TV as sculpture?
At MOMA?
The Brionvega Cuboglass TV was designed by Mario Bellini based on a re-work of the ST 201 from 1969.
Brionvega ST201, as seen in Cold War Modern at the V&A
The ST 201 was a Zanuso/Sapper design made with semi-transparent black acrylic, metal. It came with an ochre felt cover, cream plastic protection, carrying cover and two detachable aerials (References: The New Domestic Landscape Achievements and Problems of Italian Design, The Museum of Modern Art, exhibition catalogue, New York/Florence, 1972, p. 69; Kathryn B. Hiesinger, Design since 1945, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, exhibition catalogue, 1983, p. 96, 1- 54; Alfonso Grassi, Anty Pansera, Atlante del Design Italiano 1940/1980,, Milano, 1984, p. 118, ill. no. 2In 1992). It is now a collector’s item and occassionally pops up at auctions.
In colaboration with Brionvega, Bellini has made a completely new TV. The Cuboglass’s effect is achieved by the perfect crafting. It quickly became a classic, and is on permanent display at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
In 1992, when the Cuboglass was introduced, it featured the then latest electronics, and it’s been gradually updated since. It is now housed in an anti-scratch cabinet of crystal glass faces connected by slim perforated metal plates, and the facetuous cut is absolutely sheer. Inside, it features a black matrix tube for an impressive picture, a broadband loudspeaker, digital frequency synthesiser, cable tuner and 100 storable programmes, SVHS, and SCART , measures 38.2cm x 34.4cm x 38.5cm and weighs 19 kg so it is not exactly portable though intended to be. It retails for about 1000 Euros or $1200 but is mostly sold out.
Brionvega 