Mario Marenco for Mobil Girgi

Mario Marenco (Foggia, 1933 – Rome, 2019) for Mobil Girgi.
“Sapporo” sideboard, Italy, 1970s.
Veneered wood.
Four doors. Interior with two shelves and four drawers.
In good overall condition, with signs of wear consistent with its age.
Measurements: 78 x 250 x 51 cm.

“Sapporo” sideboard, designed by Mario Marenco for Mobil Girgi in the 1970s, characterized by a powerful horizontal presence and a refined form fully in keeping with the Italian design of the period. Its 250 cm length is balanced by a low, solid structure, while the gently rounded edges and joints lend continuity to the form and prevent any sense of rigidity. The model is documented in the specialized market as a Marenco design for Mobil Girgi from the 1970s.

The front features four large doors, whose vertical grain pattern introduces rhythm to a deliberately austere composition. The absence of visible handles reinforces the clean lines of the surfaces and allows the wood and proportions to take center stage. Inside, shelves and drawers provide ample storage capacity, reconciling the monumental exterior presence with an eminently functional design.

Mario Marenco was an architect and designer, as well as a well-known figure in Italian culture. After earning his degree in architecture in Naples in 1957, he furthered his education through research fellowships in Stockholm and Chicago, and in 1960, he opened his own architecture and design studio in Rome. Alongside his work in other creative fields, he developed projects for leading Italian design firms, including Artemide, Arflex, and Poltrona Frau; his famous Marenco modular sofa, designed for Arflex in 1970, is one of the best-known examples of his work.