Low open double-sided shelf with a minimalist design - Mascheroni

A low, open, double-sided shelving unit with a minimalist design, crafted in a wooden construction, available in various types of wood. The decorative dividers and supports are cast in bronze and resemble a dancing dancer. The low City Ballet shelf was named after the famous ballet founded in 1948 in New York City. It is a modular low bookcase available in different sizes. The City Ballet system is complemented by low modular shelves, offering even more customization options by choosing dividing elements in wood or bronze. Shelves made from solid slats of walnut, ebony, or other woods. Made to measure. Each handcrafted Italian product by Mascheroni bears a plaque engraved with the brand name “Mascheroni srl Made in Italy,” confirming its authenticity.

The MASCHERONI workshop was established about 40 years ago in Cabiate, a town near Milan, in the heart of the Brianza manufacturing district, where its headquarters are located. The company did not rest on its laurels; it began designing and producing special products and complete sets of exclusive furniture for its demanding clients—those seeking top-tier products—initially in Europe, and later worldwide. Mascheroni now operates in over eighty countries.

Today, MASCHERONI is one of the few companies that oversee and control the entire production cycle, ensuring excellent quality at every stage—from raw material selection, through manufacturing, to custom services. Everything is based on teamwork, as well as the skills and craftsmanship of individual artisans. Most components of each product are handmade and produced using the latest machinery. However, everything is then assembled entirely by hand, and it is no coincidence that one of the company's main goals is to ensure continuity by maintaining high levels of employee training and further development. Therefore, each senior master craftsman is paired with a junior artisan to complete their specialization and also become a master.

The pursuit of excellence and continuous innovation are the foundations that characterize Mascheroni products, making the brand recognized worldwide.

Deep knowledge of the materials used, manufacturing methods, and inherent problem-solving solutions, combined with ongoing investments in research and development, ensure that products are durable and retain their value over time. Quality controls are meticulously carried out throughout the entire production cycle, and materials are thoroughly examined to ensure quality compliance at every stage. The finished product is rigorously tested to confirm proper functioning and thoroughly analyzed to ensure it meets the aesthetic expectations set out in the original design.

What quality of leather does the Mascheroni brand use?

The leathers typically used in our sector are about 1.1 to 1.2 mm thick, as they are more affordable and easier to process. These more common leathers are not part of Mascheroni’s sample range. The thinnest leathers the brand works with are around 1.4 mm, which is the baseline. Therefore, all prices listed are for products made from leather of this thickness. The company also offers various categories of leather, all significantly thicker and more difficult to process, but providing greater durability for the final product. What makes their leather so challenging to work with, beyond being two or even three times thicker than standard leathers, are the physical properties of the leather: for example, “vegetable-tanned leather” is particularly difficult to bend.

NATURAL LEATHER of Mascheroni

These leathers are tanned to preserve all the natural features and perfection of the leather itself, including animal life marks such as small insect bites, wrinkles, and various grain patterns. All these signs attest to the product's genuine naturalness and should be considered as quality features. Mascheroni's goal is to ensure the best possible leather cutting so that these “marks” do not appear on visible parts of the products. European bovine leathers, with a thickness ranging from 1.4 to 1.5 mm, are chrome-tanned, drum-dyed in aniline, with a natural, full grain. They have a soft, warm, and exceptionally beautiful appearance. European bovine leathers, with a thickness from 1.6 to 1.8 mm, are chrome-tanned, drum-dyed in aniline, with a full natural grain. They feature a semi-transparent, nearly smooth surface with aniline effect, “hard” and sturdy.

PELLE 3M / A

European bovine leathers, 2.2 mm thick, chrome-tanned, drum-dyed in aniline, with a natural, full grain. Feels like silk. A wonderful and delicate material of unmatched beauty. Small imperfections guarantee that the leathers are natural.

PELLE 3M

European bovine leathers, 3–4 mm thick, chrome-tanned, drum-dyed in aniline, with a natural, full grain. Nearly 4 mm thickness ensures long-lasting durability. The surface bears remarkable natural animal life marks. Full-grain. Strong and warm.

Vegetable-tanned leather

European bovine leathers, 2.2 mm thick, vegetable-tanned, full grain. Semi-transparent, smooth surface, strong and warm. An excellent material, incredibly beautiful. Available only as half-leather. Vegetable tanning uses an ancient recipe that combines traditional processes with all current technologies. This process is carried out by tanners who pass their careful and passionate craft from generation to generation, transforming raw hides into leather without harming the environment in any way. It relies on natural tannins extracted from trees, combined with modern technology and a long processing time. Truly, the transformation of raw hide into leather—unique and one-of-a-kind in the world—takes nearly 40 days. Vegetable-tanned leathers bear the marks of our lives. They age but do not deteriorate. It is these changes and personal use over time that attest to the product’s naturalness.

Over the years, the tannin dyes give the leather warm hues that tend to stand out on the surface of each element during use. Therefore, products become unique, personal, and one-of-a-kind for each user. The product tends to evolve depending on how it is used, revealing its best side. Choosing a product made from this leather means owning an elite and truly unique item.

The use of tannins results in products of extremely high quality: soft and smooth leathers, marked by full and glossy dyes, finished in all possible ways, suitable for any application. These products also boast enviable mechanical wear resistance, are fully sustainable, and have parameters that are often considered important limitations for natural products, such as water and temperature resistance.

The result is a product that excels in every aspect, combining excellent technical properties with the craftsmanship of materials rooted in timeless aesthetics. It features warm colors and a unique design, designed to last and improve over time—something that can be safely recycled at the end of its lifecycle.

Wood

The Mascheroni wood collection includes over 10 different wood species from the “Mascheroni Wood Color System” catalog. The company strives to select only the best parts of wood. The main structures of sofas and armchairs are mostly made of solid wood. In furniture production, solid wood is used only partially. This varies depending on the product, shape, and the desired aesthetic effect, which may require matching solid wood, plywood, shaped plywood, wooden slats, roots, and other enhanced materials.

Proof that the Mascheroni product stands out in quality and materials used is also reflected in the weight of the final product. On average, the final product weighs 50% more than a standard product. Knowledge of wood has prompted the company to thoroughly explore various possibilities to create new and increasingly exclusive collections. The final product is the result of artisans' wisdom and innovation.

This signifies a desire and meticulousness to meet the demands of Mascheroni's very discerning clients—people who want custom-made, high-level craftsmanship products. It is undoubtedly a very challenging field, but one that allows the company to express its potential and ultimately brings great satisfaction.

Italian art and cultural heritage have always been at the heart of the brand's pride and identity. Throughout its history, Mascheroni has financed the restoration of some of Canova's artworks, organized art awards, supported historic sites such as Libreria Bocca (the oldest bookstore in Italy), and continuously funds important associations like FAI (Italian National Trust), which protects, restores, and opens historic places and buildings across Italy to the public.

Manufacturer information