The writing desk by Carlo Bugatti represents a particularly significant example of his production between the late nineteenth century and the first decades of the twentieth century, a period in which the artist developed a decorative language unique within the European panorama. A central figure in the applied arts, Bugatti in fact created furnishings characterized by a strong experimental component, capable of merging Orientalist suggestions, Symbolist taste and artisanal research.
In this work, the structure of the writing desk stands out for its complex and highly scenographic architectural construction. The inclined legs, the column cross-stretcher and the serrated arch in fact give the piece a dynamic and immediately recognizable silhouette. However, despite its compositional richness, the whole maintains remarkable formal coherence, based on rigorous geometric relationships and refined attention to detail.
Moreover, the combined use of different materials constitutes one of the most characteristic aspects of Bugatti’s poetics. The ebonized wood interacts with metal and bone inlays, while the parchment-covered top introduces a soft and luminous surface, capable of creating material contrasts of great elegance. The ornamental elements, distributed with restraint along the structure, also help to define a decorative language far removed from the more conventional European tradition.
On the other hand, Carlo Bugatti’s production occupies an autonomous position in relation to international Art Nouveau, thanks to the continuous contamination between decorative arts, architecture and exotic suggestions. Overall, this writing desk fully testifies to his ability to transform a functional piece of furniture into an object of strong aesthetic identity, where craftsmanship, formal invention and decorative research coexist in perfect balance.
Description: Metal and bone inlays, parchment-covered top, column cross-stretcher and serrated arch, triangular drawer enriched with passementerie, H cm 100x76x51.
Comparative bibliography: ‘Bugatti’, Carlo Rembrandt – Ettore Jean, Automobilia publisher, texts by Philippe Dejean.
Hammer Price: € 8.680,00
Auction 40 – 14 September 2020 – Dimore
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