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Tl2 Cavalletto table in rosewood, Franco Albini for Poggi
€3,800Bid from €3,500
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The TL2 "Cavalletto" table, designed by Franco Albini in 1950 and produced by Poggi (a historic Pavia manufacturer), is one of the absolute masterpieces of post-World War II Italian design and cabinetmaking.
It represents the perfect synthesis of Albini's thinking: the breakdown of the structure, the enhancement of mechanical tension, and the extreme precision of the wooden joints, almost as if it were a miniature architecture.
Here is an analysis of the technical and construction details that make this piece an icon:
1. The Construction Concept: The Cavalletto
The name itself reveals its inspiration: the traditional construction site or workshop gantry. Albini ennobles its geometry, transforming it into a fixed yet visually lightweight structure. The table is supported by two lateral uprights shaped like an inverted "X" or an asymmetrical gantry, connected by a central chain (or crosspiece).
2. Structure and Materials
Wood: Historically produced in solid walnut, ash (often stained black), or teak, and more rarely rosewood. The choice of wood was crucial to ensuring the stability of the sections, which Albini loved to keep extremely thin and slender.
Exposed Joints and Hardware: There are no hidden structural elements. The tie rods, pins, and tightening screws in brass or dark metal are intentionally visible, emphasizing the piece's construction integrity. The metal serves to relieve tension in the wood at critical points.
3. The Top: A Suspended Element
One of the most ingenious features of the TL2 is the way the top interfaces with the base:
The top does not simply rest on the trestles, but appears to float above them.
This effect is achieved thanks to metal spacers or pins that visually separate the horizontal surface from the supporting structure.
The top is often edged with a slightly flared or beak-shaped profile, a visual device that reduces its perceived thickness.
4. Proportions and Modularity
Poggi produced the TL2 in several different sizes (square or rectangular). Stability is not provided by the mass of the wood, but by the geometry of the forces: the central diagonal crosspiece counteracts lateral oscillations, making the table extremely solid despite the narrow cross-sections of the uprights.
Value for Modern Cabinetmaking
For those who appreciate fine carpentry, Poggi's TL2 is a masterclass in technique:
Wood-metal coupling: Managed to accommodate the natural movements of the solid wood without creating cracks.
Today, original Poggi vintage pieces are highly sought-after in the modern antiques and collectors' markets, while the model has been reissued over time (with some variations) by Cassina as part of its I Maestri collection.
Specifications
ConditionExcellentColorsBrown, BlackMaterialWoodNumber of items1Height70 cmWidth170 cmDepth69 cm
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About this seller
Private sellerRobecco sul Naviglio, ItalyOn Whoppah since June 2026 • 0 sales