Display Case. Gres, Barcelona, ca. 1960

Display cabinet. GRES, Barcelona, ca. 1960.
Ukola wood and mirror.
Front with two glass-paned doors and interior shelves.
In very good condition. Wood has been restored; mirror is preserved in its original good condition.
Measurements: 176 x 90 x 42 cm.

Created by Gres during the years when modern design was beginning to take hold in Barcelona, this display cabinet stands out for its particularly architectural approach to furniture design. The vertical, streamlined form is a hallmark of the cabinet's design, contrasting the dark finish of the structure with the warm tone of the wood inside, visible through the large glass doors.

Of particular interest is the upper trim, achieved through sloping planes and mirrored surfaces that visually extend the volume and bring light to the entire piece. This design element, combined with the strict geometry of the body and the absence of ornamentation, transforms a piece of furniture intended for storage and display into a piece with a strong spatial presence—a hallmark of the renewal of Catalan interior design in the 1960s.

Founded in Barcelona in 1958 by Montserrat Tayà, Montserrat Tort, and María Rosa Ventós, Gres was one of the pioneering initiatives in promoting modern design in the city and soon began producing furniture and objects as well. The firm was linked to key figures in Catalan design such as Miguel Milá, Federico Correa, and Alfonso Milá; these collaborations helped define a catalog based on formal simplicity, high-quality materials, and a close relationship between furniture and interior design.