catalog text
ART DECO MODERNIST MIXED-WOOD DRY BAR CABINET
Designed by Michele Merighi for Ronconi Cantù | Italy, ca. 1940 | unmarked
Item # 402JOV08W
This very sleek and lively dry bar cabinet from the 1940s was designed by Michele Merighi for production by Ronconi Cantù together with a full dining suite. It features pleasing veneers with mellow grain profiles that create smooth vertical planes on the sides while the front is an arrangement of half-conical formations that project towards the viewer along the length of the doors. These open without any hardware, just a single keyhole, revealing a handsome birdseye maple veneered interior with liquor shelves on the doors and glass shelves on the back.
The entire structure is raised on loosely cabriole legs that lock together in a brass-lined stretcher, this a distinctive part of the design that is employed in the other pieces Merighi designed for the dining room. The top of the cabinet is finished with a piece of black glass surrounded by a reeded rim.
A most compelling form, the well considered dimensions allow it to be placed in any modern interior without overwhelming the space..
Measurements: 52 1/8" H x 17 3/4" D x 39 3/4" W
Condition Report:
Aged surface with an attractive patina; blemishes throughout including staining/discoloration to the teak in several areas, chipping and losses to the veneers (most notably to the left and right corners of the case), a back corner of the glass top with a tiny chip, sunbleaching and other aesthetic flaws. Glass shelves on the interior are new replacements. No key. Cabinet should be secured to the wall (modern French cleat to the reverse), as it will otherwise be top-heavy and prone to tipping.