Bookshelf in Hardwood & Metal by Michel Arnault for Mobilia Contemporânea, Brazil, 1960s – Lot 742

Designed in the 1960s by Michel Arnault for Mobilia Contemporânea, this bookshelf exemplifies the refined functionalism that defined Brazil’s postwar office and institutional furniture. Conceived during a period of rapid professionalization and architectural expansion, the piece reflects Arnault’s disciplined approach to modular storage—balancing industrial logic with the warmth of noble woods.

The structure combines a dark metal frame with shelves and cabinetry executed in ivory-toned hardwood and Brazilian rosewood, the latter displaying expressive, colorful veining revealed through careful refinishing. The composition features four large fixed shelves, five open display shelves, and a lower cabinet section with two doors opening to six interior shelves, offering generous and highly adaptable storage. Polished metal hardware provides a subtle graphic contrast to the wood surfaces, reinforcing the piece’s architectural clarity.

Originally intended for professional environments, this bookshelf translates seamlessly into residential or gallery settings, where its vertical rhythm, material contrast, and quiet monumentality can be fully appreciated. A strong and representative example of Michel Arnault’s contribution to Brazilian modern design and to the evolution of sophisticated office furnishings in the 1960s.