Designer lifestyle
Left: Gregotti, Meneghetti, Stoppino - Pair from the "Piemonte" series, wood, plywood, textile, c. 1959
Estimate: £765-1 025
Centre: Bench, enamelled and chromed metal, 1970s
Estimate: £500-925
Right: Gianfranco Frattini - Two armchairs model 836, steel, plywood, textile, brass, c. 1955
Estimate: £3 415-5 120
The "Piemonte" series (left) was created in the style of Neoliberty, an Italian design movement from the 1950s which was based on the organic and rational architecture of this period.
Today, compact living means smart furniture, such as this ingenious fold up seat (centre) which can be easily packed away after guests leave.
All Yellow
Left: Erberto Carboni - Sofa "Delfino", lacquered metal, textile, c. 1954
Estimate: £2 130-2 985
Centre: Luigi Scremin (attr.) - Lacquered solid wood fireplace with inlays, 1940s
Estimate: £1 300-1 875
Right: Willy Rizzo - Sideboard, walnut burl, brass, plastic, ca. 1970
Estimate: £1 300-2 130
Yellow and orange retro pieces are making a big comeback in interior design. A well balanced yellow or orange element gives each room a warm touch. This fireplace (centre) attributed to Luigi Scremin is finished in a lacquered wood and has a fine inlay work on the front depicting two knights in battle.
Design's little surprises
Left: Carlo Enrico Rava - teak and crystal glass side table, Milan 1950
Estimate: £510-765
Centre: Gianfranco Frattini - Four tables, walnut wood, circa 1966
Estimate: £430-765
Right: Lucio Fontana - Plate for side table, glass with airbrush and drop decoration, 1952-53
Estimate: £51 185-68 245
Carlo Enrico Rava's occasional table (left) evokes the structure of traditional Chinese pagodas. The piece in the centre is another clever piece of design, opening out to four separate tables.
And let there be light
Left: Tommaso Barbi - Table lamp, brass, circa. 1970
Estimate: £260-340
Centre: Gaetono Pesce - Model "Chador", polyurethane resin, circa. 1997
Estimated price: £1 025-1 370
Right: Eileen Gray - Table lamp, enamelled metal, brass, France circa. 1930
Estimate: £260-420
The market for lighting is one of the fastest growing. An early example of important design lighting is this table lamp (right) designed by Irish designer Eileen Gray, who was one of the most important of the early 20th century. Gray's adjustable side table E.1027 is today one of the most copied designs of classical modernism.
All pieces featured will be part of Design specialist auction house Della Rocca's sale on 13th April. Check out the full catalogue here.
