Montecatini office desk/chair

In 1936, the young Gio Ponti began work on the Montecatini office building in Milan. The client, Guido Donegani, president of the Montecatini corporation, give Ponti license to create a total work of art. Given free reign on the project, Ponti created a highly polished building with standardized elements inside to aid in the efficiency of the work environment. Because of international sanctions imposed upon the fascist regime in Italy in the Thirties, Italians were forced to utilize native materials in building and design. As a result, Ponti utilized aluminum extensively throughout the building and its furnishings. The desk and chair offered here are one of eight desk designs and approximately seven chair designs which illustrate the use of aluminum. The green coloration and aluminum trim of the desk offered here mirrors the green tinted stone cladding and aluminum trim of the building itself. The slight taper at the base of the desk leg is a precursor to more exaggerated tapering Ponti gives to later furniture designs. Chair cast with Montecatini. S.A.Modello 1938 under seat and desk stamped 2329.
Aluminum, leather, bakelite, enameled steel, glass
Desk: 39.5w x 20d x 26.5h
Chair: 16w x 17d x 31h.