Refined coffee table designed by Tito Agnoli for Caleido in collaboration with Poltrona Frau, produced between the late 1970s and the early 1980s, a period marking the full maturity of post-rationalist Italian design.
The piece perfectly embodies the design culture of those years, when formal rigor entered into dialogue with a renewed focus on materiality and surface. The composition is organized around a solid central steel base with a strong architectural, monolithic character, providing both visual and structural stability. Resting above is a top in acid-etched glass, chosen not only for its formal elegance but for its ability to filter and diffuse light, creating a soft and sophisticated visual effect, far removed from the coldness of clear glass.
A distinctive and highly qualifying element is the intermediate level upholstered in fine pecari leather, a rare and extremely high-quality material historically associated with the artisanal excellence of Poltrona Frau. The leather, meticulously worked and stitched into regular square panels, introduces a tactile and sensory dimension that both contrasts with and balances the severity of the steel and the lightness of the glass. The stitching pattern articulates the surface with a measured rhythm, recalling an almost architectural grammar, fully consistent with Agnoli’s design language.
The coffee table fully reflects the designer’s poetics, based on calibrated proportions, discreet functionality, and absolute attention to material quality. There are no superfluous elements: every formal choice responds to a logic of balance, durability, and timeless beauty. In this sense, the piece fits perfectly within the cultural climate of the 1970s and 1980s, when Italian design sought a high-level synthesis between industry, craftsmanship, and representational value.
Conceived for cultured and elegant interiors, this coffee table is ideally suited to high-end residential spaces, sophisticated lounges, or executive environments, where it can be appreciated both as a functional object and as an autonomous sculptural presence. Today it is increasingly rare on the market, representing a significant testament to Italian auteur design and to the collaboration between visionary designer and excellence-driven manufacturer.
A piece of strong identity, refined and measured, capable of crossing eras without losing relevance, destined for collectors and enthusiasts in search of iconic and authentic objects.
Product Name: Coffee Table with Pecari Leather Base by Tito Agnoli for Caleido, 1970
Designer: Tito Agnoli
Year of Design: Late 1970s – early 1980s
Style: Post-rationalist Italian design, late modernism
Main Materials: Central steel base, acid-etched glass top, intermediate level upholstered in high-quality pecari leather
Distinctive Design: Architectural and balanced composition, characterized by a monolithic steel base, an acid-etched glass top capable of filtering and diffusing light, and a refined intermediate level in pecari leather stitched into regular square panels, introducing a tactile and material dimension of great elegance
Dimensions: Height 32 cm | Length 120 cm | Depth 120 cm – Glass top dimensions: Length 100 cm | Depth 100 cm
Comfort: Visual and perceptual comfort achieved through calibrated proportions, noble materials, and a refined balance between structural solidity and formal lightness
Typical Use: Coffee table or center table for high-end residential interiors, sophisticated lounges, and representative executive spaces
Design Icon: A significant example of Italian auteur design between the 1970s and 1980s, bearing witness to Tito Agnoli’s design maturity and to the synthesis between industry, craftsmanship, and representational value
Versatility: Capable of dialoguing with modern, contemporary, and collectible interiors, asserting itself both as a functional element and as an autonomous sculptural presence
Current Design Status: Produced by Caleido in collaboration with Poltrona Frau, today increasingly rare on the market and sought after by collectors and enthusiasts of Italian design
Additional Notes: Please note that this item is in excellent vintage condition. Minor signs of age may be present, which do not affect its functionality. We kindly invite you to take these characteristics into consideration before purchasing.
Tito Agnoli (1931–2012) was an Italian designer and architect, known for his functional and essential approach to design. Born in Lima, Peru, to an Italian family, he moved to Italy to study painting before graduating in Architecture from the Politecnico di Milano in the early 1950s. During his formative years he collaborated with masters such as Gio Ponti and Carlo De Carli, experiences that deeply influenced his style.
Agnoli stood out for his ability to combine elegance and practicality, designing furniture with sober, clean lines and a particular attention to functionality and industrial production. He worked for some of the most prestigious companies in the field, including Molteni, Poltrona Frau, Arflex, and Oluce, creating furniture and lighting pieces that are still appreciated today for their essentiality and refinement.
His work received numerous awards and recognitions, including several mentions at the Compasso d’Oro.
His minimalist and rational approach left a lasting mark on postwar Italian design, making his creations still sought after today by collectors and vintage design enthusiasts.