Bernini - Massimo Vignelli - Armchair (2) - Meeting 5080 - Leather

Pair of Armchairs «Incontro 5080» Massimo & Lella Vignelli for Bernini, 1991 – Italy

Exquisite pair of armchairs model "Incontro 5080" designed by Massimo & Lella Vignelli for Bernini. A simple structure characteristic of Italian modern design. Bernini has worked with precious woods since its foundation, as in this case, where the main body is formed with curved walnut veneers. The black leather is used for the interior of the seat, backrest, and armrests. At the bottom, four wheels with a metal framework for greater practicality. The Italian designers used new industrial technologies, combining functionality with simplicity, to create all kinds of objects, from buildings to furniture or various domestic items, many of which have become iconic designs.

Massimo Vignelli (1931 - 2014) and his wife Lella (1934 - 2016) worked as graphic designers and advertising consultants for Knoll during the 1970s, achieving worldwide recognition. Moreover, this couple collaborated on numerous furniture projects. Their studio, "Vignelli Associates", based in New York, applies a modern aesthetic that reflects clarity, beauty, and functionality.

Bernini

Founded in 1904 in Libiola, Italy, Bernini began producing mainly tools, hardware, and wooden furniture, always showcasing its deep knowledge of carpentry. After World War I, the firm began working with architects such as Giovanni Muzio or Gio Ponti to produce handcrafted and exclusive custom-made pieces. By the late 1950s, Bernini started mass-producing furniture and obtained different licenses to manufacture products following the design of prominent artists. The collaboration with Gianfranco Frattini yielded Bernini’s first in-house furniture collection (1960), which included tables, chairs, and bookcases, creating a link between traditional typologies and modern forms. Even before relocating in 1965 to Carate Brianza, Bernini had begun expanding its range of innovative plastic furniture. One of the early designs in this category was the Nastro CL9 lounge chair by Cesare Leonardi and Franca Stagi (1961). The modular table Quattro quarti by Rodolfo Bonetto (1969) and Gaetano Pesce’s deliberately imperfect Broadway chairs (1993) attest to a continued interest in new, unconventional materials and forms. Yet the company’s preferred material remained precious woods. They were used for Joe Colombo’s Combi-Center (1963/64), as well as for the multifunctional cabinet Rampa (1965) by the Castiglioni brothers. Bernini embarked on an important collaboration with architect Carlo Scarpa in the 1960s and continues to produce many of its furniture designs to this day. The more recent designers for this house include Karim Rashid and Toshiyuki Kita. In addition to mass-produced furniture, Bernini Museum Workshop also manufactures specialized display products for museums.

Dimensions: 94 x 62 x 60 cm.

The shipping of the product will be paid by the buyer according to the dimensions, weight, and destination. Shipping costs include custom-made professional packaging; and the shipment will be insured and trackable. DUE TO THE DIMENSIONS OF THE PIECE, IT IS PREFERRED TO ARRANGE SHIPPING WITH THE BUYER. SHIPPING COSTS ARE ESTIMATES.