PAMIO AND TOSO for STILWOOD. Dining table, 1972.

ROBERTO PAMIO (Mestre, 1937 – Scorzè, 2021) and RENATO TOSO (Murano, 1940) for STILWOOD.
Dining table, Italy, 1972.
Wood with a black-finished tabletop.
Shows slight signs of wear.
Measurements: 72.5 x 180 x 85 cm.

Dining table designed by Roberto Pamio and Renato Toso for Stilwood in 1972, with a distinctly architectural design. The wide black tabletop is marked by its contrast with the warmth of the natural wood of the frame, supported by lateral and diagonal braces that form a characteristic “W” shape. The piece dispenses with any ornamental elements to focus its expressiveness on the construction, geometry, and interplay between planes, diagonals, and voids. This model is documented in the specialized market as a 1972 design by Pamio and Toso for Stilwood.

The contrast between the dark tabletop and the light-colored frame accentuates the visual lightness of the piece and reflects the experimental spirit of Italian design in the early 1970s, when structure and function became the primary expressive elements of furniture. During those years, Stilwood produced various designs by Pamio and Toso characterized by this rigorous, architectural approach to furniture.

Roberto Pamio and Renato Toso played a significant role in Italian design during the second half of the 20th century, particularly in the fields of furniture and lighting. Both had architectural backgrounds linked to Venice. Pamio studied at the IUAV under mentors such as Carlo Scarpa, Ignazio Gardella, and Bruno Zevi, while Toso, born in Murano and closely connected to its glassmaking tradition, later developed an extensive career in architecture and design. Their collaboration resulted in projects for firms such as Stilwood and Leucos, in which they explored the relationship between structure, materials, and industrial production, actively participating in the renewal of Italian design in the 1960s and 1970s.