Zanotta - Achille Castiglioni - Table - Leonardo - Beech, Glass - Adjustable table

Up for auction, an authentic piece of Italian industrial design history: the Leonardo table, designed by master Achille Castiglioni and produced by the prestigious Zanotta company.
Originally designed in 1940 and put into production in 1969, this table represents the quintessence of the "Ready-made" and functionalist design.
It is not merely furniture, it is a manifesto of interior architecture.

The "Leonardo" stems from Achille Castiglioni's brilliant intuition to ennoble a humble, everyday object: the classic carpenter's easel. Castiglioni took the archetype of the workbench – synonymous with "doing" and "building" – and transformed it into a domestically elegant object without sacrificing its practical nature.

The name "Leonardo" pays homage to Leonardo da Vinci, the greatest engineer and artist in history, evoking the image of the drawing board and the artist's studio. It is a table with a double soul: perfect as a dramatic dining table or as a professional drafting/desk.

The Designer: Achille Castiglioni (1918-2002)
One of the founding fathers of Italian design, winner of 9 Compasses of Gold. Castiglioni's philosophy was based on observing reality: "Design is not decoration, but problem-solving." With the Leonardo table, Castiglioni demonstrates that form follows function: every screw, every hole, every mortise is visible and necessary. No decorative frills, only pure structure.

The Producer: Zanotta
Founded in 1954 by Aurelio Zanotta, the company is famous for having the courage to produce objects "out of the ordinary" (such as the Sacco chair or the Mezzadro stool). The Leonardo table is one of the brand's historic best-sellers, present in the permanent collections of the world's most important design museums (including the Triennale Design Museum in Milan).

TECHNICAL DATA AND CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
• Model: Leonardo.
• Year of production: 1980s/1990s specimen
• Frame material: Vapor-treated natural-colored beech wood. The steam treatment gives the wood stability, resistance, and that typical warm, pinkish tone that fades to blonde.
• Functionality (Key Feature): The table is height-adjustable. Thanks to a clever system of wooden through-pins (visible in the photos), the tabletop height can be modified (generally from about 63 cm to 89 cm), allowing use with regular chairs or tall architect’s stools.

• Premium details: The trestles feature the classic mortise-and-tenon joints, solid and made to last forever.
• Brand: The label "Zanotta - Made in Italy" is stamped on the amber-colored rubber suction-disc cover (visible in macro photos), guaranteeing absolute authenticity.

Structure (Trestles): EXCELLENT

The wooden part is in beautiful vintage condition. The trestles are solid, stable, and the adjustment mechanism is perfectly smooth. The beech wood has acquired a wonderfully natural patina. There are minimal signs of wear that do not compromise its beauty but attest to its authenticity.

Glass Top: VINTAGE WITH A DEFECT

The table includes its original tempered glass top.
Important note: There is a noticeable chip on one of the edge corners of the glass, clearly documented in the photos. The rest of the glass surface is in excellent condition with normal superficial scratches.
The value of this lot lies primarily in the original Zanotta structure. The glass can be used as-is (placing the defect against the wall or facing downward) or easily replaced at a modest cost at any glass supplier, allowing customization of the tabletop size to suit personal needs.

The Leonardo table never goes out of fashion. It is a safe investment: its value on the vintage market is steadily rising. Purchasing this piece means bringing home the atmosphere of a Milanese architectural studio from the 1970s. Perfect for a loft, a professional studio, or as a bold dining table in a modern living room.

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