Carla Venosta and Guido Zimmerman for Arflex 'Valiant' Bookcase in Steel

Carla Venosta and Guido Zimmerman for Arflex, 'Valiant' wall unit / room divider, stainless steel, glass, Italy, 1971

The 'Valiant' wall unit that doubles as room divider, designed in 1971 by Carla Venosta and Guido Zimmerman for Arflex, is a striking articulation of radical minimalism: cool, industrial, and unapologetically precise. Constructed from stainless steel and polished glass, it presents an almost clinical clarity, a kind of architectural calm that resists any romantic gesture. But beneath that surface is a deeply intentional and poetic control of material and space.

The unit is structured as a series of vertical planes that alternate in shallow folds, giving the overall form a rhythm that is both subtle and sculptural. Glass shelves float within the metallic frame, secured but visually weightless. It is not a piece that hides anything - there are no doors, no solid panels. Everything is open, visible, exposed. This openness suggests a kind of conceptual honesty, a refusal to conceal structure or function. This design is very much a product of its era – Italy in the early 1970s – a moment when radical design was beginning to intersect with new materials and technological aesthetics. Yet even now, the piece feels fresh, almost futuristic.

Kindly note that the piece is in good, used condition with signs of age and use, including some stains and scratches. A few glass shelves contain small chips. For further details, we encourage you to reach out to our team of design specialists.