Ignazio Gardella bookcase model LiB2 by Azucena, Italy, 1950s

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Ignazio Gardella bookcase model LiB2 by Azucena, Italy, 1950s

About the Item

Enameled steel, wood, and brass bookshelf, model LiB2, designed by Ignazio Gardella, produced by Azucena, 1950. This bookshelf is a piece of great elegance, combining painted metal and wood. The shelves are positioned close to the side supports in a carefully considered arrangement, evoking a balance and sense of order that only the pursuit of symmetry can achieve. In contrast, the central span of the bookshelf takes a more daring approach, disrupting the continuity of the lines and shifting the perspective entirely. This deliberate break in symmetry is the masterstroke of a great designer, giving the piece that extra touch that elevates it into the realm of iconic design. The modular nature of this piece is ingenious, allowing for various configurations without losing its distinctive effect. Ignazio Gardella, a prominent figure in the history of architecture, was a versatile engineer and designer whose career spanned almost the entire 20th century. Through both alignment and critique, he played a significant role in introducing the Modern Movement to Italy. This bookshelf is one of Gardella's most recognizable creations. Notably, like a signature, the supports end with a polished brass insert, curved and protruding—a recurring aesthetic element in many of Gardella's designs that suggests either a subtle obsession or a playful self-reference. Balancing his time between architecture and interior design, Gardella remained at the forefront of his profession throughout his career, leveraging his entrepreneurial talents. Together with Luigi Caccia Dominioni, he founded Azucena, the first brand dedicated to producing high-quality design. This original bookshelf, dating back to the early 1950s, is complete in all its parts and remains a timeless piece of collectible design that meets contemporary needs while maintaining its status as a prized example of historical craftsmanship. Dimensions: 220h x 310w x 35d cm

Creator:
Ignazio Gardella (Designer),Azucena (Manufacturer)
Dimensions:
Height: 86.62 in (220 cm)Width: 122.05 in (310 cm)Depth: 13.78 in (35 cm)
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Brass,Steel,Wood
Place of Origin:
Italy
Period:
1960-1969
Date of Manufacture:
1960s
Condition:
Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Chiavari, IT
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU6764241157162

Shop All Azucena

Azucena

Vintage Azucena furniture is elegant and inviting — the esteemed mid-century Milanese manufacturer’s wall lights, armchairs and side tables, which are marked by simple symmetry and thoughtfully contrasting materials, can likely be found in the living rooms of design lovers all over Italy.

Azucena was founded in 1947 by three leading figures of 20th-century Italian architecture: Luigi Caccia Dominioni, Ignazio Gardella and Corrado Corradi Dell’Acqua. The trio initially established Azucena in order to furnish the interiors of buildings they’d designed but found a robust business opportunity in manufacturing individual pieces from those collections for postwar consumers. And as the company founders borrowed the brand name from a conniving character in the Giuseppe Verd opera Il Trovatore, it is appropriate, then, that the furniture for which Azucena is known is practical but exudes a hint of playfulness.

The best of Italian modernism combines cheekiness and bold functionality with provocative and thoughtful design, and Azucena is deeply rooted in that tradition. While its brass-and-walnut mid-century-modern-era dining tables and stackable coffee tables — created by the likes of Dell’Acqua and Vico Magistretti — are exceptionally unobtrusive in small spaces and framed in clean lines, Dominioni designed chunky, enveloping armchairs during the 1970s upholstered in striking red fabric.

Among Azucena's most successful and iconic designs is also Dominioni's most famous piece of furniture: the minimalist Catalina chair. After it debuted at the Milan Triennial in 1957, the Catalina chair, with its generously curving enameled steel frame and plush leather cushion, became an instant sensation. Dominioni’s other enduring designs for Azucena include the Monachella lamp, the ABCD armchair and the versatile Cilindro ottoman.

Italian furniture manufacturer B&B Italia acquired Azucena in 2018 and has reissued a number of designs from the legendary brand’s portfolio, such as the Imbuto lamp, the Catalina armchair and the Cavalletto table.

On 1stDibs, find vintage Azucena lighting, tables, seating and more.

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