Giovanni Pelis

GIOVANNI PELIS for Neolt Stile
Rolling trolley. Italy, 1960s.
ABS plastic.
In red.
Measurements: 75,5 x 42,5 x 39,5 cm.

This trolley or modular rolling trolley, designed by Giovanni Pelis in 1964 for Stile Neolt, is a representative piece of Italian industrial design of the sixties, where professional functionality merges with futuristic aesthetics.

Made of bright red lacquered ABS plastic, an innovative material for the time, this modular trolley on wheels was conceived as a mobile storage unit intended for architects, designers and artists, professions that were beginning to demand versatile furniture adaptable to creative work environments.

Its structure is composed of stackable modules, which can be rearranged according to the user's needs, and pull-out drawers or compartments of different heights, designed to store drawing instruments, models, tools or office supplies. This approach anticipates the notion of flexible, customizable furniture, which would set the course for functional design in later decades.

In formal terms, the Neolt trolley reflects the "space age" spirit of the 1960s: clean lines, smooth surfaces and an expressive use of plastic color, influenced by the technological and optimistic aesthetics of the space age. Its deep red color and glossy finish give it a sculptural presence, transforming a utilitarian object into a visually striking piece of design.

Today, the "Stile Italiano" trolley is considered a rare and coveted piece by collectors of Italian mid-century design, on par with the trolleys by Joe Colombo or Anna Castelli Ferrieri for Kartell.