Fortuny Seating
Spanish fashion designer Mariano Fortuny was a true artist who worked with beautiful fabrics as his medium of choice. Although he showed talent in painting, sculpting, photography and architecture at an early age, fashion was where he really shined.
Fortuny was an innovator in the world of textile design, he drew on classical Greek tunics for his rich and interesting garments and worked with a revolutionary system for creating pleats. He designed a range of clothing for his couture house, and today, vintage Fortuny evening gowns, gemstone-colored day dresses, coats and accessories like drawstring bags are known for their fine craftsmanship and signature elegance.
Fortuny was born Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo in 1871 in Granada, into a family of artists. His father died when Fortuny was only three years old, and his mother moved the family to Paris. As a child, Fortuny was fond of experimenting and figuring out how things worked. He even dyed pieces of fabric from his family's textile collection, which had been amassed from shops around Europe.
In 1889, the family moved again, this time to Venice. Here, Fortuny found inspiration in the past, which would influence his future designs. Not long after, the young Fortuny set off to travel the continent. In 1897, he visited Paris and fell in love with a dressmaker named Henriette Negrin. She became his muse, his wife and his creative partner — Negrin worked with Fortuny on clothing designs and fabrics — and the two settled in the French capital.
A lifelong inventor, Fortuny began patenting his creations in 1901. By 1934, he had registered more than 20 patents. At the same time, his fashion career was taking off.
In 1907, he designed the Delphos gown with Negrin, which French novelist and essayist Marcel Proust described as "faithfully antique but markedly original." Fortuny had worked from his home until 1922 when increased demand required large-scale production. He opened a factory in Venice, where due to the scarcity of silk, he began experimenting with cotton.
In 1927, New York interior designer Elsie McNeill traveled to Paris to meet Fortuny and became his exclusive American distributor. She returned to the United States and introduced Fortuny's designs to New World audiences. Shops opened in Paris, New York and London. Toward the end of the 1930s, Fortuny returned to painting and stepped away from the busy fashion industry.
After Fortuny passed away in 1949, McNeill took over the label and continued running it until 1988, when it was purchased by the Riad family, who remain at the helm of Fortuny today.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Fortuny clothing and accessories.
Mid-20th Century Italian Chinese Chippendale Fortuny Seating
Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Fortuny Seating
Upholstery, Wood
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Fortuny Seating
Upholstery, Giltwood
Late 20th Century American Fortuny Seating
Upholstery, Wood
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Fortuny Seating
Steel, Chrome
Late 20th Century French Provincial Fortuny Seating
Upholstery
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fortuny Seating
Upholstery, Lucite
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fortuny Seating
Steel, Nickel
1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fortuny Seating
Wool, Beech
1970s Vintage Fortuny Seating
Wood
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fortuny Seating
Leather, Fiberglass, Foam
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Louis XVI Fortuny Seating
Wood
20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny Seating
Leather
1860s English Victorian Antique Fortuny Seating
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Fortuny Seating
Fabric, Faux Bamboo
20th Century American Chinese Chippendale Fortuny Seating
Fabric, Rattan
1950s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Fortuny Seating
Brass
19th Century Spanish Renaissance Revival Antique Fortuny Seating
Silk, Oak
Fortuny seating for sale on 1stDibs.
Creators Similar to Fortuny
- Where is Fortuny manufactured?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Founded in 1922, Mariano Fortuny’s designs are handcrafted on the island of Giudecca, in Venice, Italy. Fortuny is famous for its pleated dresses, and for its technique of pleating, which has never been revealed. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Fortuny pieces from some of the world’s top sellers.