The present model was exhibited as part of a dining room designed by the architect Osvaldo Borsani at the 1951 IX Milan Triennale. The exhibition presented houses of the future, inspired by a new period of optimism in Italy developing within the framework of economic, social, and cultural restoration following the war. Embracing new ideological and technological advances, Borsani played an instrumental role in the formation of Italian modernist design, whilst remaining dedicated to the country’s tradition of craftsmanship and quality of materials. Executed using walnut and marble, Borsani’s console for the IX Triennale features traditional materials, which he exploits for their expressive and sculptural potential. The refined, curved shape of the wood base simultaneously supports and frames the marble tabletop, softening the solid, linear form. The resulting simplicity of form reflects a renewed interest by Italian designers in Scandinavian design during the 1950s, which was instructive in terms of its combined democratic ideology and craftsmanship. The present lot thus demonstrates Borsani’s ability to interpret the formal elegance of Italian design through a modernist sensibility.

The present model was exhibited at the 'IX Triennale di Milano Esposizione internazionale delle arti decorative e industriali moderne e dell'architettura moderna', Triennale di Milano, Milan, 1951.