Architect and designer Cesare Lacca is renowned for the modernist furniture he created during the 1950s. Made with materials like teak, glass and brass, his work continues to command great interest from mid-century modern collectors. His pieces have recently found their way onto some of the 21st century’s most trendy television and movie sets.
Lacca was born in Naples, Italy, in 1929. Like many Italian designers in the 20th century, he moved to Milan after World War II to launch his career. At the age of 20, he was selected by a group of American curators for inclusion in the 1951 landmark exhibition “Italy at Work: Her Renaissance in Design Today” at the Art Institute of Chicago. It showcased Italian designers who had embraced modernist principles and rejuvenated traditional Italian crafts, like Carlo Mollino, Franco Albini and Gio Ponti.
Lacca designed a dizzying array of tea carts and serving trolleys across his career, including magazine racks and coffee tables. Lacca’s most well-known piece is a tea cart — most commonly used as a bar cart — that Cassina manufactured. It features beautifully sculpted beech, cedar, teak and walnut with brass details, a glass tabletop and a removable glass tray.
This Lacca cart was featured as Don Draper’s office bar in his Manhattan advertising agency on several episodes of the wildly popular television show Mad Men, reinvigorating the interest of collectors. Several other Lacca pieces have been part of the set decorations in the television series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and the movie Being the Ricardos.
On 1stDibs, find Cesare Lacca tables, racks and stands, seating and more.
1940s Cantù Nightstand Table Gio Ponti attributable in Walnut, Maple Crystal Top
By Gio Ponti
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Fabulous midcentury La Permanente Mobili Cantù Table nightstand, Gio Ponti attributable, in blond walnut, light maple, with ribalta, inlaid with maple. ...
Crystal
Mid-Century Modern Console Mahogany Brass by Cesare Lacca with Drawer
By Cesare Lacca
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Mid-Century Modern console with drawer, by Cesare Lacca, in mahogany lacquered and brass threads. Measures cm: H 65, W 66, D 38.
Mahogany
Italy Gio Ponti manner Nightstand in Walnut, Crystal Tops, by Brugnoli Mobili
By Gio Ponti
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Italian 1940s Gio Ponti style nightstand in walnut, with double crystal tops, one transparent one lacquered, wax polished Measures cm: H 48/58 x W 55 x D 35 About Gio Ponti A...
Crystal
Midcentury Console Occasional Table, Drawer, Ico Parisi Attributed, Mahogany
By Ico Parisi
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Italian Mid-Century Modern console or occasional table with folding drawer, Ico Parisi attributed, in mahogany lacquered and aluminium threads. With folding drawer Measures cm: H ...
Aluminum
1940s Mid-Century Nightstand, Bedside Table, Cherrywood Gio Ponti attributable
By Gio Ponti
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Elegant and particular, of great image bedside table or nightstand in cherrywood, circa 1940, Gio Ponti design attributed In good conditions polished to wax Esposizione Mobili Cantù ...
Cherry
Mid-Century Modern Mahogany Side Table, Console, Neoclassical Style
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Mid-Century Modern mahogany side table or console with two shelves, neoclassical style. Only polished to wax Measures cm: H 70 x W 42 x D...
Mahogany
Side Table/Bedside Table With Draw Model K.T Nr. 152 Made In Rosewood From 1960s
Located in Lejre, DK
Side table with built-in drawer, made of rosewood, model K.T No. 152, made in classic Danish design from the 1960s. The integrated drawer offers practical storage space, which makes...
Rosewood
Mid Century Modern V-Leg T.H. Robsjohn Gibbings Style Mahogany Step Side Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Mid Century Modern V-Leg T.H. Robsjohn Gibbings Style Mahogany Step Side Table. Item features beautiful wood grain, V-Form legs, Clean modernist lines, Quality craftsmanship,...
Mahogany
Mid-Century Modern Walnut and Rosewood End Table "Tuxedo" by Lane
By Lane Furniture
Located in Buffalo, NY
Modern walnut and rosewood end "Tuxedo" line by Lane. Classic design and form, nice quality, construction featuring stunning rosewood butterfly inlay detailing. Also avail matching l...
Rosewood, Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Teak Night Stand Side Table with Drawer
Located in Atlanta, GA
Mid Century Modern nightstand from Sweden, circa 1960. This Scandinavian teak side table has a slight curve at the edge of the tabletop, turned tapered legs, and a small drawer with a mid-mod pull. This Swedish Modern table is perfectly sized for use as a Minimalist bedside table...
Teak
Italian Midcentury Mahogany Wood and Glass Console Table by Carlo de Carli 1950s
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Rome, IT
A splendid example of linear style typical of Italian design in the 1950s and 1960s. Mahogany console in excellent condition, suitable for any environment; essential and elegant in ...
Brass
Gio Ponti Maple & Walnut Nightstand Table, La Permanente Mobili Cantù, 1940s
By La Permanente Mobili Cantù, Andrea Ponti
Located in Vienna, AT
A fine and elegant nightstand / bedside table / side table, crafted in Italy in the 1940s and attributed to Gio Ponti / La Permanente Mobili Cantù. The body of the table is made of m...
Brass
