Past and present:iconic furniture that shaped the history of design
Introduced during various editions of the Salone del Mobile, some pieces of Made in Italy furniture have become unique and distinctive pieces. Since 1961, when the event was first held, new boundaries have been explored, experimenting and revealing a new, revolutionary style that could adapt to the new contemporary needs. Furniture such as Plia, the chair that investigates plastics, Tolomeo, one of the best-selling lamps ever, and Michetta sofa, which asserted the comeback of capitonné, became landmarks of Italian design.
The Plia chair, envisioned by Giancarlo Piretti and presented in 1967 at the Milan Furniture Fair, completely revolutionized the concept of a foldable chair thanks to the use of an innovative "3-disc pivot." Transparent, made of polypropylene and featuring a simple design, Plia was born to be an additional element that could be used in case of unexpected guests and easily combined with the surrounding furniture. Besides having sold millions of units, one version is exhibited in the design section of the MoMa in New York.
Its name was decided the night before it was presented at the Salone del Mobile. The Tolomeo Lamp, designed by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina for their studio, made the joint system one of its most brilliant and innovative features. Versatile and edited in many versions, it can be oriented easily and quickly, even with one hand. The lamp head can rotate as needed in line with countless positions, thanks to the spring balancing mechanism. Winner of the Compasso d'Oro in 1989, Tolomeo ranks among the best-selling lamps ever.
Inspired by Baroque style but reimagined with a contemporary twist, Ferruccio Laviani's Bourgie overturns the idea of a table lamp into a versatile, light object full of personality. Thanks to a superior workmanship of transparent polycarbonate, the true star of the design, the lamp seems to shine like precious crystal. The three worked and intersected sections of the base host a large head with a pleated effect which, once turned on, produces original luminous reflections. Presented during the 2014 International Furniture Fair, Bourgie can be mounted on three different heights, adjusting to any style and setting.
Modular and elegant, the Michetta sofa carries on the tradition of the collection designed by Gaetano Pesce since 2005, which also includes the iconic La Michetta sofa. Capitonné (unstructured) takes on new, sensual and enveloping forms in the name of color and comfort. Presented at the 2012 Furniture Fair, Michetta includes a series of customizable modular elements.
Introduced at the 1981 Milan Furniture Fair, Ettore Sottsass' Carlton bookcase was an immediate and surprising success, conceptualizing the Memphis group's idea of revolutionizing design. The piece stands out for its vibrant colors and a structure that recalls the architecture of modernism, along with the shape, which recalls the image of a man with his arms raised and legs spread. Used as a bookcase or room divider, Carlton seems to be an unstable construction of geometric shapes featuring assembled colored laminate panels and two handy sliding drawers.
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