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Montalcini & Pagano desk for Cartiere Giacomo Bosso, Italy 1920s

About the Item

Giuseppe Pagano (1896-1945) and Gino Levi Montalcini (1902-1974) designed this exquisite desk in the 1920s as part of a commissioned project for the Gualino offices in Turin. The project received much critical acclaim; it was regarded as one of the purist expressions of the rationalist movement, and of such historic architectural importance that it dominated an entire issue of Gio Ponti’s Domus magazine in 1930. The desk’s boxy aesthetic is offset by more delicate, inset feet. Its wood is covered in Buxus paper, an innovative material that broke new ground in its time. The result is a highly patterned, natural surface that is both intricate and lightweight.
  • Creator:
    Carlo Pagano (Designer),Gino Levi-Montalcini (Designer)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 31.5 in (80 cm)Width: 55.12 in (140 cm)Depth: 27.56 in (70 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Wood,Lacquered
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1920s
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor structural damages. Minor fading. Lacquered wood, Buxus paper. Minor surface scuffs and marks, but in remarkable original condition. Literature: Domus no. 30, June 1930. See pp. 88-89 for similar examples.
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: G3391stDibs: LU1420236417262

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