Lot 294
Ernest Race (British 1913-1964) for Isokon
Penguin Donkey Mark II, designed 1963
Auction: 29 October 2021 from 11:00 BST
£813
Description
manufacturer's paper label (to base), white painted wood
Dimensions
39.5cm high, 53.5cm wide, 40cm deep (15.5in high, 21in wide, 15.75in deep)
Provenance
Provenance:
Jack & Molly Pritchard, England, and thence by descent to the present owners.
The original 'Book Donkey' in plywood was created in 1939 for Egon Riss (1901-1964) and Jack Pritchard (1899-1992). Manufacturered by Pritchard's Isokon company, the bookcase became known as the 'Penguin Book Donkey' due to the fact that it was the perfect size for the publisher Allen Lane's new Penguin paperbacks. A patent was taken out for the 'Mark II' model designed by Ernest Race in 1963.
