An incredible collection of works by Carlo Bugatti (1856 -1940)
Carlo Bugatti (1856-1940)
Carlo Bugatti, born in Milan in 1856, is best known for his innovative furniture and interior design, which are characterized by their use of unusual materials and decorative motifs. Bugatti had an artistic background, his father being an architect and sculptor. His sons carried on this tradition, Rembrandt becoming a sculptor of some renown and Ettore, a car designer, founding the Bugatti automobile company. Around 1880, after training in architecture and cabinetmaking, Carlo Bugatti opened his own studio in Milan and began to produce furniture. Its inventive and theatrical construction gradually evolved from dramatic rectilinear shapes to more fluid forms. This furniture was unique in its time and remains so today.
Bugatti also incorporated a variety of unusual materials into his furniture, such as fringing and tasselling, which added an exotic flavour and softened the hard-edged geometric style. Other unusual materials were used to embellish Bugatti’s furniture, including brass pressed with geometric patterns, pewter and other metal inlays, silk cords, ivorine (an aritficial product that has the charactistics and look of ivory), white wood and bone.
His use of vellum is also particularly characteristic and Bugatti often illuminated it with plant motifs in a soft brown wash or a delicate spider with web. He often framed these panels with strips of copper beaten with geometric patterns. Bugatti’s employment of asymmetry contributed significantly to the individual nature of his work. Its use is striking yet his furniture never appears unbalanced or out of proportion. It is completely grounded and rich with exotic ornament and imagination.
We are delighted to be able to present to you a stunning collection of these delicate and exotic works of art. A collection which has taken over a decade to formulate, signature features include Bugatti’s use of ebonized wood inlaid with metal, which has been described as Moorish but, equally, may owe as much to Japanese inspiration as to Islamic and European. Strikingly original, Carlo Bugatti’s furniture combines the picturesque asymmetry of Art Nouveau with the exoticism of Moorish, Eurpoeanand Japanese influences.
1. One of the most Important Two Seater Settee
Circa: 1900
The rarity amd importance of this work cannot be underestimated. A delicate design with infinit luxurious detail. Highly decorated wood inlaid with pewter, bone, hand beaten copper and polychrome painted vellum embleshed with hand painted ink drawings. Ivorine has been used in small blocks in an architectural fashion, juxtaposing large and small rectangles to create a dentil inlay effect.
Provenance: Private Collection, Paris
Size: 42” x 46” x 20”
Carlo was nicknamed ‘The Young Leonardo’ for the diversity of his creative drive.
The ‘Important Two Seater Bench’ & ‘Large Centre Table’ photographed with ‘Le Dorade’ - Oil on Canvas - 17” x 46” by Claude Venard (1913-1999)
Carlo’s passion for decoration was perhaps the essence of his talent. During his most sophisticated period, from about the 1890’s on, he displayed brilliance as a graphic artist and his furniture are worthy of study in close up, the detail being often more fascinating and revealing than the whole.
2. Rare Important Pair of Curved Throne Chairs
Highly decorated stained walnut wood, profusely inlaid with white wood & bone. Hand beated copper applications throughout the piece and covered in vellum with hand painted floral motifs.
Provenance: Private Collection, Paris Size: 42” x 23” x 20”
The smooth curve joining the backrest to the front legs of the sofa gives the design a smooth and architectural feel.
3. Impressive Centre Table
Circa: 1890
Black stained wood (walnut) profusley inlaid with white wood, ivorine, pewter, and covered in vellum with hand painted floral motif’s. Decorated with four wrought copper disks and hand beaten copper on the legs.
Provenance: Private Collection, Milan
Size: 29” x 39” x 25”
4. A Rare & Important & one of a kind Display Cabinet
Circa: 1900
Polished & stained walnut, profuesely inlayed with hand beaten copper and brass. Decorated throughtour with pewter and white wood.
The most amazing stylised strawberry decoration appear throughout the piece.
Provenance: Private Collection,
Milan
Size: 59” x 25”
The stylised strawberry motif is one we have never seen before, which leads us to believe this work was commisoned as a one off, one of a kind piece.
Sketches inform us that Bugatti's studio practice relied on intensive variations on key themes. This is part of the reason why every Bugatti piece is distinctly of the artist, and why no two pieces are the same.
5. Exceptionally Rare
Keyhole Hallway Floor Mirror
Circa: 1890
Highly detailed turned black stained wood, hand pressed beaten copper with bone and white wood applications with a fusion of intricately turned turnings.
Decorated with hand painted floral and bird motifs.
Provenance: Private Collection, Germany
Size: 83” x 36” x 7”
Bugatti used small pieces of bone white wood and ivorine carved blocks to create a detailed inlay and applied effect, as seen here to create a contrast of colour against the black wood.
6. Small Ladies Chair
Circa: 1900
Black stained wood (walnut), inlaid with white wood, metal, and covered in painted vellum with hand painted floral motif’s. Decorated with wrought copper applications.
Provenance: Private Collection, Paris
Size: 36” x 12”
7. An Amazing Circular Wall Mirror
Circa: 1900
Two tone wood profusely inlaid with bone, hand beaten copper and pewter. Wrought iron hinged door enclosing three graduated trinket draws. Complete with original key.
Provenance: Private Collection, Paris Size: 29” x 31”
The Circular motif as shown here in this Circular mirror was widely explored by Bugatti and is featured in some of his very best work.
The incredible small bone pieces that are so intricately laid with the upmost precision, add another dimension to the piece.
Beautifully inlaid with floral motifs and intrically detailed with bone and copper.
8. An Rare & Important, Kind Console & Mirror
Circa: 1902
Polishes walnut and black lacquered profusely inlaid with hand beaten pewter. Decorated throughout and white wood & bone.
Provenance: Private Collection, Size: 110” x 52”
Important, One of a Mirror lacquered wood, beaten copper and with abalone bone.
Collection, Milan
9. A Spectacular Walnut Ladies Desk & Chair
Circa: 1900
An extremely rare walnut ladies writing desk and matching chair. Black stainedwood inlaid profusely with metal and bone. Hand beaten copper adorn the desk and chair throughout.
Provenance: Private Collection, New York
Size: Desk: 39” x 25” x 19”
Chair: 36” x 12” x 18”
Beautifully inlaid with repeating floral motifs and intrically detailed with bone, copper and pewter.
Circa: 1902
Two toned stained wood profuesely inlaid with applications of pewter and brass, arranged in a precise geometric pattern.
Provenance: Private Collection, London
Size: 7½” x 8”
10. Double Vanity or Lovers Mirror
Circa: 1900
Two toned stained wood profuesely inlaid with applications of pewter, brass abd white wood, arranged in a precise geometric pattern. Vellum hand painted with ink wash illumintaions.
Provenance: Private Collection, Paris Size: 36” x 18” x 18”
11. Throne Chair
12. Spectacular Armchair
Circa: 1902
Two toned stained wood profuesely inlaid with applications of pewter, brass and white wood, arranged in a precise geometric pattern. Vellum hand painted with ink wash illumintaions.
Provenance: Private Collection, Paris Size: 42” x 23½” x 24½”
13. Exquisite Single Wall Corner Mirror Unit
Circa: 1902
Adorned with pewter and bone inlay with spectacular Bugatti turned finials to the top. Compete with orignal tassels.
Provenance: Private Collection, Paris Size: 61” x 17½” x 9½”
Hihgly
14. A Rare pair of Painted & Gilded Corner Mirrored Units
Circa: 1900
Hihgly decorated with deign and timber by Carlo Bugatti and the paint work by his good friend Pelligrini. Both have exqusitie shaped and champhered mirrors in the top part of the middle shelf. Painted covered doors reveal two cupboards as does the painted circular doors of each unit.
Provenance: Private Collection, Milan
Size: 62” x 17½” x 9½”
We would like to thank the following Museums and Organisations for their contribution and integrile imput into compiling this incredible collection.
• Musee d’Orsay, Paris
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
• The Victoria and Albert Musuem, London
• The Cleveland Musem of Art, Ohio
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