1953 Cavalletto / History

Participation and economy of elements: two pivots of the Milanese master's thought find one of their first and most accomplished manifestations in the Cavalletto system. A furniture system of ingenious versatility, Cavalletto's design dates back to 1953. The idea is to make all-wood furniture that is easy to configure, based on a single constructive principle-detail that allows them to be assembled, taken apart and reconfigured with extreme flexibility, making the user an active participant in the final stages of the design process.

The core of the system is the vertical upright with a characteristic inverted V shape, equipped with a perimeter with a distinctive section. Stackable on itself by means of a simple gravity joint (another recurring theme in Mangiarotti's opus), its shape allows it to accommodate, by locking through a "dovetail" joint, bookcase tops, table tops, storage modules and even bed frames.

Geometry becomes structure in a system that pays special attention to the measured use of resources by offering the possibility of sharing a single support to two adjacent elements.

Much-loved and published at the time of its debut, the modular design of the Cavalletto system paved the way for a new generation of furniture and is still contemporary today, a timeless classic that never goes out of style.

Overview of elements and their positions