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Pair Italian Mid-century Modern Rationalist Elm Wood Benches, Giuseppe Pagano

Description
An Important Pair of Italian Midcentury Modern 'Rationalist' Benches / Stools in Elm Wood Attributed to Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig. The benches are pure unfettered lines and form, composed in a pure rectangular form of 2 support sides and a top united by a stretcher, and covered in a sensuous burled Elm wood. They are a confident expression of simple elegance and beauty. These pieces are significant in the emerging modern movement in Italy in 1930's. Rationalism was Italy's Midcentury Modernism. Italian rationalism (Architettura razionale) is an architectural style inspired by the scale, structure and symmetry of ancient Roman architecture but without the ornamental flourishes associated with the styles of classicism and neoclassicism. Thus, it bears a close relationship with American Minimalism and also the work of the French master, Jean Michel Frank. These rare pieces are distinctive in that they embrace logical, modernist and minimalist aesthetics while incorporating the beauty of natural elm wood. And, they are uniquely Italian.

Additional references: Gruppo 7, Luigi Figini, Guido Frette, Sebastiano Larco, Adalberto Libera, Gino Pollini, Carlo Enrico Rava, Giuseppe Terragni, Aldo Rossi, Gio Ponti, Paulo Buffa, Jean-Michel Frank, Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann.