Cavour
Made by Zanotta
Designed by Carlo Mollino
Designed by Carlo Mollino in 1949, the Cavour writing desk stands as one of the most resolved expressions of his architectural sensibility. Mollino, whose practice spanned furniture, photography, aviation, and skiing, approached every object as a structural problem to be solved with both rigor and poetry.
The desk's solid oak or Canaletto walnut legs articulate an organic dynamism that reads almost skeletal, a deliberate contrast to the calm geometry of the storage volumes and glass writing surface. An extractable open tray and drawer element are veneered in finishes matching the legs, preserving the material continuity Mollino demanded of every detail.
- Solid natural or black varnished oak, or solid Canaletto walnut legs
- Extractable tray and drawer veneered in corresponding finish
- Extra-clear tempered back-painted glass on the vertical storage element
- Choice of clear, extra-clear, or smoky grey plate glass tops
Produced by Zanotta with the same craft standards Mollino insisted upon, the Cavour belongs equally to the history of Italian design and to the present tense of a considered interior.
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Cavour
Frequently Asked Questions
What materials are available for the Cavour desk?
The Cavour is offered in solid natural or black varnished oak and solid Canaletto walnut for the legs and structural elements. The storage tray and drawer are veneered in the corresponding finish, and the top is available in clear, extra-clear, or smoky grey plate glass.
Who was Carlo Mollino and why does his work matter?
Carlo Mollino (1905-1973) was a Turin-based architect, designer, and polymath whose furniture bridged organic surrealism and structural rationalism. His pieces are held in permanent collections at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, and original examples regularly achieve record prices at auction.
Is the Cavour desk still in production, and by whom?
Yes. Zanotta, the Milan-based manufacturer with a long history of producing canonical Italian design, holds the license to produce the Cavour and manufactures it to order using craft methods consistent with Mollino's original specifications.
What kind of interior or office setting suits the Cavour desk?
Its sculptural leg structure and glass surfaces work best in spaces where the desk is visible from multiple angles, such as a private study, a partner's office, or an open-plan residential interior where the piece can function as an object as much as a work surface.
How does the Cavour's glass top affect its usability?
The plate glass top provides a smooth, durable writing surface while keeping the desk visually light. The smoky grey option adds depth and reduces glare, while the extra-clear variant offers the highest color neutrality for those working with printed materials or samples.