Bookcase. Central Europe, ca. 1910

Bookcase. Central Europe, ca. 1910.
Mahogany with fruitwood marquetry.
In good overall condition, with signs of wear consistent with its age.
Measurements: 115 x 75 x 24 cm.

Provenance: Estate of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló.
Artistic and heritage collection originating in the legacy of Catalan painters Ramon Martí Alsina (1826–1894), a seminal figure of 19th-century Catalan Realism, and his son Ricard Martí Aguiló (1857–1935).

Passed down and enriched across successive generations, the collection brings together works from the original holdings of both artists alongside acquisitions made by their descendants. Dedicated to preserving and recovering the family legacy, the descendants actively reacquired works by the painters as they entered the market, progressively expanding the collection to encompass paintings, sculptures, archaeological artifacts, and other items of artistic and historical significance.
This bookcase is an interesting example of Central European furniture from the early 20th century, when historicist styles gradually gave way to lighter, more geometric designs, reminiscent of Jugendstil and the Vienna Secession. The open structure, characterized by its pronounced verticality, is organized into different levels of shelves, combining spacious surfaces with small side and upper compartments.

The main decorative accent is concentrated on the curvilinear top molding, embellished with fine dark fillets and a central motif of light-wood marquetry arranged within a geometric composition. These hallmarks, together with the stylization of the uprights and the minimal use of applied ornamentation, place the piece within the context of the formal renewal of Central European furniture around 1900–1910.