Magistretti ‘Babe III’ console/table for De Padova, designed 1988. Cherry, 1990s production. Fair vintage condition; mechanics perfect.
Specifications:
- Designer: Vico Magistretti
- Manufacturer: De Padova
- Country/Period: Italy; designed 1988, 1990s production; discontinued
- Materials: Solid cherry legs; varnished honeycomb-core top with cherry veneer
- Conditions: Fair vintage condition; wear, fading and stains on top; one restored chip at a corner of the middle section; mechanics work perfectly
- Dimensions: H 73 × D 130 cm; adjustable width: 177 cm (open), 111 cm (one leaf closed), 44.5 cm (two leaves closed)
- Literature: Fondazione Vico Magistretti
- Price: €900
- Shipping: Contact us for a quote
Designed in 1988 during Vico Magistretti’s enduring collaboration with De Padova, the ‘Babe’ is a convertible console–table that epitomizes his clarity of concept and pragmatic elegance. Its name nods to baseball legend Babe Ruth, echoed in the bat-like turning of the legs—an iconic detail that fuses wit with structural logic.
A refined drop-leaf mechanism allows the top to shift from a slim console to a generous table: Depths move from 44.5 cm to 111 cm to 177 cm in a single, fluid gesture. Width is 170. The top uses a honeycomb core painted with a blue varnish, paired with solid cherry legs that provide stability and a warm, tactile presence.
This 1990s example is discontinued and presents in fair vintage condition: visible wear, color fading and stains to the top, and one restored chip at a corner of the central part. The folding mechanics operate perfectly, ensuring reliable everyday use while preserving the piece’s original versatility.
