Italian Gilt-Iron Wall-Mounted Console Attributed to Pier Luigi Colli, 1940s

An Italian wall-mounted console from the 1940s, attributed to Pier Luigi Colli.

The gilt-iron frame is drawn almost entirely in line. Long, sweeping supports curve outward from a central wall mount before rising to meet the top, giving the console its broad, suspended silhouette. 

Across the apron, tightly coiled scrolls repeat in a rhythmic pattern, punctuated by small floral rosettes and looping flourishes. Hammered surfaces and ribbed edges bring texture to the ironwork, catching light differently across each curve.

At the center, a slender lyre-like motif creates a vertical axis, while additional scrolls and floral details gather at the base. The original character of the gilt finish remains visible throughout, with areas of wear and oxidation giving the surface depth rather than uniformity. Above, a smoked mirror glass top follows the gently bowed profile of the frame, its darker reflective surface creating a counterpoint to the warmth and ornament of the gilded iron.

Without legs meeting the floor, the console appears to float against the wall, allowing the sweeping ironwork and the shadows it casts to become part of the composition. Its shallow form also makes it particularly suited to an entry, hallway, or other space where presence is wanted without visual weight.

About Pier Luigi Colli
Pier Luigi Colli (1895–1968) was an Italian designer and the creative force behind his family's Turin-based furniture company, Colli. After studying at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, he joined the family business, bringing with him connections to contemporary French design and decorative arts.

Under his direction, the workshop became known for highly crafted furniture and interiors that combined traditional Italian workmanship with increasingly modern forms.Colli's work ranged from furniture and lighting to complete interiors and architectural commissions. The company also produced designs by some of Italy's leading architects, including Gio Ponti and Carlo Mollino.

During the 1940s-1950s, Colli developed a particularly recognizable group of mirrors and consoles combining gilt, hammered wrought iron with mirrored and colored glass. Examples produced in collaboration with Cristal Art show many of the techniques seen here, including worked glass shelves, segmented mirrors, and intricate hand-forged ironwork.