Mogens Koch bookcases

This set of five modular bookcases was designed by Mogens Koch and produced by Rud Rasmussen in Denmark. Originally conceived in 1933, the design exemplifies Koch’s functionalist approach and architectural sensibility, offering a reconfigurable shelving system that adapts to various storage needs while maintaining visual clarity. The units are crafted from oregon pine, showcasing visible dowel and dovetail joinery, and rest upon two oak base modules. This material combination balances warmth with structural durability.

Each cabinet features a rectilinear frame with a gridded internal structure, providing evenly spaced compartments suitable for books or archival items. Two of the five units include hinged doors with frame-and-panel construction, enabling concealed storage. One upper cabinet is equipped with a drop front secured by a lockable brass escutcheon, historically intended for document or writing use. The vertical and horizontal divisions create a rhythmic composition, while the restrained detailing reflects the principles of early 20th-century Danish functionalism.

Mogens Koch (1898–1992), a Danish architect and designer associated with Kaare Klint and the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, was a pioneer of modular cabinetry. Introduced in the 1930s, his designs were among the earliest examples of flexible, reconfigurable furniture in Scandinavian modernism. Koch emphasized proportion, craftsmanship, and simplicity in his work.

Rud Rasmussen, the cabinetmaker behind these bookcases, is recognized as one of Denmark’s most prestigious workshops. Known for collaborations with Klint, Koch, and other members of the Copenhagen School, Rud Rasmussen’s work exemplifies the highest standards of Danish cabinetmaking in the mid-20th century.

The bookcases are in very good condition, showing minor wear to edges and surfaces consistent with age. The pine has developed a rich patina, and the doors operate smoothly with intact hinges and fittings.

The combined dimensions, as assembled, measure 228 cm in width, 36 cm in depth, and 152.5 cm in height, approximately 89.8 inches wide, 14.2 inches deep, and 60 inches high.