Vivai Del Sud, Italy, Sculptural Bamboo Chest
Bournemouth, United Kingdom
Hassle-free returns
-
Easy returns (14 days)
-
Free return if the item isn't as described
-
Buyer protection
Damage is rare, and you're fully protected if it happens.
Dimensions
Wear Condition
Good
Material
Bamboo
Style
Modernist, Vintage, Boho
Product Details
Description
Giusto Purini & Maurizio Mariani for Vivai del Sud, Italy
Sculptural Bamboo Chest, circa 1975
A rare and highly sculptural bamboo chest by Giusto Purini and Maurizio Mariani for the Roman design firm Vivai del Sud, dating to around 1975. The bi-tiered, faceted carcass is articulated in bold trapezoidal volumes, each face meticulously veneered in split bamboo rods set in alternating chevron and lozenge formations. The dynamic relief and strong graphic patterning give the piece a pronounced architectural presence, typical of the most ambitious Vivai del Sud commissions of the 1970s. The body sits on a recessed plinth base, visually lightening the mass and emphasising the hovering, “floating” geometry. Three full-width drawers are concealed within the upper and lower register, opening to a plain light-wood interior.
Giusto Puri Purini (b. Rome, 1944) trained as an architect and began his career as a set designer for Roberto Rossellini’s television productions before joining Vivai del Sud in the early 1970s. From 1972 to 1977 he served as project designer for the firm, developing a distinctive language of bold, geometric forms realised in bamboo, rattan and brass for luxury interiors and hotel projects.
Maurizio Mariani was likewise active in Rome’s design milieu of the period and is closely associated with Vivai del Sud’s most sculptural bamboo pieces, including important dining tables, shelving and mirrors that combine rigorous geometry with highly worked natural materials. Their collaborative works for Vivai del Sud are now recognised as among the most sophisticated expressions of Italian “organic modern” design of the 1970s.
Vivai del Sud itself was founded in Rome in 1950 by the Di Pierri brothers as a landscape and garden architecture firm. From around 1970 the company expanded into interior decoration and furniture, producing limited runs of high-end pieces for hotels, villas and winter gardens in Italy and abroad. Its work, often mixing Baroque and classical references with modernist clarity and exotic materials, was widely published in Domus, Casa Vogue and other leading design journals, and the firm opened branches across Europe and the Middle East.
Within Vivai del Sud’s output, this trapezoidal, double-stacked bamboo chest is an exceptionally scarce model. Two closely comparable example – described as a “remarkable Italian trapezoidal bamboo chest” by Purini and Mariani for Vivai del Sud, circa 1975 – have been documented in the USA.
Other bamboo chests by Vivai del Sud are of more conventional rectilinear form and lack this sharply faceted, prismatic geometry.
No factory records or catalogues appear to publish an exact production run for this model, but period and contemporary experts consistently describe comparable Vivai del Sud bamboo case pieces as part of low-production series rather than standard lines, intended for specific high-end interiors.
On the basis of currently documented examples, only a handful of these trapezoidal chests are known, and at the time of writing just a single pair of this exact design is publicly offered on the international market, underscoring the rarity and collectability of the present piece.
An increasingly scarce and highly sculptural example of 1970s Italian organic modernism by one of Vivai del Sud’s key design partnerships.
Condition report:
In good overall condition commensurate with age and use. The bamboo surface shows minor scattered marks and small losses, with attractive patination to the natural finish. The drawers run smoothly and the carcass is structurally sound. Some water and other staining, see photographs.
Wear Condition
Good
Cancellations
We offer free cancellations and full refund for orders cancelled before dispatching. View full policy.
Returns
We have a 14-day return guarantee for orders from individual sellers, within the UK and European Union. View full policy.
Additional Delivery Info from Seller
Free collection available
Yes
Made to Last
The average lifespan of a Vinterior piece is 100 years, while modern flat-pack typically takes just 3 years to reach landfill. When you choose pre-loved, you can shop with confidence in quality, craftsmanship and longevity. With our top-rated customer service team and price match guarantee, there's no better way to shop pre-loved.
Professional Seller
Shopping at Vinterior
Similar Chests of Drawers
Similar Chests of Drawers
You may also like
You may also like
Add to a wishlist
Create Wishlist
Completethe room
Good design is all in the layering. Whether you're adding impact or refining the details, now’s the time to find what’s missing.
Wear conditions
Excellent
Shows little to no signs of wear and tear.
Good
May show slight traces of use in keeping with age. Most vintage and antique items fit into this condition.
Average
Likely to show signs of some light scratching and ageing but still remains in a fair condition.
Apparent Wear and Tear
Visible signs of previous use including scratches, chips or stains.
Please refer to condition report, images or make a seller enquiry for additional information.
Cancellations and Returns
Last updated: 12/02/2026
Clear, predictable protection for every pre-loved purchase.
Simple £75 flat return fee for UK-to-UK mainland furniture when you change your mind.
Applies to furniture with a final selling price of up to £5,000 (excluding delivery and service fees) and delivered from a UK mainland seller to mainland UK addresses. Excludes Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Scottish Highlands & Islands, Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly.
Buying vintage should feel inspiring, not uncertain.
Every order on Vinterior is backed by straightforward returns, free cancellations, and extra peace of mind for UK furniture purchases.
1. Free cancellations
Changed your mind before dispatch?
You can cancel any order before it's shipped for a full refund, including delivery.
To cancel an order, click Create cancellation on the order page.
Once an item has been dispatched, delivery costs are not refundable.
Bespoke, personalised or made-to-order pieces cannot be cancelled.
2. Returning an item
You have 14 days from delivery to request a return.
There are two return types:
A. The item isn't as described (free return)
If your piece arrives and it doesn't match the listing in any material way (incorrect description, undisclosed damage, inaccurate measurements, misleading photos), you are fully protected:
- Free return
- The seller or Vinterior arranges pickup
- Full refund, including outbound delivery costs once the seller receives the item
This applies to all purchases.
B. You changed your mind
UK-to-UK furniture deliveries:
To make UK furniture returns predictable and stress-free, we offer a simple flat return fee of £75.
- Applies to furniture delivered from a UK mainland seller to a mainland UK address. Excludes Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Scottish Highlands & Islands, Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly.
- Pickup arranged for you
- One clear fee, no surprises
We coordinate the return with either the seller's chosen courier or our trusted delivery partner.
All other items
Most smaller items are straightforward to return.
You can still return your item within 14 days.
- For smaller or parcel-sized items, you can choose to post the item back yourself using a tracked service, or the seller can suggest a preferred courier.
- For larger or more fragile pieces, the seller may recommend the safest return method.
- Return delivery costs vary depending on size and courier.
The seller will confirm the best option based on the item.
3. If your item arrives damaged
Damage on arrival is uncommon, especially for UK furniture deliveries.
But if something does go wrong, you're fully protected.
- Let us know as soon as possible (ideally within 72 hours of delivery) so we can resolve things quickly
- Share photos so we understand what happened
- We’ll help arrange a return and refund if needed
You’re always protected when something goes wrong in transit.
Your statutory rights apply for up to 30 days from delivery.
4. What can't be returned
Some items cannot be returned:
- Bespoke, personalised, or made-to-order pieces
- Items altered after delivery
5. How to start a return
- Log in to your Vinterior account
- Open your order
- Click Create a return
- Add notes + photos if relevant
We'll guide you through the rest.
6. What happens next
- We review your request, confirm the return and advise on next steps
- Pickup or return method is arranged
- The item is returned to the seller
- We issue your refund once the seller confirms the item's condition
Returns are completed smoothly once the pickup is arranged.
7. Refunds
Once the seller receives the piece back in the same condition it was sent, we'll issue your refund to your original payment method.
Once a refund is issued, it may take up to 5–10 working days for the funds to appear back on your original payment method, depending on your bank or card provider.
If the item is returned with new damage that wasn't present at delivery, the refund may be adjusted following review.
Need help?
If you have questions about a return or your order, our support team is here to help. Email us at [email protected] or find other ways to contact us here.
What your service fee covers
-
14-day return guarantee
-
Flat-fee return shipping on UK furniture
-
Seller vetting
-
Dedicated customer support
| Order Value (£) | Fee (£) |
|---|---|
| 0 — 49.99 | 2.75 |
| 50 — 99.99 | 5.50 |
| 100 — 199.99 | 11.00 |
| 200 — 399.99 | 21.00 |
| 400 — 599.99 | 30.00 |
| 600 — 799.99 | 40.00 |
| 800 — 999.99 | 50.00 |
| 1,000 — 1,499.99 | 55.00 |
| 1,500 — 1,999.99 | 60.00 |
| 2,000 — 4,999.99 | 82.50 |
| 5,000+ | 110.00 |
Added at checkout, based on your basket total.
