Portable Magazine Rack

The portable magazine rack made in the 1960s by the Chandigarh Collective was one of the many specialised pieces created under Pierre Jeanneret’s direction. Because it was not the kind of object that would find widespread use, this particular piece was produced in small numbers, and was meant almost exclusively for use in the High Court and the library of the Legislative Assembly.

The spare design featured two A-shaped panels that tapered into its legs and formed a self-supporting frame. The V-shaped trough between them was where books, journals, and magazines could be kept and be easily accessed. The single cylindrical bar connected the A-legs just below their highest point, turning this simple storage item into a portable one, and making it easy to carry from one place to another.

Originally designed for public spaces, Phantom Hands’ re-edition of the magazine rack has been thoughtfully scaled down for contemporary homes. The solid teak piece replicates the geometry of the original rack, including the angles of the trough, the proportions of the frame, and the slim raised lips on the inside edges of the panels that prevented the books and folios from sliding off the edge.