fabio novembre embeds antonio canova's venus into bookcase for driade

salone del mobile 2017: known for incorporating the human figure into his designs, italian designer fabio novembre presents ‘venus’, a bookcase for driade. with a structure made of oak veneer, the piece references the wooden crates used by museums to transport statues and transforms it into a graceful object to exhibit them. portioned into five pieces, the marble power mixed with resin statue rests in between the wooden slabs.

with ‘venus’, novembre adds his own narrative into canova’s venus
image © designboom

‘canova imagined that his venus had been caught unawares in the nude and gave her a marble veil to hide herself from indiscrete eyes. I add a succession of wooden shelves that cross the most private parts of her body body to camouflage her in the midst of books and other objects,’ comments novembre. ‘a four-handed job performed at different moments in time by two italians who are particularly fascinated by the epitome of female beauty: venus.’

the bookcase’s wooden slabs cross venus’ more private parts
image © designboom

with ‘venus’ for driade, fabio november continues his exploration of adding figurative elements into his designs, paying homage to beauty. this piece now joins his driade nemo chair in the intense and fascinating narrative created by the designer, bringing back mythic beauty as occurred in greek art.

this piece continues with novembre’s celebration of female beauty
image © designboom

the structure is made of oak veneer while the statue consists of marble powder mixed with resin

dimensions: w.100 x d.50 x h.190

fabio novembre
image © designboom

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