a vanity desk and chair, Giordano Chiesa or Cassina, for the Hotel Parco dei Principi, Rome, ca 1964.
Ash, top and drawers covered in laminate, leg endings in brass, chair with an upholstered seat. Table length 94.5 cm, depth 46.5 cm, height 75.5 cm. Chair height 83 cm, seat height 47 cm.
Restored/renovated. Wear and minor damage/repairs.
Hotel Parco dei Principi, Rome.
Compendio Gallery, Rome.
Acquired from the above by the present owner.
Sold with a copy of certificate from the Gio Ponti Archives.
Ugo La Pietra, "Gio Ponti: l'Arte Si Innamora dell'Industria", Rizzoli 2009, pp. 365 & 367.
In 1961, Gio Ponti was recruited by engineer and entrepreneur Roberto Fernandes to design two hotels - the Hotel Parco dei Principi - located in Rome and Sorrento.
Gio (Giovanni) Ponti was an Italian architect and designer. He trained as an architect in Milan and graduated there in 1921. Ponti set up an architectural office early on with Emilio Lancia and Mino Fiocchi, while at the same time working on designing porcelain for the Richard-Ginori firm in a classicist modern style. Ponti's buildings were furnished with furniture and textiles designed by him. The furniture was executed by several different producers, for example Giordano Chiesa, cabinetmaker Angelo Magnoni and Cassina. In 1928, Ponti started the architecture and interior design magazine "Domus", which is still an important source today. Ponti also designed glass for the company Venini on Murano outside Venice. In Sweden, Ponti (together with Swedish architect Ture Wennerholm) designed the Italian Cultural Institute in Stockholm, where building and interior design are in harmony in a way that is significant for Ponti. The institute was built between the years 1957-1958.
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