50s Cesare Lacca coffee table for Cassina

Architect designer Cesare Lacca was born in Naples in 1929, he created modernist furniture and metalwork throughout the 1950s. Though details of his personal life and professional training remain lost to history, there are sufficient surviving primary sources that document his many elegant designs in brass—work for which he is best know and which fetch high prices from collectors.

Like many Italian designers in the 20th century, Lacca moved to Milan after World War II to launch his career. Before he was even 21 years old, his work was selected by a group of American curators for inclusion in the landmark exhibition Italy at Work. The exhibition showcased the best and brightest of Italian designers who had embraced modernist principles and rejuvenated traditional Italian crafts, like Carlo Mollino, Franco Albine and Gio Ponti.

Lacca designed a great many serving trolleys and coffee tables in his career—which make up a large proportion of what is available on the vintage market today—as well as magazine racks. Lacca’s iconic coffee table was manufactured by Italian brand Cassina. This table is in fabulous condition.