Óscar Tusquets

ÓSCAR TUSQUETS (Barcelona, 1941) for Casas
"Alibabá" sofa, 1989
Woven wool.
Excellent condition (9/10). Impeccable preservation.
Out of production. Very few units manufactured.
Measurements: 254 x 198 x 102 cm.

An icon of Spanish postmodernism and one of the most conceptual pieces of late 20th century European design, the Alibabá sofa represents a moment of absolute creative freedom in contemporary furniture.

Conceived in 1989 by Óscar Tusquets for Casas, the design breaks with the traditional sofa typology by transforming a rug into domestic architecture. A single textile surface folds and rises to generate seat and back, eliminating the conventional visible structure. The floor becomes a volume; the carpet, a piece of furniture. The result is a hybrid piece between soft sculpture, installation and functional seating.

The project stems from the observation of an everyday gesture -sitting on the floor with one's back against a sofa- and elevates it to a design object. It also evokes British interiors where carpeting climbs up the walls, blurring the boundaries between horizontal and vertical. This spatial reflection makes the Alibaba a profoundly architectural work.

Very few units were produced and the model is currently out of production, making it a highly sought-after piece in the Spanish collectible design market. Well-preserved examples are especially scarce.

The model was produced in three textile versions: a geometric one in the form of a labyrinth, another inspired by the Tibetan tiger -the present one- and a third one based on traditional Turkish motifs. The one inspired by the tiger motif is the most recognizable and visually striking.

Óscar Tusquets, a central figure in contemporary Spanish design and architecture, is one of the great names in European postmodern design. His work is represented in international public and private collections and his production of the 80s and 90s has experienced a remarkable revaluation in the specialized market.

In 1964 he founded Studio PER with Lluís Clotet, with whom he collaborated regularly until 1984. During this period he participated in the enlargement of the Faculty of Medicine in Barcelona (1980) and in the remodeling of the Palau de la Música Catalana (1982). He has been awarded the Delta de Oro del FAD prize on several occasions, and in 1987 he received the Sant Jordi Cross.