Folding screen; Italy, 1970s.

Folding screen; Italy, 1970s.
Bamboo and rattan.
In very good condition.
Measurements: 181 cm (height) x 45 cm (each panel).
An elegant four-panel folding screen exemplifying Italian furniture produced during the 1970s, a period when natural materials took on renewed prominence in interior design. Crafted from bamboo and rattan, it combines a solid structure of curved canes with panels of woven plant material, achieving a balance between visual lightness, functionality, and artisanal refinement. Its design is distinguished by the succession of concentric arches that crown each panel, a formal element with a marked verticality that lends the piece an architectural and sculptural character.
During the 1970s, Italian design experienced a period of extraordinary creative diversity. Alongside the radical proposals of groups such as Archizoom and Superstudio, there emerged a growing interest in the revival of organic materials and artisanal techniques, in tune with a sensibility more attuned to nature and domestic comfort. In this context, bamboo and rattan—traditionally associated with Eastern craftsmanship—were reinterpreted by Italian designers and manufacturers through contemporary forms that responded both to the influences of international modernism and to the rise of Mediterranean interiors and the bohemian chic style. The popularity of this type of furniture was closely linked to the development of luxury resorts, coastal residences, and vacation homes in the Mediterranean, where the lightness and durability of these materials made them an ideal choice. Specialized Italian firms helped solidify this aesthetic language, characterized by a combination of traditional craftsmanship, casual elegance, and meticulous attention to proportions.