The Corinto sideboard, designed by Ferdinando Meccani for Atelier Meccani in 1978, is a significant example of Italian furniture design from the second half of the twentieth century, in which cabinetmaking, geometry, and decorative research coexist within a highly distinctive visual language. Based in Cascina, in the renowned furniture-making district near Pisa, Meccani developed a body of work distinguished by outstanding craftsmanship, careful material selection, and forms often inspired by architectural references.
In this piece, the structure in solid cherrywood and wengé creates a striking chromatic contrast between the darker body and the lighter central element. The façade is dominated by a stepped, almost pyramidal geometric composition that lends movement and depth to the front of the cabinet. Rather than serving as applied decoration, however, this design forms an integral part of the structure, transforming the sideboard into an object of strong sculptural presence.
Moreover, the inclusion of four doors and eight drawers ensures full functionality, while the central demi-lune glass top introduces an elegant and refined detail. The relationship between solid and void, together with the projecting volumes, reflects an almost sculptural sensibility, entirely consistent with the design language of the 1970s.
Overall, Corinto stands out for its construction quality, compositional balance, and distinctive formal identity, offering an elegant interpretation of the storage cabinet as both an architectural and decorative element within the domestic interior.
Description: Constructed in solid cherrywood and wengé, with four doors, eight drawers, and a central demi-lune glass top, H cm 182 × 180 × 58.5.
Bibliography: Original Meccani catalogue.
Hammer Price: € 4.750,00
Auction 65 – December 6th 2023 – Contemporary Art – Design
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