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Antique Bugatti furnishings are renowned for their striking, ornate designs. These pieces often feature intricate hand-carved motifs and are inlaid with luxurious materials such as mother-of-pearl, ebony, and brass. A prime example is this original ebonized walnut side table, which showcases Bugatti's signature style. The table is covered with bleached deerskin on all four sides and is adorned with hand-hammered copper appliqués, bone dentil carvings, and pewter inlays depicting birds, flowers, and leaves. The legs are wrapped in wrought copper, and the tabletop retains its original mirror. This highly stylized piece draws from a mix of cultural influences, including Moorish, Japanese, and Islamic art, reflecting the designer’s diverse inspirations. Crafted in the 1890s, it exemplifies Bugatti's shift toward more geometric designs, and remains in excellent condition with a lovely patina from use.
Carlo Bugatti was born in 1856 in Milan, the son of Giovanni Bugatti, a successful interior decorator, sculptor, and architect. Following in his father's footsteps, Carlo studied architecture at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera and initially worked as a cabinetmaker. He moved to Paris in 1875 to further his studies at the prestigious Académie des Beaux-Arts before returning to Milan in the early 1880s to pursue his career in furniture design.
Bugatti's work first gained public attention in 1888 when he showcased his designs at the Industrial Arts Exhibition in Milan, followed by the Italian Exhibition in London. His bold and flamboyant furniture quickly caught the eye of the aristocracy, leading to numerous commissions for custom pieces. His success was further cemented when he received an award at the 1900 Paris Exposition and exhibited his interiors and furniture at the inaugural International Exposition of Modern Decorative Arts in Turin in 1902. In 1904, Bugatti moved with his family to Pierrefonds, France, where he established an atelier and began designing furniture for major department stores such as Maison Dufayel and Le Bon Marché.
Bugatti’s influence extended through his family; his son Rembrandt became a renowned sculptor, while Ettore achieved fame as a pioneering automobile designer and manufacturer. During World War I, Bugatti was appointed mayor of the village, and his outspoken anti-German stance earned the trust of industrialist Adolphe Clément-Bayard, who entrusted Bugatti with maintaining his estate. Following the war, Bugatti shifted his focus to painting, especially after the tragic loss of his son Rembrandt in 1916. Although his production slowed, his influence in the design world remained significant.
In 1935, at the age of 79, Bugatti retired to Alsace near his son Ettore’s family. He lived in a flat at the Château Saint-Jean estate, and later at the Bugatti factory in Molsheim, where he remained active, mingling with workers and spending time with his family. Carlo Bugatti passed away in April 1940 at the hospital in Molsheim and was laid to rest in the Bugatti family cemetery at Dorlisheim. Today, his legacy is preserved at the Musée de la Chartreuse in Molsheim, where a section dedicated to the Bugatti family displays works and memorabilia in his honor.
