This refined bookcase cabinet was designed by Tito Agnoli for Caleido, a company belonging to the prestigious Gruppo Frau, in the 1970s.
It is a rare piece, highly representative of the designer’s research, capable of fusing formal rigor, material elegance, and a clear inclination toward experimentation.
The solid wood structure, with clean lines and balanced proportions, is organized into two distinct sections: the upper part, enclosed by sliding smoked-glass doors, and the lower part, characterized by two doors covered with a patchwork of extremely fine black pecary leather. This leather, used only in the highest-end creations, is hand-stitched with great precision, creating an irregular geometric pattern that gives the piece a unique and sophisticated character.
The upper smoked-glass section, with internal shelves, is ideal for displaying books, design collections, or decorative objects, while at the same time perfectly suited to holding bottles and glasses, transforming the cabinet into an elegant domestic bar.
The contrast with the lower leather-covered section creates a play of materials and functions that combines lightness and transparency with tactile and material depth.
The dialogue between functionality and beauty is the poetic core of the project: Agnoli once again demonstrates how design can go beyond mere practical use to become an aesthetic and sensory experience. Not by chance, many of his pieces are today considered true collectible works of art.
Product Name: Pecary cabinet by Tito Agnoli for Caleido Frau 1970
Designer: Tito Agnoli for Caleido
Year of Design: 1970s
Style: Twentieth-century Italian design, refined modernism with artisanal details
Main Materials: Solid wood, smoked glass, hand-stitched black pecary leather
Distinctive Design: Essential geometric structure with dual function: upper section with sliding smoked-glass doors and internal shelves, lower section covered in a rare patchwork of artisanal pecary leather
Dimensions: Height 155.5 cm | Length 114 cm | Depth 45 cm
Comfort: Practical and functional, offering ample storage and display space with a touch of material luxury
Typical Use: Bookcase, display cabinet, elegant bar cabinet for residential or representative environments
Design Icon: Rare example of the limited production of Tito Agnoli, a key figure in Italian design and pupil of Gio Ponti and Franco Albini
Versatility: Can be used as a bookcase, multifunctional storage unit, or sophisticated bar cabinet, adapting to modern, classic, or high-end collectible interiors
Current Condition of the Design: In excellent vintage condition, with minimal signs of use consistent with the period
Additional Notes: Please note that this object is in excellent vintage condition. Minor signs of time may be present, which do not affect its functionality. We invite you to consider these characteristics before purchase.
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.