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The year was 1972 and Vittorino Sabot, owner of a furniture company in Udine, decided to challenge the market. In an unprecedented move (somewhere between a publicity stunt and a real product renewal) he presented an eclectic collection of lacquered wood tables with mirrored crystal tops signed by Alain Delon and designed for Maison Jansen. This collaboration made Sabot's production international, and the fame was consolidated in 1975 at the Salone del Mobile in Milan. Alain Delon himself presented the collection, with the typical pride of the small-medium entrepreneur, as recalled by a September 2015 article in the Messaggero Veneto.
Alain Delon would often visit Friuli always accompanied by Vittorino Sabot, an aspiring Friulian tycoon dressed with furs, driving expensive cars with beautiful women, in the name of an all-Italian Dolce Vita. The collaboration between the two was prolific and successful: the red, black and ivory lacquered wood furniture left a mark at all the fairs and exhibitions they attended. Wood was fashionable, crystal tops luxurious, and exposed woods alternated with the glossy lacquers also used for metal, which was capable even more than wood of sending back an image of modernity. In addition to the aesthetic impact of the collection, there was the media reach of the French star's involvement, which inspired articles and in-depth coverage around the world.
The style of this furniture is quite elaborate: the final effect is rather one of unscrupulous luxury, with a few winks at a Tony Montana-esque gangsta style. Featuring shiny, reflective surfaces, light colors, and crystal tops, this collection of furniture goes perfectly with a Hollywood Regency-style decor. However, to create a bit of contrast, just a few elements can be selected and placed in a more classic context to enhance them and give character to the space.
The final touch to the Sabot promotion campaign was the press release, which directly quoted the actor's words: "[...] If I were not a man of the movies, I would have liked to be an architect, since I have always liked houses, their interiors and furnishings. We live with furniture, we share our lives with it. That is why I wanted and decided to make a furniture line that mede me comfortable. I wish and hope it will be appreciated and have a consensus. Alain Delon." So scroll through intOndo's selection and find out if the French star's creative flair is to your taste. After all, we really wouldn't want to disappoint Alain Delon, right?
