Vico Magistretti Carimate Midcentury Italian Black Armchair Cassina 1960s
About the Item
- Creator:Cassina (Manufacturer),Vico Magistretti (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 27.17 in (69 cm)Width: 27.96 in (71 cm)Depth: 27.17 in (69 cm)Seat Height: 15.75 in (40 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Circa 1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Reggio Emilia, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3388336977072
Vico Magistretti
As one of the founding fathers of modern Italian design, prolific architect and industrial designer Ludovico Magistretti (known by his nickname Vico) was guided by his philosophy, “There is no excuse for bad design.” His architectural projects are widely revered, and an ingenious meld of form and function can be found in his stylish and deceptively simple table lamps, sofas, armchairs and other mid-century furnishings.
Born in Milan, Magistretti followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather (both architects) to study architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan. At the outbreak of World War II, he fled to Switzerland, and it was there he met his role model and mentor, renowned humanist architect Ernesto Nathan Rogers. Magistretti was inspired by Rogers’s vision to revive postwar Italy, and they collaborated on several reconstruction projects. Among Magistretti’s first architectural designs is a “poetic” round church, which he created for the QT8, an experimental Milanese neighborhood.
When Magistretti returned to Milan in 1945, he worked at his father’s architectural firm. It wasn’t until the early 1950s that he expanded his talents into design while working with furniture artisans.
In the 1960s, Magistretti began his 30-year working relationship with famed entrepreneur Cesare Cassina of the Cassina furniture manufacturing company. In their design approach, the two men shared a vision of the relationship between modernity and tradition and enjoyed a close bond (Magistretti designed Cassina’s luxurious villa in 1965). However, their friendship was not without contention.
Legend has it that upon seeing the prototype for Magistretti’s Maralunga sofa, Cassina hated it so much that he punched it, breaking the back of the sofa, which crumpled into itself.
“Right, great, it looks perfect to me like that,” an unfazed Magistretti allegedly responded, and the Maralunga’s slumped, adjustable-height backrest was born. Incidentally, the Maralunga sofa won Italy’s Compasso d’Oro award as did his Eclisse lamp for Artemide and his Atollo lamp for Oluce.
Magistretti died in 2006, but his designs live on in galleries, museums and private residences and offices around the world.
Find a range of vintage Vico Magistretti furniture and lighting on 1stDibs.
Cassina
Furniture manufacturer Cassina is a prolific design house for more reasons than one: It not only owns the licenses to an exquisite collection of iconic chairs, sofas, tables and other pieces from the 20th and 21st centuries but also produces original works that are characterized by innovation and the finest Italian craftsmanship.
Cassina’s illustrious legacy includes being one of the first companies to bring industrial design to Italy in the 1950s. Founded in 1927 in Meda, Italy, by brothers Cesare and Umberto Cassina, the Italian manufacturing giant originally specialized in bespoke woodworking. In nearly a century since its founding, the company has shown incredible foresight about design trends and the evolution of technology.
In 1964, Cassina signed an exclusive licensing agreement to manufacture furniture by Le Corbusier and his collaborators — such as the LC4 chaise longue made with trailblazing French modernist Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret — a move that would shape the future of the company. Cassina’s I Maestri collection is an ongoing initiative to restyle landmark designs from the 20th century, such as pieces by Gerrit Rietveld (the Red and Blue armchair from 1918), Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Erik Gunnar Asplund, Franco Albini and Frank Lloyd Wright. The company preserves the intentions and original styles of their designs but adds updated techniques, materials and processes — rendering them the best possible combination of past, present and future. The brand has also worked with contemporary icons like Zaha Hadid, Gio Ponti and Philippe Starck.
Cassina’s original designs are cutting-edge as well. They include pieces for everyday use, the development of which is guided by comfort and the marriage of Italian craftsmanship with industrial technology.
Some of Cassina’s pieces, both from its contemporary and I Maestri collections, can be found in the collections of museums like the Museum of Modern Art and the Vitra Design Museum. In 2014, the company became part of Haworth in its acquisition of Italian furniture group Poltrona Frau, and in 2015, Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola joined Cassina as its art director, leading the brand into its next century of inventive style.
Find a collection of new and vintage Cassina furniture on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Reggio Emilia, Italy
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Ico Parisi Italian Midcentury Fabric Wood Armchair Model 814 for Cassina, 1960sBy Ico Parisi, CassinaLocated in Reggio Emilia, ITItalian Mid-Century Modern design set of two armchairs model 814 designed by Ico Parisi for Cassina in 1961, solid wood structure and new fabric covering, Italy 1960s Original Cassin...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- Illum Wikkelsø Scandinavian Midcentury Dark Wood Capella Armchairs 1960sBy Illum Wikkelsø, Niels EilersenLocated in Reggio Emilia, ITCouple of scandinavian midcentury modern design original armchairs model Capella designed by Illum Wikkelsø and produced by Niels Eilersen with structure in solid dark wood and new g...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard Scandinavian Midcentury Rattan Wood Chair Armchair 1960sBy Hvidt & MølgaardLocated in Reggio Emilia, ITScandinavian armchair chair, modern antique vintage, designed by Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard with wooden frame, rattan seat and back, Denmark 1960s production. The session is original of...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsRattan, Wood
- Afra & Tobia Scarpa Italian Wood Black & White Coffe Table for Cassina, 1960sBy Afra & Tobia Scarpa, CassinaLocated in Reggio Emilia, ITItalian Mid-Century Modern design large coffe table771 model designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa and produced by Cassina with solid wood frame and reversible black and white laminate top...Category
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsLaminate
- Andre Vandenbeuck Aluline Armchairs for Strassle International Switzerland 1960sBy Andre Vandenbeuck, Strässle InternationalLocated in Reggio Emilia, ITSet of two midcentury armchairs model ‘Aluline’ designed by Andre’ Vandenbeuck and manufactured by Strassle International with die-cast aluminium frame partially painted black and up...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsAluminum, Steel
- Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Millerr Midcentury Rocking Chair 1960sBy Herman Miller, Charles and Ray EamesLocated in Reggio Emilia, ITAmerican Mid-Century Modern design rocking chair designed by Charles & Ray Eames and produced by Herman Miller with original fiberglass frame and fabric upholstered seat, refurbished...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Vico Magistretti for Cassina Italian 'Carimate' Wooden Dining ArmchairBy Cassina, Vico MagistrettiLocated in New York, NYItalian Mid-Century 'Carimate' dining armchair with a solid blonde wood frame, scooped arms, an open back, and a black woven fabric upholstered seat. (VICO MAGISTRETTI FOR CASSINA).Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsWood, Fabric, Upholstery
- 1960s "896" Vico Magistretti Cassina Italian Design ArmchairBy Cassina, Vico MagistrettiLocated in Brescia, ITIce white leatherette and wood legs Rare model Excellent condiction.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsWood
- Carimate armchair 930 by Vico Magistretti for Cassina, Italy, 1963By Vico Magistretti, CassinaLocated in Padova, ITModel 930 armchair for the Carimate Golf Club-House, Cassina production design Vico Magistretti year 1963. Structure in brown beech wood, seat and back in white bouclè upholstery. Manufacturing label under the frame. Cassina Spa is an Italian company operating in the contemporary furniture sector, founded in 1927 in Meda (Milan) by Cesare and Umberto Cassina. The main activity is woodworking, within the company, for the production of coffee tables. Over the years the company expands, especially after the war, also thanks to collaborations with external architects who bring their expertise and research. In the 1950s, Cassina switched from artisanal to serial production, adopting the logic of industrial design. A change also induced by the commission for furnishings for the interiors of large cruise ships. In addition, some of the company's best-known products took shape during this period: chair 646 and chair 699, known as the "Superleggera", both designed by Gio Ponti. In 1963 Vico Magistretti joins the company team of designers, creating the Carimate armchair...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- Carimate Armchairs by Vico Magistretti for Cassina, 1960s, Set of 2By Vico MagistrettiLocated in Milano, LombardiaCarimate Armchairs by Vico Magistretti for Cassina, 1960s, Set of 2. A classic of Italian design, the Carimate series by the Design Maestro Vico Magistretti for Cassina. Extremely ...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Armchairs
MaterialsRush, Lacquer
- Mid Century Carimate Armchair, Design by Vico Magistretti, Cassina Italy 60sBy Vico Magistretti, CassinaLocated in Lucija, SIMid Century armchair Carimate designed by Vico Magistretti and produce by Cassina in the late 60s Made of solid wood and rope in good vintage condition with traces of use and age on ...Category
Vintage 1960s European Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsRope, Wood
- Carimate Chairs, Design by Vico Magistretti, Cassina Italy 60sBy Vico Magistretti, CassinaLocated in Lucija, SIVico Magistretti designed the original red “Carimate” chair model in 1959 for the homonymous golf club in Italy. The chair received exposure in the ...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsRush, Rope, Wood
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Billy Cotton Layers His Interiors with Lived-In Comfort
The Brooklyn-based designer is adept at styles ranging from austere to over-the-top, espousing an architectural, detail-oriented approach also evident in his line of furniture and lighting.