53 - PAOLO DEGANELLO (Este, Padua, 1940) for Cassina.

PAOLO DEGANELLO (Este, Padua, 1940) for Cassina. “AEO” armchair, designed in 1973. Produced in the 1980s. Lacquered steel frame, molded plastic base, black leather, and a padded cushion upholstered in light gray fabric. In good condition, with creases, scuffs, and signs of wear consistent with its age. Measurements: 105 x 80 x 75 cm. PAOLO DEGANELLO (Este, Padua, 1940) for Cassina. “AEO” armchair, designed in 1973. Produced in the 1980s. Lacquered steel frame, molded plastic base, black leather, and a padded cushion upholstered in light gray fabric. In good condition, with scuffs and signs of wear consistent with its age. Measurements: 105 x 80 x 75 cm. The “AEO” model is one of the most representative examples of radical Italian design from the 1970s. Conceived by Paolo Deganello in 1973 for Cassina, it is linked to the research of the Archizoom Associati group, of which the designer was a founding member. Its approach represented a deliberate break with the conventional armchair, challenging traditional concepts of luxury and comfort through an experimental construction based on industrial materials and independent components. The model was originally conceived as a modular piece of furniture, with interchangeable elements and various upholstery options, anticipating new forms of production and customization in home furnishings. Its formal uniqueness and historical significance are reflected in its inclusion in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, which holds an example manufactured in 1987. Paolo Deganello is a leading figure in contemporary Italian design. After earning a degree in architecture from the University of Florence in 1966, he founded—that same year—the Archizoom Associati studio alongside Andrea Branzi, Gilberto Corretti, and Massimo Morozzi; the studio became one of the leading exponents of Italian radical design. After the collective disbanded, he pursued an independent career as an architect, designer, and educator, characterized by a critical perspective on industrial production and aesthetic conventions. His work is represented in institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.