Vitra - Rayonnage Mural wall rack Japanese red - dark oak

Vitra Rayonnage Bookcase.

A design by Jean Prouvé.

Wall-mounted bookcases were common in interiors in the first half of the 20th century. Jean Prouvé also designed a number of different wall racks, such as Rayonnage Mural by Vitra, which was originally designed in 1936 for the École Nationale Professionnelle in Metz, France.

The two vertical wall brackets of Rayonnage Mural are made of lacquered bent sheet steel. With their streamlined shape, reminiscent of the helm of an airplane or ship, Rayonnage Mural Jean Prouvé , 1936, they are a recurring element in Prouvé's designs.

The wall brackets have precise horizontal slots in which the solid wooden planks can be placed. Together, the two contrasting materials form a practical shelf with the sculptural qualities of an aesthetic object. The wooden shelves are available in light or dark oak, while the wall brackets are available in various original Prouvé colors.

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In the mid-twentieth century, a number of prominent designers devoted their skills to this category of furniture. Jean Prouvé was one of them, creating several designs for wall-mounted bookcases.

This edition of Vitra is a model originally designed for student housing at the École Nationale Professionnelle (E.N.P.) in Metz, and dating from 1936.

The most striking feature of this bookshelf is the vertical wall brackets. Made of bent sheet steel, this is reminiscent of an airplane wing or the rudder of a ship. Wooden planks fit perfectly into the horizontal slots of the metal brackets, which are screwed invisibly to the wall. Two notches in the leading edge of the boards fix them firmly in place, allowing them to extend past the brackets on either side.

A practical storage element that can be used in many different places in your home. In addition to its obvious function as a storage space for books and magazines, it can be used to display a wide variety of items that people want to have in their immediate vicinity - things that make a house a real home.

Dimensions: H 70 x W 118 x D 25 cm.

Designer: Jean Prouvé

Jean Prouvé (1909-1984) was a French metalworker, engineer and self-taught architect and designer, who had a major influence on European post-war design and design philosophy. Social conscience and good accessibility were essential starting points for Prouvé's designs, which were often based on prefabricated houses, modular systems and mass production.