Melchiorre Bega Custom Sideboard in Walnut
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Melchiorre Bega for Vittorio Bega Arredamenti, sideboard, walnut, Italy, 1950s
A rare, possibly one-of-a-kind sideboard that stands as an exceptional example of Italian mid-century modern design, created by architect and designer Melchiorre Bega for a private residence he entirely decorated. The work has a certain architectural flair to it, featuring an elongated and horizontal body with an integrated raised back element that extends to the ground, giving the structure a continuous profile. Executed in walnut, the piece demonstrates a preference for warm tonality, characteristic of Italian cabinetmaking of the period.
Particularly notable is the use of marquetry inlay depicting stylized natural motifs. These take the form of elongated leaf elements, extending across the tapered supports and framing the door panels within a geometric layout. At the outer sections, the presence of grissinato door panels, characterized by fine vertical ribbing, adds textural variation. It exemplifies a strand of Italian mid-century production that resists strict functionalist austerity in favor of a more nuanced integration of craft and design.
Melchiorre Bega (1898–1976) was trained as an architect before establishing himself as a designer. He is known for his meticulously detailed functionalist and modern designs. Rejecting the prevailing Art Deco style of his time, Bega believed that a harmonious whole emerges from the careful integration of many small elements, an approach often described as graceful functionalism. This philosophy led him to collaborate exclusively with specialized craftsmen, ensuring precision in every detail. His work was guided by human needs, shaping both form and function.
Early in his career, he concentrated on the renovation of historic buildings. From 1923 onward, he designed and co-managed a production factory originally founded by his father, Vittorio, around 1900. In the early 1940s, Bega served as editor of the influential magazine Domus. Later, he became the architect behind several major projects, including the Axel Springer Building in Berlin and the Galfa Tower in Milan.
A rare, possibly one-of-a-kind sideboard that stands as an exceptional example of Italian mid-century modern design, created by architect and designer Melchiorre Bega for a private residence he entirely decorated. The work has a certain architectural flair to it, featuring an elongated and horizontal body with an integrated raised back element that extends to the ground, giving the structure a continuous profile. Executed in walnut, the piece demonstrates a preference for warm tonality, characteristic of Italian cabinetmaking of the period.
Particularly notable is the use of marquetry inlay depicting stylized natural motifs. These take the form of elongated leaf elements, extending across the tapered supports and framing the door panels within a geometric layout. At the outer sections, the presence of grissinato door panels, characterized by fine vertical ribbing, adds textural variation. It exemplifies a strand of Italian mid-century production that resists strict functionalist austerity in favor of a more nuanced integration of craft and design.
Melchiorre Bega (1898–1976) was trained as an architect before establishing himself as a designer. He is known for his meticulously detailed functionalist and modern designs. Rejecting the prevailing Art Deco style of his time, Bega believed that a harmonious whole emerges from the careful integration of many small elements, an approach often described as graceful functionalism. This philosophy led him to collaborate exclusively with specialized craftsmen, ensuring precision in every detail. His work was guided by human needs, shaping both form and function.
Early in his career, he concentrated on the renovation of historic buildings. From 1923 onward, he designed and co-managed a production factory originally founded by his father, Vittorio, around 1900. In the early 1940s, Bega served as editor of the influential magazine Domus. Later, he became the architect behind several major projects, including the Axel Springer Building in Berlin and the Galfa Tower in Milan.
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Melchiorre Bega Custom Sideboard in Walnut
Sale price£20,301.16
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