Lot: 323

Guido Drocco; Franco Mello
'Cactus' clothes stand, 1972

H. 165 cm. Made by Gufram, Balangero, c. 1972. Polyurethane foam painted with green Guflac.

The world-famous clothes stand by the Italian manufacturer Gufram has been subjected to various interpretations since it was first made in 1972. Whether as a kitsch object or an icon of Italian design, the 'Cactus' always has been an eye-catcher thanks to its gaudy color, shape and size. In interior decoration, the cactus becomes a totem or a sculpture, but its function often takes a back seat. As an important object of Italian Radical Design, the 'Cactus' not only questions the functionality of an object, but also crosses the boundary between indoor and outdoor use. In order for the design object to remain similar to its strong and durable natural model - cacti can live up to 200 years - the polyurethane foam shape was reinforced with a metal framework. In 2022, the prickly yet soft cactus celebrates its 50th anniversary, and to mark the occasion we are pleased to offer an early version of the 1970s clothes rack. Numerous limited editions have been created over the decades, whereby the originally green cactus has been executed in red, white, black or multicolored. The shade of green has also been varied, with the first editions from the early 1970s being a deeper emerald green.

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Hammer Price: 3,000 €