Aldo Rossi (Italian, 1931-1997), a prototype 'Papyro' writing desk, tambour central section flanked by a bank of drawers either side, central long frieze drawer, short drawers and a cupboard to the pedestal base, designed for the Salone del Mobile, Milan, 1989, Italian walnut, Italian walnut-veneered wood, brass, produced by Molteni & C, Italy, central drawer lock stamped with manufacturer's monogram 'M', 106cm high, 140cm wide, 65cm deep. Notes: The Molteni Museum holds an example of this desk. The project originated in an 'American' roll-top writing desk with drawers in the studio in Via Santa Maria alla Porta, which inspired Rossi’s design of this writing desk. Like all the furniture designed by Rossi, Papyro was domestic architecture characterized by the skillful use of solid geometrical forms, like cubes and parallelepipeds, that intersected with flat surfaces, giving rise to elements for storage and others for display, leaning against, drawing, or writing.