Important note: Wood is a beautiful natural product. Each knife block is unique and features its own characteristic grain and pattern. Therefore, the wood structure of the delivered item may subtly and beautifully differ from the photos shown, ensuring you receive a truly unique piece of design history! Description: Bring professional Italian design into your kitchen with this iconic knife block from the famous "La Cintura di Orione" series by Alessi. Designed in 2009 by the legendary designer Richard Sapper, in close collaboration with culinary consultant Alberto Gozzi. The "La Cintura di Orione" series was originally launched in 1986 as a high-end cookware line dedicated to private gourmets and professional chefs. In 2009, Sapper and Gozzi expanded this iconic line with a collection of knives, deeply rooted in historical-cultural research into the evolution of cutting tools since the Middle Ages. This specific knife block perfectly reflects Sapper's minimalist and functional aesthetics. It is crafted entirely from high-quality beechwood, bringing a warm, natural, and timeless look to your countertop. A beautiful architectural object that is now officially discontinued, making it a highly sought-after item for Alessi collectors and design enthusiasts. PLEASE NOTE: This lot includes the original wooden knife block only. No knives are included. The knife block is in new and unused condition. Richard Sapper: Richard Sapper was born in 1932 in Munich. In the early 1960s, he began to collaborate with the Italian architect Marco Zanuso, together they acted as design consultants for Brionvega for which they developed a series of televisions and radios. Throughout his career, Sapper has remained keenly involved in academia, teaching at many universities. He has received numerous awards for his products, and his designs are represented in the permanent collections of many museums internationally. In 2012, Sapper received the Merit Cross of the Order of Merit from the President of the Federal Republic of Germany. He died on 31 December 2015.