Vitra Rayonnage Mural shelf, Prouvé Bleu Marcoule – oak

Vitra’s Rayonnage Mural is a distinctive wall shelf, designed by Jean Prouvé in 1936, characterized by the geometric shape of its two vertical brackets. A recurring feature in several Prouvé designs, the shape is reminiscent of an airplane or a ship’s rudder, and it brings fascinating three-dimensionality to the otherwise understated design.

The vivid blue shade of the shelf belongs to Jean Prouvé’s original color chart, which he developed himself. The name of the color, Bleu Marcoule, comes from a power plant in Marcoule, France, for which Prouvé designed blue-hued furniture in the 1950s.

Like most of Prouvé’s creations, the Rayonnage Mural itself was designed for a specific project: the École Nationale Professionnelle in the city of Metz. Made of wood and metal, the shelf is sure to fit a variety of spaces, serving a myriad of purposes. What would you fill it with: books, collectibles or something else entirely?