Antique plan cabinet in beech wood – Central Europe, around 1950

This antique beech wood plan cabinet is an industrial archive piece with ten flat drawers and movable internal dividers. It originates from Central Europe, from the mid-20th century, when technical furniture was made from solid beech and plywood. The plan cabinet was born in drawing offices and technical archives: very wide and shallow drawers designed to keep sheets flat without folding them. Here, the internal dividers are movable and split each drawer into two or four compartments, suggesting a later use for sorting small pieces. The case is made of solid beech and plywood, with a back made of fibreboard nailed to the frame. The ten drawers are assembled with dovetail joints and slide on wooden guides. Each front features two handles made from solid wood, carved in a semi-circular shape, a woodworking solution that avoids any metal fittings. The wood retains its natural colour, ranging from honey to blonde, with the fine and regular grain characteristic of beech. Use has slightly darkened the handles and the corners of the fronts. No added varnish, no visible restoration. Details. Dimensions: Length 120 cm – Depth 90 cm – Height 107 cm. Style: Industrial. Materials and techniques: Beech wood and plywood; back in fibreboard; dovetail assembly; solid wood handles. Place of origin: Central Europe. Period: Mid-20th century. Date of manufacture: Circa 1950. Condition / Observations: Good. Wood in natural colour, darkening from use on the handles and corners. The drawer dividers are variable: some are split into two or four compartments. Wear consistent with age and use.