50th anniversary of Cassina's iMaestri Collection

Brand story by Alun Lennon
Meda (Mi), Italy
13.07.23

2023 sees Italian furniture brand Cassina celebrate 50 years of its iMaestri Collection, with names including Gio Ponti and Carlo Scarpa being this year added to an already illustrious list of iconic designs and designers.

Cassina's iMaestri Collection celebrates its 50th year in 2023, and welcomes a number of new names including long-time collaborator Vico Magistretti, author of the iconic Maralunga sofa. Photo: Francesco Dolfo

This year marks 50 years since the launch of the Cassina iMaestri Collection. This is an important landmark for the company, renowned for its unique and pioneering method of authentically editing the great classic designs, including iconic models by significant figures such as Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Gerrit Thomas Rietveld, to name just a few.

In 2023, the Cassina iMaestri Collection evolves to welcome new authors who have written the history of design and therefore earned their rightful place in this emblematic universe: Vico Magistretti, Gio Ponti, Carlo Scarpa and, anticipating the launch of its lighting collection in 2024, Charles and Ray Eames.

Another creator with close Cassina connections and also being welcomed into the iMaestri family is Gio Ponti, designer of the Principi chair. Photos: Francesco Dolfo

New introductions to the collection include an elegant wooden chair designed in 1960 by Gio Ponti for the Parco dei Principi hotel in Rome. The uniqueness of this model lies in the open-pore ash frame enhanced by haute woodwork details, such as the backrest that stands out for a particular cut that recalls the shape of a diamond. The piece displays Ponti’s distinctive sophisticated style and its inclusion in the collection celebrates Cassina’s decades-long relationship with the famous architect.

In 2023, Cassina also presents the limited edition Doge Laguna table from another maestro, architect Carlo Scarpa. The project was completed in close collaboration with Scarpa's son Tobia. Photos: Francesco Dolfo

Another addition to the Collection is a version of the Doge table originally designed by Carlo Scarpa in 1968. The limited edition Doge Laguna table was developed in close collaboration with Tobia Scarpa, son of the maestro, and is an homage to the ancient art of glassmaking that evokes the ripples of the Venetian lagoon in its extra-clear glass top. Available in two dimensions, Doge maintains its iconic sculptural steel base which enhances the architectural character of the table.

Vico Magistretti Maralunga sofa also celebrates its 50th birthday this year. To mark the occasion, a special version available for a limited time, Maralunga 50, is presented in nubuck leather and sporting a specific shade of red, favoured by the designer

Finally, the iconic Maralunga model, which also celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, has been released as an exclusive edition for a limited time only in red nubuck leather. This particular shade of red is a true hallmark of the architect Vico Magistretti that has been constant throughout his life and career, becoming a symbol of his nonconformism in the design world.

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