Sculpture and sound

The friendly object and life companion: the totem Brionvega.

In the early 1970s, BRIONVEGA commissioned architect Mario Bellini to come up with a product functionally similar to the radiofonografo but completely different and more suited to the emerging modern world.
Starting from the sculptural and monolithic shape of a cube, a perfectly geometrical symbol, Bellini created a Hi-Fi system that unfolds with a simple gesture. You simply have to open the totem to reveal the two acoustic loudspeakers that move closer and overlap the central block, creating a perfectly harmonious visual effect.

The brionvega rr130 totem was launched in 1971. The totem’s closed, cubic shape exemplifies formal rigour and the pursuit of perfection, enabling the totem to autonomously integrate into any location. In this context, it gives the room a distinctive identity and timeless appeal, despite its discreet presence in the context of a minimalist style.

Mario Bellini had the brilliant idea of designing an object that was not only functional, but also embodied an artistic essence, becoming a true sculpture. The aim is to arouse a mix of admiration and veneration in those who observe or use it. The act of opening the totem therefore becomes a ritual, creating a unique experience. This makes every moment you use it an opportunity to contemplate and share unique sensations.

The designer’s tireless research has resulted in a work that has a seemingly simple form, but is intrinsically complex in the act of production. This fusion of simplicity and complexity is the key element, generating disbelief and admiration in those who see this object in person for the first time and are immediately captivated by its beauty and performance quality.

Like other Brionvega Art Products, the totem not only has the versatility offered by the ability to move loudspeakers, but also has the advantage of portability. Four concealed wheels make it easy to move the totem within its housing. This product, like a friend, adapts to the user’s listening needs, easily moving where desired.

The totem is not the only product with a completely innovative design and shape produced by Brionvega in collaboration with Mario Bellini; several television sets are examples of this. Brionvega specifically asked this brilliant architect to push the boundaries of what was known or imaginable on the market at the time.
The totem is the result of an entirely handcrafted production process carried out in Italy thanks to the skill and passion of expert craftsmen. Each production step involves a high level of precision and care. The completely updated in-house technology is the result of collaboration with top Italian and international sound engineers.
Every stage of the production process undergoes scrupulous checks by Brionvega technicians, with the aim of striving for continuous improvement and achieving an
excellent level of quality. The intrinsic beauty of the craftsmanship stages makes each totem unique and unrepeatable. Although extremely similar, each totem
produced is a unique work that is never identical.

The special and extraordinary expertise of the skilled craftsmen is not the only distinguishing feature of Brionvega Art Products. People are also united by a shared passion for these unique and special objects. This is why Art Products are treasured over time by those who use them with the intention of handing them down to future generations as an example of unique and timeless beauty.
Brionvega proudly identifies itself as the guardian of a manufacturing tradition built on a network of decades-long relations with excellent craftsmen, a model of the best Made In Italy.