Aldren Bookcase

The Aldren Bookcase from Four Hands is a tall, wide, freestanding bookcase built from solid acacia and finished in a worn black. The sides curve and are cut as slats, so the case reads as sculpted and architectural from the front and from an angle. Five fixed shelves form four open sections, and the back is left open, which keeps a piece of this size from feeling like a wall.

Worn black over acacia lets the grain show through, so the surface looks aged and a little weathered. Each case will vary in color, graining and texture, as solid wood does. The curved ends nod to traditional library shelving while the slatted profile pulls it toward something more contemporary, and it sits comfortably next to leather, linen, brass and older painted pieces.

Because the back is open, it can be floated away from a wall and used as a room divider, or set against a wall to hold a full library. The shelves are deep enough for large art books, baskets, pottery and framed pieces, and the dark finish gives objects in warm or bright colors a strong backdrop. An anti-tip kit is included, and leg levelers help it sit steady on an uneven floor.