Italian Deco Design really Catching on.............

Pair of Italian Deco Chairs by Ulrich

We started to carry Deco pieces by known designers before people became aware of how great these pieces really were.  We found our job was to try to educate.  In the mean time while trying to educate, I have educated myself as well.  Two years ago, I would have said Gio Ponti ,Who?  Now I find his name flowing freely from off my tongue.  I can speak of Osvaldo Borsani, Paolo Buffa, and Guglielmo Ulrich fondly as if they were old friends, and in away they are.

Chandelier Gio Ponti

We are able to bring them somewhat alive by having their beautifully designed and well executed pieces in our shop and on line.  Being so close to their works makes you fond of the men themselves.  Most if not all of these men were architects like our own Frank Lloyd Wright, who were on the cutting edge of architectural Design.

Large wall cabinet by Osvaldo Borsani

They had a problem.  Their work was clean, with plane lines totally different than the more elaborate designs of prior years as a result, there was not any furniture appropriate for their buildings.  The answer was design what you need yourself.  Gio Ponti designed the furniture for whole hotels.  Frank Lloyd Wright was rightfully picky about how his buildings were furnished.

Frank Lloyd Wright Dining table

Vico Magstretti

Vico Magstretti 1920-2006

We just got in a huge 64 1/2 inch square dinning table with a composite top by Vico Magstretti.  A Renaissance Designer out of Italy.

Photo from "Domus" of the same Magstretti table that we acquired

There was the Italian Renaissance in the 15th century of the arts, but truly when you consider the achievements of the Architects and Designers of the 20th century there seems to have been another Renaissance going on through out the world.  Architects like Gio Pointi, Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Giovanni Michelucci,  Mies van der Rohe, and Walter Gropius all were multi-talented men that excelled in their work in many mediums.

Carimate Chair by Vico Magstretti

Modernism was taking off, and people were enthused with the idea of change. Ideas took flight and one great concept led to another multipling.  A great change was taking place, and these men were in the midst of a new wave of change, and they were aware of what was occurring.  They wanted to design cities and completely new life styles.

Frank Lloyd Wright Dinning Table by Henridon

Frank Lloyd Wright wanted to design not only his home and industrial buildings but every thing in these buildings.  We have a Dinning table that he designed.  Vico Magistretti, an Architect, who designed our table and other pieces of furniture to go into his buildings.  He even designed glass pieces working with Vistosi.  His glass globe sconces are simple and beautiful.  He believed in conceptual design working on pieces that would lend themselves to his interiors, with a clean and elegant designs nothing fussy.

connect the dots

There definitely is a connection between the emergence of modern architecture and the concept of modern furniture. If you designed a building using new concepts and simple lines, what kind of furniture would go in a building like this? The answer would be either to consult with furniture designers or more simply design pieces to fit into your own buildings. This is what Gio Ponti did. Frank Lloyd Wright designed furniture to go into his homes he designed.
Frankl trained as an architect and was so influenced by the emergence of the sky scrapers that he designed furniture inspired by them. As a result designers began designing furniture with the new architecture in mind.