Late 20th Century Willy Rizzo Style Italian Tortoiseshell Plexiglass and Brass Magazine Rack

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Please read the full description we always provide detailed technical and historical information to ensure the authenticity of our pieces.
… Read more Please read the full description we always provide detailed technical and historical information to ensure the authenticity of our pieces.
Original and elegant magazine rack in tortoiseshell-effect plexiglass, featuring a clean and functional silhouette. The lower side panels are topped with brushed brass bars, while the open top, which doubles as a practical handle, adds a refined touch to the overall design. The tortoiseshell finish on the plexiglass (Lucite) is achieved through a specialized coloring and casting process. Pigments in shades of brown, amber, black, and yellow are added to molten acrylic. These colors are blended irregularly to create organic streaks and patches that mimic the natural look of a tortoiseshell. The material is then poured into a mold, heated, and cooled to complete the polymerization process. Once solidified, it is cut, shaped, and polished to achieve a smooth, glossy surface that enhances the decorative effect. In this particular piece, the marbled pattern was manually crafted by skilled artisans, who carefully manipulated the pigments to create a unique and natural-looking finish. This magazine rack was handcrafted between 1975 and 1980 in an artisanal workshop in Brianza, Lombardy (Northern Italy), in the distinctive style of renowned Italian designer Willy Rizzo. It is a fine example of modernist design from the period, marked by clean lines, quality materials, and a sleek, minimalist aesthetic. The artisanal workshops and small factories of Brianza played a key role in the production of furnishings inspired by Willy Rizzo’s style, thanks to a rich tradition of craftsmanship and a dense network of designers and specialized manufacturers. These pieces, appreciated for their refined look and high-quality execution, are today emblematic of Italian design excellence. Plexiglass, Perspex, and Lucite are different brand names for the same material: polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), a transparent thermoplastic often used as an alternative to glass. PMMA is valued for its clarity, lightness, and ease of fabrication. It is more impact-resistant than glass—although not as durable as some technical plastics—and considerably lighter, which makes it easier to handle and install. It can be easily cut, drilled, polished, and glued, and has excellent weather resistance, maintaining its clarity over time. • Plexiglass: Registered trademark of Röhm GmbH, one of the first PMMA producers. • Perspex: Trademark registered by Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), UK. • Lucite: Trademark registered by DuPont (later Lucite International), widely used in North America. The magazine rack is in good vintage condition, showing light wear consistent with age, including minor surface scratches and small imperfections that can be easily addressed. Dimensions: Width 32 cm – Depth 21 cm – Height 32 cm (12.6 in × 8.3 in × 12.6 in). We use high-quality packing materials (wooden crates, polystyrene, etc.) for all our shipments to ensure maximum safety during transport. See less