Round Coffee Table in Smoked Glass and Steel by Marco Zanuso for Zanotta Marcuso, 1970s

Details

Description

In the late 1960s, Marco Zanuso designed Marcuso by observing automobile wind deflectors, where a bracket was glued directly to … Read more In the late 1960s, Marco Zanuso designed Marcuso by observing automobile wind deflectors, where a bracket was glued directly to the glass. He imagined applying this technology to furniture to definitively transcend the traditional structure of legs and crosspieces. The result was the 2532 model, produced by Zanotta starting in 1970—a table that, as critic Stefano Casciani wrote, was "conceived and constructed like a modern building," with stainless steel bases glued directly to the glass top and screw-on legs that allowed the structure to be completely dismantled. Zanuso belonged to a generation of Italian designers who advocated a clear break with pre-war traditionalism, experimenting with new materials and industrial technologies. The table is documented in the Repertory of Italian Design 1950–2000 for Home Furnishings and is present in museum collections including the MoMA in New York.

This piece belongs to the circular tripod variant of the Marcuso family—the least common configuration. The three generously sized tubular legs are made of polished stainless steel, each with a machined metal cap glued directly to the glass top. At the bottom, each leg rests on a turned wooden foot in a warm natural tone—a detail that softens the piece's industrial character and places it in production during the early 1970s, when some versions incorporated organic materials. The approximately 1.5 cm thick smoked tempered glass top makes a strong visual impact, emitting a dense graphite hue that changes with the light. The overall profile is low and compact, consistent with the living room configurations of Italian rationalist interiors of the time. I have official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs,
designer records,
or other literature sources and take full responsibility for any authenticity issues arising
from
misattribution See less