Black and brown stained wood, chased copper, parchment
Italy, circa 1895
Design: Carlo Bugatti (1846-1940) – Italian designer and architect
Asymmetrically designed wall shelf with architectural structure
Mirrored horizontal midsection
One side with tower-like construction, the other with round tray covered with parchment and cord decoration
Ornate inlaid work, turnery and copper repoussé work
Merging Moorish, medieval, Japanese and Byzantine elements in an eclectic manner
Height: 115 cm, 156 x 27 cm
Good condition
The extravagant pieces of furniture by Carlo Bugatti fetch up to €300,000 at international auctions

Pieces of furniture by Carlo Bugatti are among the most original and extravagant creations that emerged at the end of the 19th century. His unique style is considered to be his personal interpretation of Art Nouveau. His furniture is characterized by an imaginative mix of style elements and unusual materials, combining elements from Moorish, Japanese, Medieval, Egyptian and Byzantine culture.

The present wall shelf made of black and brown stained wood features an unusual shape. The architectural design is reminiscent of a city wall. The horizontal midsection is mirrored. The tower-like construction on the left with its small gallery of columns show the typical Moorish horseshoe arches. The circular top on the right is decorated with a chased and engraved copper plate. The round tray is covered with parchment, a material that became the hallmark of Bugatti's designs, as well as the decorative tassel curtain and rich inlaid work.

The shelf is 115 cm tall and measures 156 x 27 cm. It is in good overall condition with signs of age and wear such as some losses to the inlays.

Carlo Bugatti (1846-1940)

Carlo Bugatti was the son of an architect and sculptor. He studied at the Accademia di Brera in Milan and then at the Parisian Académie des Beaux-Arts. From 1880 onwards he worked as an architect in Milan but soon turned to furniture design. His unusual creations, merging influences of East and West, were presented for the first time at the Milan Industrial Arts Exhibition in 1888. More exhibitions and awards followed and in 1900 his pieces were honored with a silver medal at the World Exhibition in Paris. By now Bugatti was internationally renowned and received the commission to furnish the Turkish Salon at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. Until 1904 he had a workshop in his hometown Milan. Later Bugatti settled in Paris, where he created silver and bronze objects and increasingly devoted himself to painting. In 1910 he moved to Pierrefonds in northern France, where he set up his own studio. In addition to his ceramics, musical instruments, silverware and textiles Bugatti’s oeuvre includes primarily furniture which is instantly recognizable due to its eclectic design. Carlo Bugatti was the father of Ettore Bugatti, the founder of the legendary car manufactory. (afa)

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