Maracanã Side Table by Giuseppe Scapinelli, Brazil - 1950s

Description

The Maracanã side table, designed by Giuseppe Scapinelli in Brazil during the 1950s, reflects a distinctive synthesis of Italian design training and Brazilian modernist sensibility. Crafted in richly grained hardwood, the table is characterized by its sculptural base and carefully resolved proportions, where structural elements are articulated with clarity and precision. The design demonstrates Scapinelli’s ability to balance expressive form with disciplined construction, resulting in a piece that is both dynamic and composed.

Scapinelli, an Italian-born designer active in São Paulo, developed a body of work that stands apart within Brazilian modernism for its refined detailing and subtle formal complexity. Unlike the more austere tendencies of his contemporaries, his designs often incorporate gentle curvature and a heightened sensitivity to line and proportion. The Maracanã model exemplifies this approach, where the interplay between vertical supports and horizontal planes creates a sense of movement within a compact form. It remains a representative example of mid-century Brazilian design in which craftsmanship and formal expression are closely intertwined. 

GW4556