century Catalan Realism, and his son Ricard Martí Aguiló (1857–1935). Passed down and enriched across successive generations, the collection brings together works from the original holdings of both artists alongside acquisitions made by their descendants. Dedicated to preserving and recovering the family legacy, the descendants actively reacquired works by the painters as they entered the market, progressively expanding the collection to encompass paintings, sculptures, archaeological artifacts, and other items of artistic and historical significance. Danish-designed bookshelf made around 1960, representative of the Danish Modern aesthetic, characterized by elegant lines, functionality, and the prominence of fine woods. The piece stands out particularly for its use of rosewood, one of the most prized woods in 20th-century cabinetmaking and furniture design. Renowned for its extraordinary richness of color and the beauty of its grain, rosewood was one of the favorite materials of mid-century Scandinavian design, especially during the 1950s and 1960s. Today, vintage furniture finished in rosewood is highly prized among collectors and enthusiasts of 20th-century design, both for its aesthetic qualities and for the growing scarcity of certain varieties of this fine wood. The bookcase features a rectangular body with clean lines, open at the front and organized by three interior shelves that create four storage and display spaces. The continuity of the grain on the back and sides reinforces its visual unity, while the absence of ornamental elements allows the natural richness of the wood to be fully appreciated. Its balanced proportions and shallow depth accentuate the piece’s lightness and make it easy to integrate into various spaces. The piece is a fine example of the principles that defined mid-20th-century Danish design, based on the pursuit of balance between beauty, utility, and the quality of materials.