The variety and quality of Cesare Lacca's creations placed him high among the architect-designers leading the Modernist movement in Italy. As this sofa shows, the quality of his work provides all the decorative effectiveness needed without strain or exaggeration.

This rare sofa is evidence, that Lacca like most Italian designers, found it challenging to balance modern creativity and classical elegance, but eventually found the recipe for the perfect result. Like their international counterparts, Italian designers prized the marriage of form and function. Lacca took this further by designing an asymmetrical shape that is as playful as it is stylish; it shows Lacca’s skill to fuse sleek design with the trappings of comfort. The heavily curved body can easily embrace four to five people with its enveloping back and seat. It offers something from every single angle thanks to the asymmetry that governs the aesthetic. It is further highlighted by the differently coloured upholstery and line tracing that directs the attention to the outline of the sofa. The large body is supported by four sets of solid wood, tapered legs. Curved sofas are in general considered statement pieces, for reasons that this large sofa makes evident: a large, fully upholstered body with pronounced curves, high quality materials and of course, impeccable craftsmanship.

Though mid-century Italian designers may not have the name recognition as some of their Scandinavian and American counterparts, they were integral to developing a modern aesthetic in Europe. This is especially true for Cesare Lacca, who created this sofa in the golden days of the mid-century modernist movement.

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SOLD

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Condition:

In vintage condition. The sofa has its original upholstery with visible traces of wear; we strongly recommend reupholstery. Each of our items can be re-upholstered by our in-house atelier in a fabric of choice. Please reach out for more information.

Dimensions:

108.86 in W x 51.97 in D x 35.83 in H; Seat height 14.96 in; Arm height 25.59 in

276.5 cm W x 132 cm D x 91 cm H; Seat height 38 cm; Arm height 65 cm

About the designer:

Born in Naples in 1929, Italian architect-designer Cesare Lacca created modernist furniture and metalwork throughout the 1950s. Though details of his personal life and professional training remain lost to history, there are sufficient surviving primary sources that document his many elegant designs.

Like many Italian designers in the 20th century, Lacca moved to Milan after World War II to launch his career. Before he was even 21 years old, his work was selected by a group of American curators for inclusion in the landmark exhibition Italy at Work: Her Renaissance in Design Today that toured 12 US museums between 1950 and 1953—the first major exhibition of Italian design outside of Italy. The exhibition showcased the best and brightest of Italian designers who had embraced modernist principles and rejuvenated traditional Italian crafts, like Carlo Mollino, Franco Albini, and Gio Ponti

Lacca designed a great many tea carts and serving trolleys in his career—which make up a large proportion of what is available on the vintage market today—as well as magazine racks and coffee tables. His seating models were regularly featured in Arredoluce advertisements for Angelo Lelli’s lighting designs.

Almost all of Lacca’s known designs were created in the 1950s, and unfortunately we do not know how his career developed from the 1960s. Today, Cesare Lacca is appreciated for his contribution to the Italian design identity; his ability to fashion brass into the Italian postwar design conversation; and his timeless, highly sought-after serving trolleys.