44 - Bonacina, attributed to

Bonacina, attributed to Two-seater sofa and armchair Rattan Date of creation: circa 1950–1960 Sofa: L 98 cm (approx.) Armchair: L 57 cm (approx.) Shows normal wear for its age; the rattan has a beautiful patina A rare rattan living room set consisting of an armchair and a two-seater bench, notable for the quality of its bending and the elegance of its organic lines. The frames are made of hot-bent rattan, with double curved armrests and seats formed from a delicate assembly of rattan canes that follow a continuous curve between the seat and the backrest. The construction reflects exceptional craftsmanship: multiple uprights, crossbars reinforced with rattan bindings, complex curves, and particularly harmonious proportions. The design evokes the finest postwar Italian furniture and is reminiscent of pieces produced by Bonacina as well as certain models attributed to Franco Albini or Vittorio Bonacina, though a definitive attribution cannot be made at this stage. The set stands out for its light and sculptural aesthetic, emblematic of Mediterranean furniture from the 1950s, which is now highly sought after by collectors of Italian design. Comparative bibliography: Italian productions by Bonacina, Dal Vera, and Vittorio Bonacina, circa 1950–1960. In Lurago d’Erba, in Brianza, the Bonacina workshops transformed rattan into a material of modern Italian design, collaborating in the postwar period with architects such as Franco Albini, whose “Margherita” armchair was introduced in 1951. This hot-bent rattan lounge chair, with its double armrests, multiple uprights, and reinforcing ties, is a testament to this craftsmanship. The seat, formed of slender canes that follow a continuous curve from the seat to the backrest, gives it a light and sculptural silhouette. In the absence of a mark, attribution is based on comparison with the firm’s other works.