Gian Franco Frattini Mid Century Modern Jatoba Bookmill

Jatoba Albero mid century modern bookmill designed by Gian franco Frattini, pre Poltrona Frau. This rare Jatoba wood, Brazilain Cherry wood,  version which is impossible to find, has been made in the 80's in a very small edition before Poltrona Frau took it into production. As far as we know, there is not another Jatoba version for sale anywhere.

Conceived in the late 1950s as a floor-to-ceiling free-standing bookcase, this impossible to find rosewood Albero was designed for use in interior settings rather than for serial production. The Albero is formally associated with the Neo liberty period and, in terms of product type, to the floor-to-ceiling bookcase systems that were popular throughout the 50s and 60s. Designed by Frattini, the structure stands out both for its complex cabinet work and for its sculpted nature, acting as the centre piece of a room.

The bookcase comprises just a few ingeniously interconnected elements, which show Gian franco Frattini’s attention to the laws of statics and dynamics. It has four vertical struts and two rack and pinion poles at the two ends, all crafted from solid Jatoba wood. The shelves, produced in MDF with Jatoba essence veneer, can be positioned in the holes along the struts as desired with a minimum of eight and a maximum of 12 shelves. A special metal cylinder is attached to the ceiling to hold the bookcase in place. The Albero’s frame is attached to this and the floor thanks to two adjustable metal ferrules that ensure its stability. The height of the bookcase can vary between 2.66 m to 3.26 m. / 104.72 to 128.35 inches.

The book mill will be shipped overseas insured in a custom made wooden crate. Cost of insured transport to the US, Euro 2.200,  is crate included.