Pair of Italian Bedside Tables in Burl and Olive Glass, 1950s

The two bedside tables read as semi-circular volumes lifted by four tapering legs that narrow towards the floor, ending in metal tips. The curved front opens with two doors set flush, framed by a light filet that follows their profile. Above, a tinted olive glass top rests on the edge of the case like a suspended blade. The whole plays on two accents: the darkened burl of the body and the pale legs that carry it without weight.

The body is veneered in mirror-polished burl, with a dense figure of eyes and cluster markings that runs uninterrupted around the curved fascia. The doors are edged with a light-wood filet that follows their perimeter and meets the moulding at the top and bottom of the case. The top is a sheet of reverse-painted glass in an olive tone, set flush with the edge. The legs are turned in pale wood, most likely maple or beech, and end in cup-shaped brass tips. The handles, one per door, are cast brass in a vertical drop shape with a ribbed head.

The bedside tables belong to Italian cabinetmaking of the 1950s, in a language that recalls the work of Paolo Buffa, Vittorio Dassi and the Cantù masters of the decade: semi-elliptical plan, contrast between dark burl and pale legs, coloured glass top as a finishing touch. The silhouette is that of the matrimonial bedside tables of mid-century Milanese bedrooms, intended to flank beds with shaped headboards. No manufacturer's marks or labels are visible.

The bedside tables have been restored and present in good condition. The burl polish is even across both units, with no lifting of the veneer or visible losses. The glass tops are intact on both, with the olive reverse-painting well preserved. The legs and brass tips are stable, with patina consistent with the age of the piece. The interiors are clean, the doors close flush.

Dimensions: Height 57.5 cm (22.6 in) x Width 63 cm (24.8 in) x Depth 33.5 cm (13.2 in)