Designed by Giulio Moscatelli for Tonelli e Broggi, this original wood, brass and Carrara marble sideboard desk was produced in Cantù, Italy, in 1957. Presented at the Seconda Selettiva del Mobile, this apparently unique model brings storage, writing and display functions together in one elongated, asymmetrical composition.

Design‍

Two suspended cabinet volumes frame a generous central knee space: a four-door cupboard on one side and a chest containing three wide drawers on the other. A discreet lockable drawer defines the writing position, while a raised Carrara marble shelf on shaped brass supports creates an elegant display surface above the cabinet. The composition is functionally precise yet visually light, despite its exceptional width of 268 centimetres.

Moscatelli’s attention to construction is clearest in the eight slender legs. Each is built around a brass core, partially enclosed by two triangular-section wooden elements that taper towards the floor. At the top, recessed joints leave the heads of the brass cores visible, setting warm timber against polished metal. Brass sabots, linear inlays and the key escutcheon further articulate the architectural rhythm without disturbing the clarity of the silhouette.

Historical significance‍

Created for the 1957 Cantù exhibition alongside a wardrobe, bed and chest of drawers, the piece reflects the ambition of post-war Italian cabinetmaking: traditional craftsmanship reimagined through modern proportions, suspended volumes and meticulously resolved details.

Both practical and sculptural, this rare sideboard desk is an important document of Moscatelli’s work and of Tonelli e Broggi’s production at a pivotal moment in Italian furniture design.

Condition‍

Good vintage condition with visible signs of age and use consistent with a piece dating from 1957. The wooden surfaces show scratches, marks, variations in colour and localized wear. The brass elements display natural oxidation and patination, while the Carrara marble has minor age-related marks. These traces contribute to the authentic character of the piece. Please refer to the photographs for further details and possibilities of further restoration.

Publications‍

- Tiziano Casartelli, La Selettiva Del Mobile 1955-1975, Ed.
Canturium, 2016, pg. 56 - 57;
- Tiziano Casartelli, Cantù e il Mobile, dal Gusto Classico al
Design, Ed. Canturium, 2019, pg. 164 -165.