Description
A striking teak bookcase by Poul Hundevad, produced in Denmark during the 1960s. This piece began life as the hutch top of a larger credenza and hutch set; we’ve separated it from its original plinth-base cabinet and given it a new set of slender hairpin legs, transforming it into a stand alone bookcase with a lighter, more versatile footprint.
Dimensions:
54.5″ W x 12.125″ D x 62.75″ High
(159.4 cm H x 138.4 cm W x 30.8 cm D)
The asymmetrical shelving arrangement is the standout feature: open bays of varying heights are broken up by a run of narrow vertical dividers, ideal for records, magazines, or small objects alongside books. Every shelf rides on pins set into rows of drilled holes that run the full height of the case, so the interior configuration can be rearranged to suit the owner’s needs.
The case is book matched teak veneer over solid wood edges, with visible dowel joinery at the shelf supports and a clean, unadorned silhouette typical of Danish cabinetmaking of the period. The maker’s stamp is present on the interior back panel.
About the Maker:
Poul Hundevad (1917–2011) was a Danish cabinetmaker who trained as a carpenter before establishing his own workshop and furniture factory in his hometown of Vamdrup. He became known for a functionalist, multi-purpose approach to design, building convertible and space-saving mechanisms — fold-down trays, adjustable and removable components, and modular storage — into his credenzas, sideboards, and cabinets well ahead of the trend toward flexible furniture. Over the course of his career he collaborated with other noted Danish designers, including Carlo Jensen and Kaj Winding, and produced pieces both under his own name and for manufacture by others. Hundevad’s work remains especially prized today for its combination of restrained Danish modern lines with genuinely practical, adaptable function.
Condition: The metal hairpin legs are a new addition, not original to the bookcase. Good vintage condition with minor wear commensurate with age. Because of the bookcase’s height, this wear sits mostly above eye level and isn’t readily noticeable in person. A dent to the back top corner has been filled and color matched. A couple of small dark spots are present on the wood. All shelf pin holes remain intact and usable along the full interior height.
