Like the 1958 Mitzi armchair, this model belongs to the most well-known chair designs of Italian designer, Ezio Longhi. This pair of lounge chairs takes one back to post-war Italy, when the now world-famous free form designs of the 1950s and 60s started emerging.

This pair of ribbed-back chairs has a fantastic retro feel and look to it, enhanced by the colour scheme and materials. The wood is elegant, timeless, natural, and strong. Yet, it still offers plenty of durability and in this case, defines the curves of the armrests and backs beautifully. The gently bent back, the ribbed seat and back cushions, and the widening armrests are all in service of the ergonomic design, which was evidently of utmost importance to Longhi. Every single line is well-thought-out, and the joinery is seamless. This does not come as a surprise, since the Lombardian designer was a trained cabinetmaker and architect, and the son of a woodcarver. This pair embodies the classical elegance of Italian mid-century furniture, and the artistry and craftsmanship of Ezio Longhi, who was the founder of the Elam (acronym for Ezio Longhi Arredamenti Moderni) furniture brand.

These chairs are much rarer than the Mitzi, which is why they have become a collector’s item. Longhi’s book, The Diary of a Carpenter, ends with a quote from Giorgio Bocca: “Until yesterday I believed that making furniture in Brianza was a matter of glue, of wood, of paints, of money, but then I met the Busnellis, the Longhi, the Cassina, and now I think I know it's something else entirely”. This pair certainly helps to make sense of this quote.

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SOLD

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Condition:

In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. Small scratches and marks on the wood. The chairs have been reupholstered recently in premium fabric.

Dimensions:

24.8 in W x 34.25 in D x 33.26 in H; Seat height 13.77 in

63 cm W x 87 cm D x 84.5 cm H; Seat height 35 cm

Literature:

Rivista dell'Arredamento 45 (September 1958), p. 41