Italian Tovaglia Coffee Table Attributed to Studio Tetrach for Alberto Bazzani, 1969

Details

Description

A rare Tovaglia coffee table attributed to Studio Tetrach in 1969 and produced by Alberto Bazzani in Italy. Imported to … Read more A rare Tovaglia coffee table attributed to Studio Tetrach in 1969 and produced by Alberto Bazzani in Italy. Imported to the United States by Stendig, the table is formed in gel-coated fiberglass, molded to resemble draped fabric—a direct reference to its name, Tovaglia, the Italian word for tablecloth.

Resting directly on the floor, the design transforms a familiar textile into a permanent architectural form. Soft folds appear to gather and pool around the perimeter, while the rigid fiberglass construction creates a compelling tension between material and illusion. The interior is finished in a marbled orange tone, adding depth and contrast to the monochromatic exterior.

An iconic example of late-1960s Italian design, the Tovaglia reflects the period's experimentation with new materials and sculptural forms, blurring the line between furniture and object. Examples of the Tovaglia table are held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Documented: Giuliana Gramigna, Repertorio 1950-1980, Milan, 1985, p. 295; Designed for Delight: Alternative Aspects of 20th century Decorative Arts, exh. cat., Montreal Museum of Decorative Arts, 1997, p. 276, fig. 188.

Unmarked. Italy, 1969. See less