Aldo Tura, Calice Dry Bar In Lacquered Goatskin. Italy, C.1950

Illustration of Italian creative freedom in the mid-20th century, the Calice bar was designed by Aldo Tura, renowned for his innovative use of lacquered goatskin and his distinguished craftsmanship. This piece embodies the emblematic characteristics of Tura’s work: original forms, luxurious materials, and a distinctive playful aesthetic.

The bar features a curved silhouette, evoking the shape of a chalice, clad in light-colored lacquered goatskin and decorated on all sides with three illustrations of 19th-century equestrian figures. It is topped with a removable round glass tray, framed in brass — ideal for serving— and opens to reveal a mirrored, backlit compartment with a fixed glass shelf.

The piece presented here shows surface wear consistent with age: scratches, scuffs, and areas of varnish loss, along with a notable loss to the brass rim of the tray.

Aldo Tura (1909–1963) was a leading figure in postwar Italian design, active primarily in Lombardy near Milan, where he founded his workshop in 1939. He developed a highly recognizable style that combined traditional artisanal techniques with bold materials. His work is particularly known for the use of tinted, hand-lacquered goatskin applied to sculptural furniture forms. In addition to goatskin, he experimented with lacquered wood, metal, glass, and occasionally more unusual materials such as eggshell. His creations, produced in small series or as unique pieces, are now sought after for their rarity, refinement, and unmistakably decorative character.