By Athina
Ninth appointment with the Icon of Design: after the soft seating designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa, it’s the turn of another master of the 20th Century.
This iconic chair was born from the perfect collaboration between Gio Ponti and Cassina, the historic furniture manufacturer that, in the 1950s, was preparing to integrate artisanal production techniques with industrial ones.
Ponti aimed to create a simple and affordable chair, without unnecessary embellishments; a chair that was sturdy and solid but also light, in fact, incredibly light.
The model for his Superleggera is the Chiavari chair, also known as chiavarina. This “humble” chair was designed in 1807 by the cabinetmaker Giuseppe Gaetano Descalzi, who had reworked (and simplified) French Empire-style chairs. Chiavarina chairs became popular because they were durable and inexpensive.
Maintaining a linear and essential aesthetic, Ponti improved the characteristics of lightness and sturdiness. Instead of circular sections, he designed triangular sections of 18 mm thickness for the legs and uprights, reworking the joinery. He also decided to tilt the top of the backrest backward to improve ergonomic performance. The materials – carefully chosen – had to be light, flexible, and high-performing mechanically: he opted for ash for the structure and Indian cane for the seat.
The result? A chair that can be lifted with a finger (only 1,700 grams!) and is practically indestructible.
In this regard, the designer wrote: “If you go to Cassina, they will show you exciting demonstrations of these chairs being thrown after vertiginous flights, up and across, bouncing and never breaking (…). Entering their factory is dangerous because chairs are constantly flying in these incredible tests.”
In 1957, after nearly ten years of experimentation and prototypes (including the Leggera), the final version, the 699 Superleggera, was presented to the public.
It received an unexpected success, a success that, after more than sixty years, has not yet experienced any decline. Cassina continues to produce the Superleggera in the company’s joinery department, in perfect synergy between craftsmanship and technological innovation. Ponti was a master at combining tradition and modernity; he created a “sincere” seat, functional and absolutely cutting-edge from a structural point of view.
The basic version is made of natural ash, black or white lacquered, with an Indian cane seat. The more striking and easier to combine with modern furnishings are the colored versions with padded seats, upholstered in leather or fabric. For more sophisticated collectors, there is a limited edition created for the sixtieth anniversary of the Superleggera: 60 beautiful pieces designed by artist Bertjan Pot, reworking the Boxblocks fabric.
The Superleggera is one of the highest achievements of international industrial design, a pure expression of unparalleled ingenuity.
From November 27 to April 26, there will be a major retrospective dedicated to Gio Ponti at the Maxxi Museum in Rome. A must-see event for those who want to deepen their knowledge of the designer and for all those who (like us) already love him.
By the way, we are already working on next week’s appointment: if you have suggestions, advice, or recommendations, give us a shout!
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