STRIKING 20thC ITALIAN "HIDDEN BAR" COFFEE TABLE BY WILLY RIZZO c.1970

DESCRIPTION

A large "hidden bar" coffee table by Willy Rizzo, Italy, circa 1970. This useful piece of furniture opens up at both ends to reveal a dry bar compartment. Rizzo cleverly uses burr wood veneered checkered corners that contrast with a different wood veneer altogether. To the centre a dark smoked glass giving a sneak peek to the inside of the coffee table. A stylish and wonderful addition to any contemporary interior looking to add a quirky finish with a simple yet useful retro item of furniture form the 1970s.

About the designer: renowned Italian furniture designer Willy Rizzo is celebrated for having produced eye-catching, sensational showpieces that merged plush fabrics with wood, metal and glass. Influenced by European modernists and drawing on the spare forms and clean lines of the American mid-century modern style, Rizzo prized functionality and simplicity in his dazzling work.

Born in Naples, Rizzo never intended on designing furniture. Instead, he began pursuing photography at the age of 12. By the 1960s, he had become a notable photographer, having captured images of such celebrities as Marilyn Monroe, Fred Astaire and Spanish artist Salvador Dali. His experience with furniture design came about inadvertently when he moved to Rome in 1966. There, Rizzo rented an apartment with his wife Elsa that he described as "practically uninhabitable." Dissatisfied with theScandinavia furniture options on offer, Rizzo built sofas, coffee tables and other furniture to suit the space's strong modern vibe. When his friends saw what he had accomplished, they were enamored by his furniture creations and commissioned him to build similar items for them.

The demand for Rizzo’s furniture grew from there. He established a production facility and workshop in Tivoli, just outside of Rome, which grew to house over 150 employees. There, finding inspiration in the work of iconic architects including Ludwig Mies van Der Rohe and Le Corbousier, he created more than 30 unique furniture designs. Over the years he opened boutiques around the world to showcase and sell his furniture.

Rizzo prided himself on seamlessly blending the contemporary with the classic. “It was about creating something new for a traditional setting,” he said of his work. From his sleek sideboards to his low-profile side tables, elegant chairs and entire living room sets, Rizzo's style sensibility is evident throughout every detail of his designs.

Rizzo sold his company in 1978 and returned to photography. However, the presence of his furniture resonated into the new century and is sure to impact interior décor enthusiasts into the next. Over the years, high-profile collectors of Rizzo’s work have included French actress Brigitte Bardot, Salvador Dalí and American musician Lenny Kravitz.

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CONDITION

In Good Condition - wear consistent with age, surface scratches throughout, particularly on the sides. Small chips and dings throughout to wood and glass. Minor losses to the wood veneer. Opening mechanism works well. Please refer to photographs.

SIZE

Width: 100cm
Depth: 100cm
Height: 40cm