Mid-Century Modern Italian Coffee Table with Magazine Racks, 1950s

Details

Description

A characterful and highly functional design from Italy in the 1950s, this coffee table captures the experimental spirit of post-war … Read more A characterful and highly functional design from Italy in the 1950s, this coffee table captures the experimental spirit of post-war Italian modernism.
Conceived in the visual language of the Medea chair series designed by Vittorio Nobili for Fratelli Tagliabue, the table echoes the same architectural curves and expressive bent-wood poetry that made Italian mid-century furniture so influential.

The piece is crafted from molded, bent plywood and finished in an exceptional teak veneer, selected for its warmth, refined grain, and timeless mid-century appeal.
The most distinctive design feature lies in the gracefully curved side panels, which form two integrated storage compartments—purpose-built as magazine and newspaper racks.
These side “pockets” create not only a sculptural, wing-like profile, but also a practical home for periodicals, offering a rare combination of artful form and everyday utility.
Whether styled with vintage magazines such as Domus or newspapers stacked for casual reading, these compartments transform the table into an interactive centerpiece designed for living, not just viewing.

Supported by an almost calligraphic arrangement of tapered metal legs with rounded feet, the table feels visually weightless while remaining firm and stable.
The contrast between flowing wood and minimalist metal is reminiscent of Italy’s greatest mid-century practitioners—including Gio Ponti, Carlo Mollino and Ico Parisi—whose work similarly balanced engineering innovation with sculptural grace.

Condition
This table remains in solid vintage condition with a natural mid-century patina.
Light surface wear to the veneer, minor tonal variations and subtle traces to the metal legs are consistent with age and use, adding depth and authenticity to the piece without detracting from its overall visual impact.

Design Significance
While not an attributed production, the table reflects hallmark characteristics of 1950s Italian modernism—an era defined by material exploration, aerodynamic silhouettes, and the elevation of plywood from humble industry to expressive design medium. Its integrated magazine racks further root the piece in the social culture of the time, when living rooms increasingly became informal reading salons celebrating printed media.

A sculptural collector piece with an everyday purpose—designed for display, defined by use, and shaped like mid-century optimism itself. See less