In the past we have stocked at Roomscape original vintage Marco Zanuso armchairs. As originals are difficult to come by, especially in pairs, and often there are issues with condition, we arranged to have this model newly made. Working with local craftsman in Italy using traditional methods to exact specifications and quality materials, each armchair has a quality wooden frame. Each frame sits on 4 removable handmade solid polished brass legs. All the components meet fire regulations.
Available to order individually or in pairs, these armchairs are available in a choice of 4 colour quality velvets as photographed: ivory, greige, dark sage and light blue. We are happy to send the fabric colour swatches by post for you to see the colour & material closer-up. Please email your requirements to info@roomscape.net.
Architect Marco Zanuso (1916-2001)
Zanuso
was one of a group of Italian designers from Milan shaping the Modernist Movement after the Second World War.
He was an early pioneer of new technologies & materials.
The `Senior` Chair designed in 1951 for Arflex, a division of Pirelli, was
Zanuso`s
clever solution to the Company`s request for new furniture shapes using foam rubber.
Not only was the result innovative in terms of manufacturing but also in style. The foam rubber upholstery hides the frame completely. This allowed for organic sculptural shapes where the internal structure becomes a decorative part of the design. The `Senior` chair along with the `Lady` chair (featured in an original 1950`s interior) won gold that year at the IX Triennale in Milan. This award sealed the chair`s place in design history and the future of interiors.
Today Zanuso`s chair is just as relevant. In 2012 the iconic chair was featured in the work of New York artist
Robert Fontanelli who pushes design close to eroticism.
Zanuso graduated as an Architect from the Politecnico di Milano University. After a brief stint as a town planner he opened his own design office in 1945. This
2015 illustration from Federico Babina makes period references to suggest the story behind Zanuso`s designs.
Zanuso was one of the first designers to study `industrialisation` of products. Shifting from costly handcrafted furniture to economic industrialised design accessible to more people.
Zanuso also worked as editor for the Italian magazines Domus (1947-49) & Casabella (1952-54). For over thirty years he taught at the Polytechnic in Milan.
Zanuso`s designs are included in several museums including the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He won the Gold Medal award & the Grand Award a number of times at the Milan Triennale. His work as an architect and designer earned him the Golden Compass award many times, and the career award in 1985.
This article first appeared in Roomscape`s monthly mailout of new arrivals. Be sure to receive the next edition by
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