Cassina Giò Ponti 699 Superleggera | 1957
Chair model 699 Superleggera produced by Cassina design Giò Ponti, 1957. Structure in wood, seat upholstered in fabric.
Private Collection.
| Dimensions | 82 × 38 × 48 cm (height length depth ) |
|---|
A perfect balance between solidity and lightness: the adoption of the triangular section of only 18 millimeters in the structure of the legs and the achievement of a weight of 1.7 kilos lead to the identification at of the limit of the shape with the structure. The chair was born conceived by from Ponti’s desire to reinvent one of the strongest examples of the Italian vernacular tradition, the archetype of the straw chair: the chiavari chair, one of the symbols of Ligurian craftsmanship since the nineteenth century. He then decides to develop his project following the key concepts of the historic seat: lightness, simplicity and stability but above all low production and purchase costs. His interest in the project therefore began in the immediate post-war period of Italy, which created an ideal social and economic context. In fact, there was a need to create low-cost furnishings to meet the economic difficulties of the population.
Photographs from a private collection (Museo Della Sedia) of vintage Italian design chairs. © All rights reserved.
Send us information, suggestions or corrections from our contact page.
Cassina Giò Ponti 699 Superleggera | 1957
Chair model 699 Superleggera produced by Cassina design Giò Ponti, 1957. Structure in wood, seat upholstered in fabric.
Private Collection.
| Dimensions | 82 × 38 × 48 cm (height length depth ) |
|---|
A perfect balance between solidity and lightness: the adoption of the triangular section of only 18 millimeters in the structure of the legs and the achievement of a weight of 1.7 kilos lead to the identification at of the limit of the shape with the structure. The chair was born conceived by from Ponti’s desire to reinvent one of the strongest examples of the Italian vernacular tradition, the archetype of the straw chair: the chiavari chair, one of the symbols of Ligurian craftsmanship since the nineteenth century. He then decides to develop his project following the key concepts of the historic seat: lightness, simplicity and stability but above all low production and purchase costs. His interest in the project therefore began in the immediate post-war period of Italy, which created an ideal social and economic context. In fact, there was a need to create low-cost furnishings to meet the economic difficulties of the population.
Photographs from a private collection (Museo Della Sedia) of vintage Italian design chairs. © All rights reserved.
Send us information, suggestions or corrections from our contact page.
