The P40 Articulated Lounge Chair – Machine for Sitting
Osvaldo Borsani Armchair (P40) 1955, articulated chaise longue. The rubber-armed chair was a sophisticated ‘machine for sitting’ that could it was claimed, assume 486 positions.Read More →
January 31, 2025
The Italian Designers collection highlights the influential figures who have shaped Italian decorative arts, furniture, and industrial design. Renowned for blending tradition with innovation, Italian designers have significantly contributed to historical craftsmanship and contemporary aesthetics. This category explores their impact on furniture, textiles, ceramics, glass, metalwork, and more.
Topics include:
Renaissance and Baroque Masters – The early influence of Filippo Brunelleschi, Andrea Palladio, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini on design.
Mid-Century Modern Icons – Pioneers like Gio Ponti, Achille Castiglioni, and Carlo Scarpa who revolutionized Italian furniture and lighting design.
Postmodern and Radical Design – The contributions of Ettore Sottsass, Alessandro Mendini, and the Memphis Group.
Luxury and High-End Craftsmanship – The artistry of Piero Fornasetti, Franco Albini, and Gaetano Pesce in decorative objects and interiors.
Contemporary Italian Designers – The global impact of Patricia Urquiola, Fabio Novembre, and Piero Lissoni.
Osvaldo Borsani Armchair (P40) 1955, articulated chaise longue. The rubber-armed chair was a sophisticated ‘machine for sitting’ that could it was claimed, assume 486 positions.Read More →
Fontana has shot advertisements for brands such as Fiat, Volkswagen, Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, Snam, Sony, Volvo, Versace, Canon, Kodak, Robe di Kappa, Swissair, and the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and The New York Times.Read More →
La Danese was founded in Milan by Bruno Danese and Jacqueline Vodoz. The company specialised in editing, designing, and marketing well‐designed everyday products with a modern aesthetic. There were three significant focus areas: domestic and office products, artistic editions, and children’s games and creative play stimuli. Read More →
Kartell, a Milanese furniture manufacturer founded in 1949, specialized in innovative plastic injection moldings and modern designs. It expanded globally, earning $100 million annually.Read More →
Flos, established in 1962 by Dino Gavina, specializes in lighting. The company has a strong design legacy and has worked with renowned designers.Read More →
Antonio Zanussi founded a household appliance firm in 1916, evolving from stove repair to innovative designs, merging with Electrolux in 1984, and producing groundbreaking appliances.Read More →
Archizoom Associati, founded in 1966 by architects and designers, challenged conventional design through provocative works like the Mies Chair, embodying the Radical Design movement’s eclecticism.Read More →
Alberto Rosselli was an influential Italian architect and designer known for his work in Milan, including the Jumbo Chair and Pirelli Tower, and significant contributions to industrial design education.Read More →
Vittorio Valabrega, an Italian furniture manufacturer, rose to prominence in the late 19th century for his innovative, wooden furniture designs displayed at various international exhibitions.Read More →
For the introductory 1981 MEMPHIS set, the Ashoka table lamp is an early Ettore Sottsass lighting masterwork as iconoclastic a light/sculpture as you can find anywhere!!Read More →