Mattia Bonetti & the Strata Cabinet

Mattia Bonetti, born in Lugano, studied textile design at the Centro Scolastico per l’Industria Artistica before relocating to Paris in 1972. After beginning his career in textile design, Bonetti expanded into styling and photography, eventually becoming one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary collectible design.

In the 1970s, Bonetti met designer Elizabeth Garouste, beginning a celebrated creative partnership. Together, they first gained recognition through the interiors of the iconic Paris nightclub Le Palace and the restaurant Le Privilege. Their success led to a series of prestigious commissions, including the redesign of Pablo Picasso’s Château de Boisgeloup for the artist’s grandson, the private apartments of Gloria von Thurn und Taxis at the Palace of St. Emmeram in Germany, and the interiors for the couture house of Christian Lacroix in 1987.

Bonetti has never designed furniture meant to fade quietly into the background. His work is bold, expressive, and instantly recognizable, blurring the line between functional object and sculpture. That spirit is fully realized in the Strata Cabinet, one of his most celebrated works and a highlight of the DOYLE+Design auction on June 9.

At first glance, the Strata Cabinet appears almost geological, as though carved from layers of rock formed over centuries. Inspired by natural strata, cliffs, and mineral formations, Bonetti transforms stainless steel into something unexpectedly organic — textured, sculptural, and alive with movement. Its dramatic layered façade creates a sense of depth and mystery, inviting closer inspection.

Part of the cabinet’s power lies in its contrasts. Though meticulously crafted using refined materials and artisanal techniques, the piece feels raw and elemental, as if shaped by nature rather than by hand. This tension between luxury and ruggedness gives the work its unmistakable energy.

Bonetti emerged during a period when collectors were moving away from minimalist interiors in favor of spaces with greater personality and emotion. His designs answered that shift with works that are theatrical, imaginative, and impossible to ignore. The Strata Cabinet does not simply occupy a room — it transforms it.

Today, Bonetti’s influence continues to resonate throughout the world of contemporary collectible design, where furniture increasingly functions as art. The Strata Cabinet remains one of the clearest expressions of his vision: daring, atmospheric, and unforgettable.

Bonetti’s work is held in numerous major public collections, including Centre Pompidou, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, and Victoria and Albert Museum.

DOYLE+Design

Auction Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 10am
Exhibition June 6 - 8

Lot 427
Mattia Bonetti Stainless Steel "Strata" Cabinet
Property of a Miami Beach Collector
Limited edition of 8 with 2 prototypes and 2 artist's proofs, 2000s.
Est. $25,000-35,000
View Lot