PJ-R-26-A Periodical Bookcase

Details

Rare Pierre Jeanneret periodical bookcase, designed for the library buildings of Chandigarh during Jeanneret’s collaboration with Le Corbusier. Dating to circa 1960–61,

Materials: Solid teak, aluminium
Date: circa 1960–61
Designer: Pierre Jeanneret
Place of origin: Chandigarh, India
Provenance: Panjab University Library, Chandigarh
Provenance marking: PU/Lib/CH-9/II

Dimensions:
Length: 167 cm, Width: 39 cm, Height: 210 cm

Description

This exceptional 20-compartment example is constructed in solid teak and aluminium and was conceived specifically for the storage and display of newspapers, magazines and periodicals.

The bookcase comprises twenty individual compartments, arranged in a four-by-five configuration. Each compartment features a distinctive angled aluminium panel, which can be pulled upward to provide access to the space behind. When lowered, the projecting lower edge creates a practical ledge for displaying or supporting books and periodicals.

The restrained geometry and repetitive grid give the piece a strong architectural presence, closely reflecting the modernist principles of the Chandigarh project. Designed as institutional furniture rather than domestic cabinetry, it demonstrates Jeanneret's approach to creating robust, practical objects that nevertheless possess a striking sculptural quality.

This example retains its original institutional provenance marking, “PU/Lib/CH-9/II,” identifying its association with the Panjab University Library in Chandigarh. The surviving marking, together with the original construction and period details, provides an important connection to the furniture's original institutional context.

The teak has developed a rich, natural patina with visible traces of age and use, preserving the character of the piece and its history within the Chandigarh period.

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