[Francesco de Capitani. Salotti-Soggiorni.

Oblong folio: 65 original drawings on guards (incl. 1 loose), most 49 x 35 cm, pencil or pastel, 59 in colour and 6 in black (some foxing, soiling, folds in support ff., 1 f. inlaid).

Screw binding in black imitation leather by F. Damasso, blind-stamped title on front board (sl. rubbed).

Rare, most probably unique, portfolio of manuscript design examples of the famous furniture company Francesco de Capitani, still existing, and showing Italian Rationalist interiors (living rooms and sojourns for the majority), also some plans. Sometimes with the name of the model or the villa or buildings (i.a. "Prefettura Foggia") represented; occasionally with the wood used to create the model. With various stamps of the design company "Francesco de Capitani, arredamenti" in Rome; and one stamp of the Ministry of Finance dated 1936. Rationalism which mostly developed from Italy in the 1920s and 1930s was the favourite architectural style in pre-WWII Italy. It is related to the near contemporary German Bauhaus architecture, developed by Walter Gropius. Its chief characteristics are the functionality, uniformity, minimalism, and open spaces.