A ‘Stack of Drawers’, or Schubladenstapel, designed by Susi and Ueli Berger and produced in Switzerland by Röthlisberger Kollektion. Designed in 1982, it has remained one of the best-known pieces from the Bergers' long collaboration with Röthlisberger.

The chest is constructed from seven differently sized drawers, each deliberately shifted and rotated slightly away from the central axis. Viewed from the front, they appear almost as though they have been casually piled on top of one another, creating an irregular structure that looks quite different depending on the angle from which it is seen.

The inspiration for the design came from the appearance of stacked travelling suitcases. It is a simple idea, but one that the Bergers translated extremely successfully into a completely functional piece of furniture. Despite the apparent disorder of the individual drawers, the chest remains a solid and carefully constructed cabinet. 

For us, much of the success of this particular example comes from the eucalyptus veneer. The veneer has been laid diagonally across the different sections of the cabinet, so the direction of the grain changes repeatedly as the drawers move around the structure. The strong linear figuring of the eucalyptus exaggerates the geometry and makes the individual drawer fronts appear almost like separate blocks of timber.

This becomes even more apparent when the piece is viewed from the sides and rear. 

What initially appears to be a chest with unusually positioned drawer fronts is actually conceived sculpturally from every direction, with each level projecting or receding in relation to the one above and below it.

Each of the seven drawers has a small spherical black Duroplast handle and a contrasting black interior. Opening the drawers makes the construction even more playful, as they project in different directions from the already irregular body of the cabinet. These details are consistent with Röthlisberger's documented specification for the design. 

One aspect we have always liked about the Stack of Drawers is that the humour of the piece never compromises its usefulness. It can initially look almost precarious, as though the drawers have simply been stacked one on top of another, yet it remains a substantial and practical seven-drawer chest.

Because the veneer is individually laid across the cabinet, no two examples have precisely the same grain pattern. Röthlisberger itself describes each Stack of Drawers as unique for this reason.

The chest retains its original Röthlisberger Kollektion manufacturer's label to the interior of the upper drawer.

The piece has been carefully cleaned and is presented in excellent vintage condition. The eucalyptus veneer remains very well preserved, with only minor marks and surface variations consistent with its age and use. The original black drawer interiors and Duroplast handles have also been retained.

Viewing is warmly welcomed at our West London showroom.

High-resolution photographs, detailed condition reports and video inspections are available upon request.

We offer local, national and international shipping.

Please contact us for further information or to arrange a private viewing.