315 - Aldo Rossi (1931–1997)

Aldo Rossi (1931–1997) Cartesio Prototype Bookcase Lacquered metal, glass, cherry wood, sycamore, plywood, Unifor Edition, Turate Designed around 1994 H234 W186 D45 cm Provenance: Design created for the furnishings of the Bonnefanten Museum in Maastricht, Netherlands (1990–1995) Provenance: from Aldo Rossi’s studio, the artist’s personal collection Bibliography: C. Spangaro, “Aldo Rossi Design 1960–1997,” exhibition catalog, Silvana Editorial, 2022, pp. 45, 200–203 Standing over two meters thirty tall, the Cartesio bookcase is one of the most monumental pieces of furniture designed by Aldo Rossi for the Bonnefanten Museum. Its name evokes Descartes and his orthogonal grid, reflecting a rigorous approach to organization that aligns with Rossi’s rational and metaphysical architecture. The combination of lacquered metal, glass, cherry wood, and sycamore reflects his taste for a materiality that is both noble and unadorned. This prototype, from the architect’s studio and personal collection, is featured in the catalog raisonné compiled by Chiara Spangaro.