Besides the clean lines and square forms of mid-century furniture design, there does exist an antidote from the same time period in the form of hyper-elegant objects that recall the classical era. Perhaps a leftover drive for luxury emanating from Art Deco, these 1950s pieces use gold and silver, along with other shiny metals, and revel in ornament. One such piece of furniture is offered by Red Modern Furniture—and this one really gets across a feeling of ultimate splendor.

Gold Leafed Italian side table. Available through Red Modern Furniture.

Luxurious Side Table

The Gold Leafed Italian side table circa mid 1950s has “12 palm fronds of various and sundry sizes on three subtly curved legs.” As sweet as ripe figs, this table is certainly something to behold. Like a desert oasis, the Gold Leafed Italian side table appears out of nowhere, glistening in the sunlight. Reminiscent of the sybaritic pleasures we normally associate with ancient Rome, this object also alludes to exoticism. These are no ordinary leaves, after all, but rather palm fronds—calling to mind the flora of Northern Africa or the lush Mediterranean.

With a height of 20 inches and a diameter of 22 inches, the Gold Leafed Italian side table from Red Modern Furniture is small enough that you can get away with its pomp. The sparkling aureate palms don’t fan out too much, and the modest three-legged base doesn’t take up too much real estate. Pair the side table with cleaner elements for an interesting juxtaposition. The Gold Leafed Italian side table may be just enough of too much.

About the Distributor: Red Modern Furniture specializes in limited production finely crafted furniture from the turn of the century to present day, though the company focuses on products from the 1950s to the 1970s. With a constantly evolving inventory, Red Modern Furniture seeks to showcase the best items from the top designers of the 20th century. The company has a virtual showroom, as well as two brick-and-mortar showrooms located in Phoenix, AZ and New York, NY.