A rare and beautiful set of five shelves by Børge Mogensen for Erhard Rasmussen. This early collaboration brought together two highly regarded figures of Danish furniture making: the young designer Børge Mogensen and the master cabinetmaker Erhard Rasmussen, whose small but highly regarded workshop was responsible for producing a number of Mogensen’s early prototypes and limited-production pieces.

Rasmussen was involved in some of Mogensen’s earliest and most important furniture, including the early Hunting and Spanish Chairs and pieces exhibited at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibitions. These shelves belong to this early period of their relationship and, unusually, were never put into later production. Their rarity is therefore considerable.

We are particularly fortunate to have a complete set of five shelves. They offer considerable flexibility in how they can be used: stacked at varying heights, arranged individually, or installed together to span a wall. However they are positioned, they have a strong presence. They are unusual without being overly decorative, and their sculptural form gives them an architectural quality that is quite different from more conventional shelving.

The side supports are beautifully organically shaped in teak, contrasted with horizontal beech slats. The combination of the two woods is particularly successful. The warm teak frames the lighter beech, while the sculptural shaping of the sides gives the shelves a sense of movement. This use of contrasting woods and carefully considered organic forms is characteristic of Mogensen’s approach throughout his career.

There is something especially appealing about the simplicity of the construction. The shelves are held directly to the wall with small screws, allowing the sculptural side elements and horizontal slats to remain visually uninterrupted. The result is a piece that feels light and open while still having considerable presence.

The shelves have been lightly cleaned and waxed and are presented in their best vintage condition. We have deliberately retained the character and patina that comes with age and use, taking a sympathetic and non-invasive approach to the restoration.

As a complete set of five, these are an exceptionally rare opportunity to acquire an early and relatively unknown Mogensen design, produced by one of the cabinetmakers most closely associated with his formative years.

Viewing is 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.