PERE COSP (Barcelona, 1907-2007).
Sideboard-bookcase, 1948-1949.
Ember wood. Raffia fronts. Keyholes and ornaments in gilt metal.
Use marks. Needs refinishing. A small star-shaped ornament is missing from the lower part.
Provenance: House in Llavaneras (Barcelona) with an interior designed entirely by Pere Cosp in 1948-1949, referenced on the website dedicated to the author, perecosp.wordpress.com, which lists the most important interior designs he made for individuals and companies.
Measurements: 103 x 260 x 45 cm.
Sideboard-bookcase of recessed form made of ember wood and designed by Pere Cosp. It consists of five raffia panels in the lower part, three of them with doors and two with interior shelves, giving the option of storing a variety of everyday utensils. The golden metal keyholes are inspired in starry foliage design and have small ornaments in the upper part in the shape of seahorses, stars and seashells. The upper body of the cabinet has three raffia-bottomed divisions, each with three glass shelves of varying sizes. This piece of furniture is designed to be attached to the wall as it has no back panels on the back.
Pere Cosp was an interior designer from Barcelona. With a largely self-taught background, Pere Cosp redirected the family craft workshop towards interior design and integral decoration. The profession served him to give free rein to his creative talent, intentionally distanced from the fashions and trends of the time. Proof of the non-conformist and restless personality that defined him are the designs of his furniture, which still retain an innovative and transgressive spirit. Cosp attended the Escuela de Artes y Bellos Oficios (School of Arts and Crafts), as well as the perspective classes of Professor Arola. But more important for him was the practical part: entering the family workshop and experiencing at first hand all the trades that were carried out there: gilding, mouldings and all kinds of restoration work. He also worked with the furniture maker Alonso and the decorator Parcerises. Pere Cosp was a pioneer in the use of materials that could be called humble, such as pine wood, chipboard, raffia, etc., which he elevated to a higher level through their treatment and use. He often collaborated with other trades: in the field of metalwork, he worked with Biosca y Botey and Pere Peronella. In this line of collaborations, he produced screen feet, wall sconces, outdoor furniture for gardens, and an extensive collection of knobs and handles. The decoration of these elements or the final finishing was always done in the workshop. He made combinations of great beauty: stone, marble - Terra Passani was the main supplier - mosaic, in collaboration with Bru, glass, Granell, enamel, Morató, lacquer, according to drawings by his daughter Guillermina, parchment, with which he made wonderful small tables, doors, bed headboards, etc.