Gio Ponti
Such was the determinism of Gio Ponti (1891-1979) to perfect both functionality and durability in his 1957 Superleggera chair design, he had each prototype thrown from a fourth-floor window, settling only for the eventual design which landed intact.
Ponti pulled off a seemingly impossible juggling act: architect, industrial and furniture designer, even dipping into costume and set design, in a career that spanned six decades. His most famous architectural designs include the Mathematics Department at the University of Rome and the Pirelli Tower in his home city of Milan.
Ponti’s aim in all his commissions was a simple one: marrying simplistic form and functionality and creating a thing of beauty – big or small. His chairs are, for instance, lightweight and uncomplicated shapes but made with durable woods or metals in a timeless style; as lasting a legacy as any of his great buildings.
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Gio PontiPair of 'Superleggera' Dining ChairsMade in Italy£ 4,400.00
c.1950
Ash wood and hand knotted straw
H84 x W40 x D45 cm
Seat Height 40cm -
Gio PontiPair of fireside chairsFor Casa & Giardino£ 5,200.00
Ash and woven hemp rope
H103 x W39 x D49 cm -
Gio PontiFull length mirrorAttributed to designer
c.1960s
Brass
H171 x W105 cmSold -
Gio PontiArmchairFor Bonacina£ 1,800.00
c.1950s
Bamboo and cane with an upholstered cushion in Anni Albers Collection Black mountain Honey Weave by Christopher Farr Cloth
H124 x W87 x D83 cm -
Gio PontiChair for the Montecatini office buildingc.1938£ 2,800.00
Die-cast aluminium
Manufacturer: Parma Antonio & Figli, Italy
H86 x W43 x D40 cm
