When Italian design merges with innovation and exceptional craftsmanship, the result transcends the object to become a work of art.
It is in this spirit that Pirelli Design et Dachshund joined forces to give birth to the Teckell Cristallino for Pirelli, a limited edition luxury table football, a true concentration of elegance, performance and know-how Made in Italy:.
This new model will be presented in preview during the Salone del Mobile 2025 in Milan, the temple of international design. It will be released in just 100 numbered copies, embodying the union of two emblematic Italian houses that share the same values: excellence, innovation, tradition.
A collaboration between two icons of design and technology
Founded in 1872, Pirelli has established itself as one of the world leaders in premium tires. As the exclusive partner of Formula 1 until 2027, the Italian brand combines performance, safety, and innovation through a strong commitment to research and development.
Dachshund, for its part, is the flagship brand of B.lab Italia, founded by Gianfranco Barban in 2003. She is world-renowned for her bold creations of tempered glass gaming tables, created in collaboration with renowned designers such as Adrian Design ou Marc SadlerHis creations, distributed in the most exclusive concept stores in Asia, America and Europe, combine art, technique and Italian artisan tradition.
Teckell Cristallino for Pirelli: the elegance of crystal, the DNA of racing
Le Teckell Cristallino for Pirelli redefines the codes of table football. Its structure in heat-tempered glass – Teckell’s signature – gives the whole thing a clean, fluid and contemporary look, while ensuring flawless solidity. The black Corian® playground, with its clean lines and ultra-smooth finish, promises exceptional playing precision.
The design subtly incorporates references to the world of motorsport: the knob pays homage to Pirelli tires used in F1, while the tread pattern of the new PIRELLI P ZERO™ tire is finely engraved on the handles. The set is completed by rubber elements on the feet and controllers, providing optimal grip and premium tactile comfort. It is a piece collector's item intended for design and performance aesthetes.
Table Football: a café game that became a design icon
From European roots to contemporary living rooms, a familiar, convivial object full of nostalgia, the baby foot evokes for many the cafés of yesteryear, evenings with friends and good-natured rivalries. But behind the chrome handles and the snapping of the ball, hides a surprisingly rich history, between invention, wars, cultural transmission and… design.
A plural and cross-border invention
The history of table football begins at the turn of the 20th century, between ingenious imagination et need for reinvention of football in miniature version. And as is often the case with great ideas, several countries claim responsibility for them.
En France, the creation of the sliding football à Lucien Rosengart, an engineer at Citroën, in the 1930s. To keep his children occupied during the winter, he designed a homemade version of table football – a game that was as strategic as it was fun, intended for family use.
On the other side of the Channel, it is a certain Harold Thornton, a British football enthusiast, who files a patent in 1923 for a “table football game” aimed at simulating the movements of the king of sports in a living room format.
But the most romantic story probably comes from Spain. Wounded during the spanish civil war, Alexander Finisterre imagines a table football game accessible to hospitalized children. He calls it football, patented it, and helped popularize the game in the Iberian Peninsula.
Post-war table football: an icon of European cafés
It's after the Second World War that table football is experiencing a real boom in Europe. In France, it is becoming a permanent fixture in bistros and becomes a pillar of the popular culture. Manufacturers like Bonzini, Star, Rene Pierre ou Sulpie develop robust, solid wood models with a style that is instantly recognizable. In Germany, brands such as leonhart impose their mechanical rigor, and in the United States, the term is adopted football.
Over the decades, table football has become much more than just a game: it embodies the spirit of camaraderie, relaxed competition, and evencollective education, where we learn to aim, to pass, to anticipate – in miniature.
From popular object to symbol of lifestyle, table football has stood the test of time without losing its soul. Its history, like its game, is played out at the crossroads of generations, cultures and now... design.
More than just a game, the Teckell Cristallino for Pirelli is part of the Italian tradition of exceptional designIt celebrates the union of two worlds—precision engineering and refined aesthetics—to create a collectible that is both playful and sculptural. Each piece, handcrafted by master craftsmen, tells a story of heritage, innovation, and passion.
With this unique collaboration, Pirelli and Teckell prove that a table football table can become a masterpiece. An invitation to rediscover the game through the prism of luxury and design.
Patrick Koune
