GIO PONTI (1891-1979)

The present model represents an elegant, sculptural evolution of the high-back lounge chairs, often featuring attenuated wings that Ponti began to develop towards the late 1930s. Unlike those precedents however, the present design reveals a lightness of touch that allows the upholstered elements, secured by brass pins, to float within a space delineated by the organically undulating profile of the carved walnut frame. Designed in 1952, the design acknowledges the craft of the Danish designers, Finn Juhl included, who exhibited the year prior at the prestigious Milan Triennale, however the structure’s fluid agility, anchored by dramatic wings, displays Ponti’s characteristic verve for stylish innovation.