We bought this cabinet at an auction, unseen. ‘Black bookcase with glass’. Picking up was a feast: what a beautiful object. It turned out to be a black oak cabinet from Globe-Wernicke.

Otto Wernicke was a German immigrant living in America who designed stackable cabinet units in 1890. About two years later he got the patent. The system became popular with lawyers, which is why they were also called “Barrister Bookcases”. In 1899 The Global Files Company bought the company and it continues as Globe-Wernicke.

The system came into fashion in England around 1900. The story goes that even Lenin ordered the system for his study in 1908 while he was in exile. Wim Duisenberg also was a lover of Globe-Wernicke bookcases. The cabinets are still being made.

This example appears to have been made in the mid-20th century. Each module has a name, this cabinet consists of a base, an ‘Atlas’, two ‘File’s’, three ‘Books’ and a top frame. Although the cabinet is stable, there are additional vertical connecting slats (not in the photo).

Dimensions, in order of stacking in the photos, from bottom to top:

• Exterior: Frame: 12 cm high, 44 deep
• Interior: ‘Atlas’ book height: 24 cm 31.5 deep (1x)
• Interior: ‘File’ book height: 26 cm, 24 deep (2x)
• Interior: ‘Book’ book height: 19 cm, 24 deep (3x)
• Exterior: Top: 10 cm high, 36 deep
• Exterior: Overall height: 211, base depth: 44, 28.5: File & Books, 36: top, width: 88 cm.

Price, and possibly transport and assembly in consultation.

Thanks to the Doetinchem company Klassiek Kantoor for the information about Globe-Wernicke.