Guglielmo Ulrich Sideboard for S.A.F.F.A. Milano, 1950

Design
1950

Manufacture
1950-1959

Location
Lonigo, IT

Guglielmo Ulrich Sideboard for S.A.F.F.A. Milano, wood, Italy, 1950.

Designed by Guglielmo Ulrich in 1950, this mid-century sideboard reflects a shift from his earlier neoclassical style toward modernist rigor. Built in solid wood, it features three flush-panel doors with fine reed-like textures, expressing Ulrich’s refined sense of proportion and surface rhythm. Inside, two floating drawers in the upper left bay offer an uncommon yet functional layout. Departing from decorative flourishes, the piece embraces stricter geometries akin to the architectural approach of Paolo Buffa. Elevated on a rectilinear frame with recessed feet, it balances structural solidity with visual lightness. Each modular section supports versatile storage needs for domestic or studio settings.

Crafted during Italy’s post-war reconstruction, it exemplifies the Milanese school’s blend of industrial potential and artisanal detail. Ulrich, like contemporaries Osvaldo Borsani and Ico Parisi, often collaborated with Cantù artisans to advance Italian cabinetmaking beyond ornament toward structural innovation. A subtle notch in the frame base hints at early experiments in shadow play, rare in Ulrich’s work but resonant with Carlo De Carli’s designs. Both collectible and practical, this sideboard is a quiet yet powerful expression of high Italian modernism.

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