96 - VICO MAGISTRETTI (Italy, 1920–2006) for Cassina.

VICO MAGISTRETTI (Italy, 1920–2006) for Cassina. Pair of “Veranda” armchairs, Italy. Black metal and turquoise fabric upholstery. In good condition, with visible wear on the upholstery. Measurements: 95 x 75 x 85 cm (x2); 95 x 95 x 150 cm (extended, x2). Pair of armchairs from the Veranda series, designed by Vico Magistretti for Cassina in 1983. The design is based on a flexible concept of furniture, inspired by the veranda as an intermediate space between the interior and the exterior. Its separate seats, articulated backrests, and a frame designed to adapt to different positions allow the armchair’s configuration to be transformed from an upright position to a more reclined one, complete with leg support. This versatility reflects the designer’s interest in rethinking the conventional uses of seating and reconciling functionality, comfort, and modernity. Vico Magistretti studied at the Polytechnic University of Milan, graduating in 1945, and was a follower of Ernesto Nathan Rogers. During the 1950s, he worked in industrial design, creating furniture and lighting fixtures; some of his works are housed in major museums across Europe, the United States, and Japan, with his inclusion in the permanent collection of MoMA in New York being particularly noteworthy. Throughout his career, Magistretti was honored with numerous awards, including the gold medal at the 1951 Milan Triennale and the Grand Prix at the 1954 Triennale, the Compasso d’Oro award in 1967 and again in 1979, and the gold medal from the Chartered Society of Industrial Artists & Designers in 1986.