Pair of Mid-Century Lounge Chairs with Metal Legs by Nino Zoncada, Italy 1950s (sold)
Pair of Mid-Century Lounge Chairs with Metal Legs by Nino Zoncada, Italy 1950s (sold)
The postwar boom years of the 1950s through to the 1960s were one of the periods of greatest influence by Italian designers. Design in the 50s paved the way to a more aesthetic approach to products as opposed to its utilitarian predecessors, resulting in exceptional pieces like these lounge chairs.
Giovanni “Nino” Zoncada was an Italian furniture designer who worked extensively designing furniture and interiors for luxury ships. In the late 1940s, Zoncada collaborated with Gio Ponti in the interior design of the cruise liners Conte Biancamano and Conte Grande. Among his most famous furniture designs are his iconic and richly upholstered lounge chairs with relatively high and curved armrests, including these models. These lounge chairs combine a luxurious fabric with a metal, brass plated base structure. The resulting look expresses Italian modernism at its core, preserving the timeless elegance that defines the country’s design. The newly available production techniques and materials like plastic and metal introduced vibrant, colourful effects instead of the traditional wood and fabrics combination used before. As such, these armchairs have a sculptural, “free” look dictated by the shape of the backs and arms. The characteristic shape of the arms set the tone of the overall look, creating dynamism. The interesting angles are also present on the seats and backs, ensuring great sitting and lounging comfort. The lower, brass plated steel structures contrast beautifully with the rich texture of the upholstery, with the stretchers following the curves of the seats. The thin, splayed legs are straight and so are the stretchers connecting the sides. This result is a greatly balanced design that utilizes straight lines just as much as it does the curved ones.
From all angles, these lounge chairs offer beautiful textures and eye-catching forms, combining Italian elegance and modern aesthetics resulting in a timeless look which is full of modern energy that will endure for generations. This is also thanks to their exceptional visual quality and uncompromising level of craftsmanship.
SOLD
Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. Some stains on the metal legs. The chairs have been reupholstered recently in a premium fabric. Each of our items can be reupholstered by our in-house atelier in a fabric of choice. Please reach out for more information.
Dimensions:
27.16 in W x 31.69 in D x 32.67 in H; Seat height 16.92 in; Arm height 21.25 in
69 cm W x 80.5 cm D x 83 cm H; Seat height 43 cm; Arm height 54 cm
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Price category: 9,000 - 12,500 usd / eur
The Italian architect, painter and furniture designer, Guglielmo Ulrich, descended from a noble family with Danish origins. He quickly became a very influential figure in modern Italian design and his models are real delicacies today.
As this pair of 1950s lounge chairs show, Ulrich’s work is elegant and rich in detail. Although his work does not quite conform with the strict norms of simplicity of the time, it fits the prevalent aesthetics of Modernism. In the case of these chairs, the fully upholstered bodies show the general mid-century modern characteristics with an ergonomic and functional design. The seats are slightly raised, and the backs tilted, creating an angle that supports the sitter and the lounging experience. The wooden arms transcending to form the back legs however, truly stand out. The sharp curvature of the armrests and front legs define the look and create an interesting effect, as if the upholstered seats and backs were connected to them without joinery. The carved, dark wood and soft upholstery make them even more pronounced. There are more, subtler features to these chairs, including the wider armrests and the curved backrests, both in service of comfortable lounging. Thanks to the quality of his furnishings, that Ulrich designed and made personally, he became the trusted architects of many upper-class Milanese families. He participates in the furnishing of the most prestigious Italian ships: Cristoforo Colombo, Raffaello, etc.
“A nobleman of yesteryear, with sudden jokes and twists, such as a pipe with an egg in his mouth and a very concrete sense of doing” is how he was often described. This pair of chairs is much like this description with a playful, elegant design completed by quality materials and craftsmanship.
Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The chair has been reupholstered recently in a premium fabric. 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:
24.4 in W x 31.69 in D x 31.49 in H; Seat height 14.17 in; Arm height 23.42 in
62 cm W x 80.5 cm D x 80 cm H; Seat height 36 cm; Arm height 59.5 cm
About the designer:
Guglielmo Ulrich (born 1904, Milan–died 1977) was an Italian architect, furniture designer, and painter. He was born to a notable family of Danish origin. In 1924, Ulrich enrolled in the Scuola Speciale di Architettura at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera. He finished his studies at Politecnico di Milano in 1927 and soon became a very influential figure in modern Italian design.
In 1930, along with Scaglia and Wild, Guglielmo Ulrich founded and became head designer of home furnishing company Arca (Arredamento casa, or Home Furnishing), a company engaged in the creation of high-quality furnishing accessories characterized by craftsmanship and the use of premium materials. In the 1950s, he participated in several editions of the Triennale di Milano and concentrated on designing buildings, offices, and retail shops throughout Italy.
Most of Ulrich’s furniture designs from this era, and especially his chairs and chaise lounges, resemble simplified and streamlined design versions of late 19th century pieces and do not necessarily conform to modern designs prevalent in Northern Europe and the U.S. in the 1950s. In the 1960s, Ulrich focused his work toward industrial design and was able to create original and impactful objects. His talent was rewarded on many occasions. In 1961, he won the Fiera di Trieste award for his Trieste chair, produced by furniture maker Saffa.