Pair of "Senior" Armchairs by Marco Zanuso for Arflex, Italy, 1960
About the Item
- Creator:Marco Zanuso (Designer),Arflex (Manufacturer)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 39.38 in (100 cm)Width: 30.32 in (77 cm)Depth: 35.44 in (90 cm)Seat Height: 14.97 in (38 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1960
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Piacenza, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1031632953022
Marco Zanuso
Italian designer Marco Zanuso helped cement his country’s place as a world leader in furniture design that used new materials in revolutionary ways.
Zanuso was part of a generation of furniture designers who encouraged a sharp departure from the traditionalism and classicalism that reigned over the design industry before the war. These designers, who are associated with what we now call mid-century modernism, experimented with new technologies and materials to deliver on the world’s newfound need for streamlined products that represented the future.
After graduating from the Polytechnic University of Milan in 1939 with a degree in architecture, Zanuso served in the Navy during World War II. Soon after the war, he opened his own design firm in Milan in 1945. He later became an editor at well-regarded design magazines Domus and Casabella.
Zanuso used this editorial platform to both promote new Italian designs as well as his own pieces, some of which he made using unconventional materials like foam and latex. For instance, his famous Lady armchair from 1951 is a composition of foam rubber and Nastro Cord, a recently invented textile band of rubberized fabric that eliminated the need for metal springs. It was one of several pieces he designed for Italian manufacturer Arflex, along with the 1949 Antropus chair and the 1951 Sleep-o-matic sofa.
Zanuso often collaborated with other like-minded creatives. From 1955 until 1957, he was Olivetti’s architect, designing factories across Brazil, and for nearly two decades, he collaborated with German designer Richard Sapper. The pair’s most famous product is the 4999 children’s chair, manufactured in the 1960s by Kartell in Italy. The stackable chair was the first to be manufactured entirely of injection-molded plastic.
Zanuso and Sapper also partnered on the 1962 Brionvega Doney 14, the first European-made portable transistor TV; its sleek, compact and curvy form deeply influenced the design of television sets that followed, which were far more sculptural in form than the rigid boxes that characterized early models.
From the 1970s onward, Zanuso taught architecture and industrial design at the Polytechnic University of Milan. He still exercised his creative talents, planning the headquarters for computer companies and renovating Italian theaters.
Each of Zanuso’s elegant works were demonstrative of a forward-looking sensibility. His projects saw an integration of novel industrial materials that not only helped emphasize the beauty of good design but also played a role in rendering these well-made products accessible to everyday consumers.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage Marco Zanuso furniture, including armchairs, sofas, table lamps and other items.
Arflex
From its unorthodox beginnings, Italian manufacturer Arflex grew into one of the leaders of 20th-century furniture design. Its furniture came to be known for its integration of new materials and bold appeal, and today a variety of vintage Arflex chairs, sofas and tables are emblems of mid-century modernism.
Arflex was established in Milan in 1947 by Pirelli employees Carlo Barassi, Pio Reggiani, Renato Teani and Aldo Bai. Barassi, a Milan Polytechnic graduate and visionary engineer at the Italian tire manufacturer, explored innovative technology and new uses for synthetic materials in domestic products (for Kartell, he codeveloped a ski rack for automobiles). The four founders partnered with a young architect named Marco Zanuso, who also desired to create furniture that featured an application of novel materials such as elastic tape and polyurethane foam.
One of Arflex’s inaugural pieces was Zanuso’s Lady armchair, a seat made of polyurethane foam that was manufactured in pieces and assembled at the very end of the production process. It won a gold medal at the 1951 Milan Triennale. A couple of years later, Arflex collaborated with Studio BBPR to create the office-chic Elettra and Neptunia chairs. The flourishing furniture company quickly established a reputation for compelling products and attracting and working with up-and-coming designers such as Roberto Menghi, who created Hall, a luxurious line of seating that would earn the Compasso d’Oro – Honorable Mention in 1959.
In the 1960s, Arflex continued to welcome the use of new and cutting-edge materials. Popular designs from this decade include Carlo Bartoli's fiberglass and polyester resin Gaia lounge chair and Cini Boer’s Bobo Relax lounger, one of history’s first seating pieces made of polyurethane foam (it has no internal frame). Boer, a pioneer of furniture design in Italy, also created the Strips sofa for the brand in 1972. Part of a plush modular seating system, the Strips sofa became an Arflex icon and was awarded the Compasso d'Oro in 1979.
Arflex continues to work with innovative designers to this day. Among their more recent collaborations is with Swedish design studio Claesson Koivisto Rune. The company's legendary creations are also on display at museums worldwide. The Lady chair, for example, is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
On 1stDibs, you can find a collection of vintage Arflex lounge chairs, armchairs, coffee tables and other furniture.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Piacenza, Italy
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Midcentury pair of "Square" armchairs by Marco Zanuso for Arflex, Italy 1960By Marco Zanuso, ArflexLocated in Piacenza, ItalyPair of "Square" armchairs or lounge chairs designed by Marco Zanuso for Arflex, in 1962. Original leather upholstery. Very good vintage condition.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Midcentury coffee table by Marco Zanuso for Techniform, Italy 1960sBy Marco ZanusoLocated in Piacenza, ItalyMidcentury coffee table by Marco Zanuso for Techniform. Stunning square coffee or bar table, wood structure, central top and storage compartment. Perfect vintage condition Italy 1960sCategory
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsWood
- Midcentury Italian table mod. TL 58 by Marco Zanuso for PoggiBy Poggi, Marco ZanusoLocated in Piacenza, ItalyMidcentury table model TL 58 designed by Marco Zanuso for Poggi Italy, 1970 Bibl.: Giuliana Gramigna Repertorio del Design Italiano1950-2000 Allemandi 2011 pag. 224Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Tables
MaterialsWood
- Elegant Pair of Italian ArmchairsBy Gio PontiLocated in Piacenza, ItalyVery elegant pair of midcentury Italian armchairs inspired to Gio Ponti. Shaped and comfortable with original wood legs. Grey velvet upholstery.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsVelvet
- Midcentury pair of armchairs by ISA Bergamo, Italy, 1950By ISA BergamoLocated in Piacenza, ItalyStunning pair of ISA Bergamo armchairs, Italy 1950s. Original shaped feet attributed to Gio Ponti. The model is particularly comfortable thanks to the high back and the design. Newl...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsBrass
- Midcentury pair of armchairs by Paolo Buffa, Italy 1940sBy Paolo BuffaLocated in Piacenza, ItalyIconic pair of high back armchairs with large seat and big armrest designed by Paolo Buffa Original structure, with red faux leather upholstery, perfect vintage condition Italy, 19...Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsWood, Faux Leather
- Marco Zanuso Senior Chairs, Pure Mohair, Arflex, Italy, 1960sBy Marco Zanuso, ArflexLocated in London, GBAn pair of authentic marco zanuso senior chairs, Arflex, Italy, 1960s. These chairs have been reupholstered in a premium, ivory, 100% mohair velvet. Fast shipping worldwide.Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBrass
- PAIR of original SENIOR Armchairs by Marco ZANUSO, Arflex ItalyBy Marco ZanusoLocated in Berlin, BerlinAn early original pair of the 'Senior' lounge chair, upholstered in new green English velvet. Metal frame with brass leg fittings and wooden construction. Literature: Repertorio del...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsVelvet
- Pair of Marco Zanuso for Arflex 'Senior' Lounge Chairs, Italy, circa 1951By Marco Zanuso, ArflexLocated in New York, NYA pair of the iconic 'Senior' lounge chairs, designed by Marco Zanuso and manufactured by Arflex, in Italy, 1951. This pair have been fully restored and newly upholstered in our prof...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric
- Marco Zanuso for Arflex, Pair of Woodline Armchairs, 1960 approx.By Marco Zanuso, ArflexLocated in Baranzate, ITPair of 722 Woodline armchairs by Marco Zanuso. Bent plywood frame and lacquatp, upholstery covered in white corduroy. Prod. Arflex, Italy, ca 1960Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsVelvet, Wood
- Marco Zanuso Pair of Martingala armchairs for Arflex, Italy, 1950sBy Marco Zanuso, ArflexLocated in Chiavari, LiguriaAn elegant pair of early Martingala armchairs by Marco Zanuso for Arflex, designed in the 1950s and reupholstered in high-quality grey fabric, are now in excellent vintage condition....Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsBrass
- Pair of Lady armchair by Marco Zanuso for Arflex 1951By Marco Zanuso, ArflexLocated in Meulebeke, BEDesigned in 1951 by Italian architect and furniture maker Marco Zanuso, these iconic chairs are a symbol of stylish, material and technological innovation. They won a gold medal at t...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsMetal