circular table attributed to Cesare Lacca

circular Brass, glass and steel tripod low table attributed to Cesare Lacca.

Italy 1950s

Cesare Lacca.

Born in Naples in 1929, Italian architect and designer Cesare Lacca created countless furniture and metal objects during the 1950s. Although information about his private and professional life is scarce, there are reliable enough sources to document his elegant brass designs – work for which the designer is best known.

Like many Italian designers of the 20th century, Lacca moved to Milan after World War II to launch his career. Before the age of 21, Lacca was selected by a group of American curators to be part of the world-famous Italy at Work exhibition, which toured 12 American museums between 1950 and 1953 – the first major Italian design exhibition outside of Italy. The exhibition collects and exhibits the work of the most talented and prominent Italian designers who embrace and develop modernist principles, revolutionizing the Italian artisan tradition, including Carlo Mollino, Franco Albini, and Gio Ponti

Lacca designs over the course of his career a large number of tea and service carts (which correspond to most of his pieces available on today’s market), coffee tables, and magazine racks. The designer’s most iconic trolley, produced by the Italian Cassina, is characterized by several carved wood, and brass details, with glass shelf and removable, usable as a tray.

In addition to his carts, Lacca is also known for creating high-backed armchairs, which are regularly included in Arredoluce’s advertisements for Angelo Lelli’s lighting

Almost all of the objects the architect designed were executed in the 1950s, and unfortunately the subsequent evolution of his career is unknown. Today Cesare Lacca is considered one of the greatest architects of design identity in Italy.