Woven Brass Wastepaper Basket, 1950s

This wastepaper basket is a characteristic example of high-end mid-20th-century office accessories. The structural design adopts a quadrangular shape that flares upwards. The four sides, as well as the base, consist of meticulously interwoven solid brass lattice, mimicking basketry techniques but executed in metal. The structure is supported by four tubular corner uprights that terminate at the base in small splayed feet for stability, and at the top with solid spherical finials. During the 1950s, brass became the material of choice for European interior decorators (particularly in Italy and Austria, following the style of Carl Auböck) for creating small metalwork items. The use of openwork lattice visually lightens the object while maintaining the nobility and golden shine of the metal. These pieces were intended to furnish executive offices or affluent interiors associated with the Hollywood Regency movement. Good structural condition. The brass shows natural oxidation and an even patina of use, guaranteeing its age. No major deformation of the weaving is noted. In addition to its primary function next to a desk, this object can be elegantly repurposed as a magazine rack or to hold a large planter in a classic or modernist interior.