Mattia Bonetti

Commissioned directly from the artist through David Gill Gallery London in 2012 by the present owner

This Bookcase is a unique creation by Mattia Bonetti, specially commissioned by Pauline Karpidas as part of her long-standing collaboration with the artist, spanning over three decades. Bonetti, working alongside decorator Jacques Grange and gallerist David Gill, was instrumental in shaping the interiors of several of Karpidas’s residences, notably her property on Hydra Island in Greece as well as her London home. Pauline Karpidas entrusted Bonetti with numerous bespoke commissions, allowing the artist to conceive and craft an extraordinary ensemble of furniture that would furnish the space with a truly singular and deeply personal character, seamlessly blending artistic expression with intimate living.

Blurring the line between art and design, Bonetti’s work defies convention through its bold aesthetic and embrace of ornamentation and unexpected use of materials. Crafted with precious exotic wood as Macassar ebony and Santos mahogany, the piece offers beautiful inlay decoration echoing the bronze ornament elements incrusted in the doors and of the handles. The bamboo-like bronze shelving also creates a sculptural, yet functional object designed to house books, objets de curiosité, and works of art, in harmony with the host’s singular vision of collecting.

Conceived through detailed sketches and brought to life in close collaboration with French artisans, the bookcase is an exceptional example of Bonetti’s capacity to push the boundaries of decorative arts, turning even the most technical challenges into poetic and surrealist forms.

©Mattia Bonetti