Vittorio Dassi Chest of Drawers in Maple Wood with Green Onyx, Italy, 1950s

Chest of Drawers in Maple Wood with Green Onyx Top and Handles, Italian Production, Designed by Vittorio Dassi, 1950s

Onyx, a prestigious stone known since antiquity for its luxury and refinement, was highly sought after by the ancient Romans for creating intricate inlays and delicate carvings. Legend has it that Cupid, the god of Love, created onyx by cutting off a nail from Venus while she slept. The nail fell to the ground and turned into a rare and desirable gem: onyx. The green variety of this material is only sourced from the distant mountains of India and Pakistan, making it a rare and expensive stone, often reserved for small decorative objects. Finding it used in a piece of furniture of generous proportions is extremely unusual. However, the six-drawer chest designed by Vittorio Dassi in the 1950s was specifically conceived to highlight the decorative properties of this material.

Resting on a simple structure veneered in light maple wood, large slabs of green onyx are featured prominently. The aesthetic result is captivating: the natural stone responds to light with a translucent quality, revealing a unique depth of colors and shades. This is the result of nature’s artistry and time, which has transformed limestone into this exquisite rock. Enhancing the chest’s value are the six original drawer handles, each crafted from a small block of onyx. These handles are not only visually pleasing, resembling small sculptures, but also delightful to the touch. Holding them reveals the delicate nature of a material that has been valued for centuries in art history due to its ethereal beauty.

These qualities, mediated by refined aesthetic taste, are evident in the works of Vittorio Dassi, architect and furniture designer, who has always selected premium materials for his creations. Often combining exotic woods, stones, and marbles, Dassi aimed to create timeless objects, much like onyx itself, which has been presenting its silent, eternal beauty for centuries.

Dimensions:
- Overall: 52 cm depth x 226.5 cm width x 79 cm height
- Drawers: 43 cm depth x 69 cm width x 13 cm height