Ilmari Tapiovaara for La Permanente Mobili Cantù Bookcase

IImari Tapiovaara for Permanente Mobili Cantù, bookcase, teak, colored fabric, Italy, design 1957

This grand bookcase, executed in teak, is designed by the Finnish designer Ilmari Tapiovaara. Its grand appearance is emphasized by its size and composition. The clean lines allow you to showcase your special belongings in an elegant manner. Due to the multicolored sliding panels, the division can be arranged to one's personal preference. The combination of teak and the panels creates a playful contrast within the warm wooden appearance. Tapiovaara won the “Secondo Premio ex-aequo” prize in the 'Living Environment Category' competition with a similar design, as decided by a panel of judges that included Carlo Mollino.

Ilmari Tapiovaara (1914-1999) was trained as an interior designer and at the beginning of his career, during World War Two, Tapiovaara designed gear for the Finnish army, meaning that he got used to work with very common materials such as local woods and no nails or screws where available. Later in his career, he founded his own practice with his wife and had many assignments for schools and universities.

Kindly note that this item is in good, used condition and has been restored in our in-house atelier. The colored panels show signs of wear and use, it is possible to replace the fabric on them or choose wood to your liking. Please reach out to our design specialists for any questions you might have.