|
|
|
|
|
Three
cheers for Italian chairs
|
Sitting
comfortably? Let's try out some of Italy's most
famous chairs...
|
 Italy,
long known for its design prowess, has begun to
look further afield for inspiration. At least this
is the case of Poltrona
Frau, the prestigious chair manufacturer
from Tolentino in the Marches, which has recently
bought over Thonet,
the legendary Austrian furniture-maker, founded
in 1819 and official supplier to the Austrian court.
More than a chair
Enzo
Mari the renowned designer and twice winner
of the 'Compasso d'Oro' (once in 1979 for
his 'Delfina' chair (produced by Driade) and then
in 1987 for ‘Tonietta’ (produced by Zanotta)
- attributes Thonet's success to its simplicity
of design - Thonet chairs never try to be anything
but chairs. Indeed it is no coincidence that
of all Italy's fine designers it is Mari - the craftsman
and conscience of Italian design -.who describes
Thonet's production as ingenious. As it is
no coincidence that Thonet himself was a carpenter
before he became a successful businessman.
Trends and markets
Italian creativity has been put to the test
and asked to modernise its production and move away
from more traditional styles.
Quite a challenge given the current downturn
in the market and a general reluctance on the part
of buyers to invest in 'superfluous' goods. This
recession was also evident at Promosedia
, the International Chair Exhibition recently held
in Udine - Udine is the centre of an industrial
district which produces 44 million chairs each year,
totalling some 30% of world-wide and 80% of Italian
production - where a distinct slow down was evident
after 15 years of constant growth.
Italy is still the market leader in furniture and
design but competition from Asian manufacturers
could bring about a change in the future. New markets
such as Australia, New Zealand and Eastern Europe
are opening up alongside the more traditional outlets
of Germany, France and the US. Innovation, technology,
marketing and communication are all key words for
Italian companies to stay ahead of the game.
Chair art
Chairs as works of art and design are the focus
of an unusual exhibition in the Civici
Musei del Castello, in Udine. The show,
aptly named Chairs in Contemporary Art
runs until January 6th and brings together
60 essential works including models by Warhol, Sol
LeWitt and Bruce Nauman. Key pieces are Andy
Warhol's Electric chair and Ingeborg
Lyscher cigarette stub chair a metaphor for
human experience.
|
| |
| by
ELENA
GUARNERI |
|
October
2001
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THE SURVIVOR'S 
