Brutalist Wooden Magazine Rack, Europe Mid-20th Century
Brutalist Wooden Magazine Rack, Europe Mid-20th Century
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Price category: 1,000 - 2,500 usd / eur
Magazine racks have been around since the middle ages, but as literacy rates increased around the world, and printed media became more accessible, they rose in popularity. By the mid-20th century, they represented an iconic piece of design that adapted to the style of the time. Pieces like this wooden rack reflect the Brutalist movement of the time, while still serving a functional purpose in an era before the widespread adoption of computers.
This wooden rack shows how designers paid great attention to small domestic items that served everyday life, while still contributing to a visually appealing interior. The piece has a highly architectural construction and hand-worked surface. The rack is built entirely from solid wood and composed through an arrangement of intersecting vertical and diagonal supports. The central handle rises upward in a tapering rectangular form, anchoring the composition visually while also functioning as a practical grip for moving the piece. Thin supports extend outward to hold the printed material. Along the lower section, the horizontal base introduces a strong Brutalist character through its organic look and visibly worked surface. The wood retains a rich natural grain throughout, while the slight natural variation of the structural elements prevent the composition from feeling rigid despite its geometric construction.
Rather than treating storage as purely functional, many designers of the mid-century managed to create pieces like magazine stands, newspaper holders, and side tables that additions to a room while maintaining their use. Even when empty, this magazine rack catches the eye, not through excess but through its masterful use of wood and unique form.
Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The magazine rack has recently been reconditioned. Due to the nature and age of the materials, the item may have some marks, scratches, and discolouration.
Dimensions:
16.54 in W x 12.01 in D x 20.87 in H
42 cm W x 30.5 cm D x 53 cm H
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Price category: 5,000 - 7,500 usd / eur
This beautiful tray, produced in Spain in the second half of the 20th century, is a refined example of decorative craftsmanship paired with functional design. In 1798, the Valentí family started its first silversmith workshop in Barcelona. In 1925 Fernando Valentí Clúa, founder of the current Valentí, was born. Since then, they have created a company with a solid handcraft foundation, influenced by the decorative arts and the renaissance of craftsmanship applied to modernity.
The tray has a broad, elongated oval shape with a shallow interior and gently raised sides. Its outline has a natural flow, showing its handcrafted nature. The inside has a rich, warm golden brass surface, dramatically enhanced by areas of turquoise. Across the bottom of the tray, the brass almost melts across the blue surface. The pattern it creates is effortlessly organic. The exterior displays a continuous turquoise finish, making the distinction between the inside and outside especially striking. The smooth, shallow form allows the different surfaces to remain clearly visible, while also working functionally as a tray. The combination of materials gives the piece a memorable example of Spanish mid-century decorative metalwork.
Decorative objects of this kind are particularly appealing for their ability to introduce colour, texture and material contrast into an interior. This Valentí tray is an excellent centrepiece for a coffee table, dining table or sideboard, where its richly patterned interior can be appreciated from above. It can also serve as a decorative catchall or simply be displayed as an object in its own right.
Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. Due to the nature of material, the item has some marks, scratches, and discolouration.