Italian Burl Walnut Mirror by Cesare Lacca, 1950s

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Description

Elegant and highly distinctive Italian vanity or dressing table dating from the early 1950s, bearing the label of La Permanente … Read more Elegant and highly distinctive Italian vanity or dressing table dating from the early 1950s, bearing the label of La Permanente Mobili Cantù and here attributed to Cesare Lacca on the basis of its design language, materials, construction and documented connections between the designer and the celebrated Cantù manufacturer.
The composition is dominated by the unusually large shaped mirror, conceived as an integral architectural element of the piece rather than as a separate accessory. Its flowing outline is framed by a finely veneered wooden structure that extends laterally into two small suspended surfaces, while the central section incorporates a discreet drawer beneath the glass top.
The contrast between the richly figured wood and the slender dark-finished structural elements gives the vanity a characteristic sense of visual lightness. Particularly refined are the tapered legs, the diagonal supports and the gilt-brass sabots and fittings, details that transform the supporting structure into an essential part of the overall design.
Construction is of notably high quality. The drawer is traditionally assembled with dovetail joints and uses a lighter secondary wood internally, while the visible surfaces are reserved for the more decorative veneers. The shaped wooden backing follows the complex profile of the large mirror, confirming that the mirror, supports, side shelves and lower structure were conceived as a unified design.
The attribution to Cesare Lacca is supported by several elements characteristic of his work during the late 1940s and early 1950s: the combination of refined cabinetmaking with an increasingly light modernist structure; the use of figured woods contrasted with dark-finished elements; tapered supports with brass details; and the sophisticated balance between traditional Italian craftsmanship and modern architectural design.
The attribution is further supported by the documented relationship between Cesare Lacca and La Permanente Mobili Cantù, for which furniture designed by or attributed to Lacca is known. Particularly relevant for comparison are documented Cesare Lacca dressing tables from the early 1950s employing walnut, walnut veneer, brass and mirrored glass.
A sophisticated example of post-war Italian cabinetmaking, the piece reflects the exceptional furniture culture that developed between Milan and Cantù during the transition from late Art Deco elegance to Italian Mid-Century Modern design.
Manufacturer / Retailer: La Permanente Mobili Cantù – labelled
Designer: Attributed to Cesare Lacca
Origin: Cantù, Italy
Period: circa 1950–1955
Materials: figured wood veneer, wood, dark-finished wood, mirrored glass, glass and brass
Style: Italian Mid-Century Modern / Post-war Italian design
Attribution status: Cesare Lacca attribution based on stylistic, constructional and historical comparison; exact model not yet confirmed by archival documentation. This piece has an attribution mark,
I am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
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