Mogens Koch bookcase

This is a rare and architecturally composed library unit designed by Danish architect Mogens Koch in 1933. The system comprises two base cabinets and four upper bookcase modules, all constructed from solid oak with meticulous traditional joinery. Produced by Rud. Rasmussen Snedkerier in Copenhagen, a premier Danish cabinetmaker, the piece exemplifies the ideals of functional craftsmanship embedded in early Danish modernism.

The entire ensemble is modular and precisely dimensioned, based on Koch’s system of standardized cabinet depths and heights. Each cabinet below measures 76 cm in width, 36 cm in depth, and 76 cm in height, while the bookcase units above measure 76 cm wide, 27.5 cm deep, and 76 cm high. Assembled, the full unit measures 152 cm in width, 36 cm in depth, and 234 cm in height (approximately 59.8 x 14.2 x 92.1 inches overall).

The piece is composed of carefully selected oak with a warm, honey-toned finish. The cabinet doors are vertically paneled and inset within a solid frame, concealing additional storage behind lockable compartments with brass hardware. Above, the open shelving units form a strict grid with finely crafted vertical and horizontal dividers, ideal for books, archival materials, or display purposes. The visible dovetail joints at the sides are sharply cut, illustrating both structural integrity and artisanal attention.

Mogens Koch (1898–1992) was trained under Kaare Klint and is recognized for his modular storage furniture and his rationalist approach to architecture and design. Koch’s work reflects the Danish modern tenets of proportional clarity, logic in structure, and enduring materiality. The bookcase system he designed in the 1930s was revolutionary in its modularity and remains a seminal example of functional furniture that bridges classicism and modernism.

Rud. Rasmussen was among Denmark’s most esteemed workshops and maintained long-standing collaborations with leading designers such as Koch, Klint, and Mogensen. The firm’s output is synonymous with refined traditional cabinetmaking methods and material fidelity.

This particular example remains in excellent condition, with only small signs of use consistent with careful age. The surface displays a well-maintained patina and the overall construction remains solid and true.