Carlos Picardo, for Darro

CARLOS PICARDO (Spain, 20th century), for Darro.
Sideboard, model E-136. Spain, 1958.
Wood and metal frame, lacquered in black.
Condition: very good, restored. Vintage item with no functional defects, though it may exhibit slightly worn areas consistent with age and use.
Measurements: 71 x 140 x 40 cm.

The E-136 sideboard, designed by Carlos Picardo for Darro in 1958, is a representative piece of the postwar renewal of Spanish furniture. Its design combines a wooden cabinet with clean lines and a lightweight metal frame, creating distinctive hallmarks of warmth and architectural precision.

The design omits visible handles and reduces the volume to a continuous front, articulated by sliding doors. This solution reinforces the piece’s simplicity and reflects a modern conception of furniture: functional, proportionate, and visually light. The metal legs raise the main body, creating a sense of suspension and accentuating the design’s horizontal lines.

The Darro firm, active in Madrid since the 1950s, was one of the key platforms for the modernization of Spanish design. It brought together architects and designers such as Carlos Picardo, Javier Carvajal, and José Antonio Corrales, promoting furniture characterized by rationalist lines, meticulous craftsmanship, and a contemporary vision. In this context, the E-136 model stands out for its formal clarity and its balance between domestic utility and modern design language.