Jordi Vilanova

JORDI VILANOVA I BOSCH (Rubí, Barcelona, 1925 – Barcelona, 1998).
“Tarragona” Writing Desk, 1972.
Walnut-stained beech wood, maroon leather, rattan, brass, and steel.
In good condition. Shows signs of use, scuffs, and minor wear consistent with its age.
Measurements: 92.5 x 140 x 55 cm; desk height: 76 cm.

Designed and produced in 1972, the “Tarragona” desk represents one of the most personal creations from Jordi Vilanova’s mature period, in which precision cabinetmaking is combined with a modern and carefully articulated conception of domestic furniture. The composition is based on a marked symmetry, organized around the central section of the tabletop, which is covered in maroon leather. Arranged on top of this are two drawer units joined by a rattan panel, while three other drawers are integrated beneath the tabletop. Vilanova also introduces a subtle geometric interplay through the oblique profiles of the sides, the sled-shaped legs, and the diagonal steel strips; the same triangular motif reappears, on a smaller scale, in the metal handles. The result combines functional capacity and structural richness without losing the visual lightness characteristic of his designs from the 1970s.

Jordi Vilanova was a cabinetmaker, interior designer, and a leading figure in the renewal of Catalan furniture in the second half of the 20th century. Trained in Barcelona, he established his own studio in 1952 and was one of the driving forces behind La Cantonada, a collective active between 1960 and 1975 that championed a synthesis of modernity, small-batch production, and Mediterranean artisanal tradition. He was also involved with ADI-FAD and the Delta Awards; his “Delta” children’s stool, designed in 1964, is part of the collection at the Museu del Disseny de Barcelona. His professional archive, containing drawings and photographs of projects developed between the late 1950s and 1998, is currently housed at the Disseny Hub Barcelona.