Freestanding Shelving Bookcase | Triennal Model | Lips Vago | Italy | 1951

Lips Vago, deep dark green bookcases, metal, Italy, 1951. This early variant of the ‘Congresso’ shelf is a modest and strong bookcase made out of steel sheets with holes on the sides creating a strong graphic pattern. This early model has been displayed on the Milan Triennal of 1951 at Pallazo dell'Arte with the theme Goods Standard. The model is freestanding making this a versatile piece. The metal sheets in the book case bend upwards at the end of the shelf making them function as book ends. The library was manufactured by Lips Vago: a coming together of the Italian blacksmith company Vago and the Dutch locker company Lips. It was shortly after the fusion of these two companies that they designed models for archives and libraries such as this particular piece. The shelving unit was so popular that in 1968 it won the Smau Industrial Design Award.

Creator: Lips Vago (Manufacturer) 

Dimensions (cm):

Place of Origin: Italy

Design Period: 50's

Style: Mid-century modern furniture

Materials: metal frame and shelves