Maralunga Sofa

Vico Magistretti, Cassina

VICO MAGISTRETTI (Milan, 1920 - 2006) for Cassina. Pair of "Maralunga" sofas, 1970s. Gray leather. Good second-hand condition, with visible signs of wear typical of its age and use. Retains original sewn labels. The Maralunga is one of the most famous sofas of the 20th century, a milestone in furniture design. Legend has it that it emerged from a moment of frustration when Cesare Cassina punched the back of a prototype, causing it to fold forward - which Magistretti recognized as the perfect movement mechanism. The designer incorporated an internal mechanism in the backrest and armrests that allowed them to rotate inward thanks to a simple bicycle chain. This became a before-and-after moment in the furniture industry. Vico Magistretti was an Italian industrial designer dedicated to furniture and architecture. He graduated from the Polytechnic of Milan in 1945 and became a follower of Ernesto Nathan Rogers. During the 1950s he devoted himself to mass-production furniture design. Some of his designs are present in important museums in Europe, the United States and Japan. MoMA New York houses Magistretti objects in its permanent collection.