With winter approaching and the prospect of spending more time indoors ahead, one’s living space should be a retreat. On 5 November, the Parisian auction house PIASA is offering a one-day sale centered around Italian design. With furniture and décor from names such as Gio Ponti, Pietro Chiesa and Franco Albini, there is an exquisite array of items that will turn your house into a home.
Material comes to the forefront in this understated coffee table designed by Pietro Chiesa. The clear glass top allows the beautiful grain of the walnut base to show through, artfully patterned into a four-pointed star. The table is supported by four graceful legs, dramatically angled outwards from the base.
Just like the satellite with which it shares a name, the Sputnik lamp by Gino Sarfatti has a futuristic, space-age aesthetic. Reminiscent of a firework or an exploding star, the lamp is comprised of filaments attached to brass tubes that radiate from a central point. Designed to be suspended from the ceiling, Sputnik has an eye-catching form that is sure to become a conversation piece.
Work from home in style with this walnut desk by Gio Ponti. Originally created for the administrative offices of the Forli province in Italy, the desk stands on eight legs and has two sets of roomy drawers. Finished with red melamine and brass feet that complement the rich hue of the wood, this desk perfectly encapsulates both beauty and efficiency.
Designed by Osvaldo Borsani in the 1940s, this side table is an ideal addition to a sitting room or foyer. The walnut surface is topped with a piece of glass, silkscreened in greyscale with a variety of delicate butterflies. The brass tray near the base provides a valuable area for storage or display, while the perforations prevent it from visually weighing down the piece.
What better place to curl up with a good book than this Tre Pezzi armchair? Designed by Franco Albini and Frana Helg, the structure is made from a lacquered metal that contrasts beautifully with the plush upholstery. Finished in pure white Mongolian wool, this armchair is both cosy and supremely stylish.
Consisting of twelve individual units, the Kubirolo modular bookcase by Ettore Scottsass is the ultimate piece of customisable furniture. Including shelves, cabinets and drawers, the units can be adapted and rearranged for a variety of spaces and purposes. Made from wood, polyurethane and melamine, the cabinets and drawers are finished with colourful handles that tie the entire bookcase together.
The sale will take place on 5 November 2020, at 118 rue due Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris. The entire catalogue is currently live, and telephone and online bidding are available.
