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Designer
Gianfranco Frattini
Gianfranco Frattini (1926–2004) was an Italian architect and designer, born in Padua on 15 May 1926. He earned his architecture degree at the Politecnico di Milano in 1953 and worked in the office of his teacher and mentor Gio Ponti before…
Biography
Background
Gianfranco Frattini (1926–2004) was an Italian architect and designer, born in Padua on 15 May 1926. He earned his architecture degree at the Politecnico di Milano in 1953 and worked in the office of his teacher and mentor Gio Ponti before opening his own practice in Milan.
Signature Style
Frattini became an industrial designer "by default", designing lighting and furniture when he lacked suitable pieces for his interiors. Tacchini describes a modernist vision that fuses rigour and beauty while honouring craft tradition; in his own words, materials should be used "for what they can offer, without forcing their nature".
Notable Works
His long collaboration with Cassina began in 1954; he also worked with Bernini, Arteluce, Acerbis, Fantoni, Artemide, Luci, Knoll and Lema. Key designs include the model 849 armchair (1956, Compasso d'Oro, reissued by Tacchini as Agnese), the Sesann sofa (1970, reissued by Tacchini in 2015), the Boalum lamp with Livio Castiglioni for Artemide and the Kyoto table made with Pierluigi Ghianda.
Legacy
A co-founder of the ADI – Associazione per il Disegno Industriale in 1956 and a board member of the Triennale, he died in Milan on 6 April 2004. His work is held by MoMA and the Cooper-Hewitt.
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Collections
Products
Sesann Sofa
Gianfranco Frattini's 1970 sofa of soft padding held by an exposed tubular steel frame
Agnese
Giulia
Gianfranco Frattini's winged bergère armchair on a wooden frame, re-edited by Tacchini.
Sesann - Gran Sesann Armchair
Frattini's Sesann armchair: important volumes held by a visible tubular metal structure
Albero Bookcase
Gianfranco Frattini's Albero (1960): a floor-to-ceiling Canaletto walnut bookcase that turns 360°.
Serie 500/3 - 500/4
Frattini's Serie 500 storage cabinet: a sideboard with rolling shutters on a curved wooden base
Sesann Ottoman
Frattini's Sesann ottoman, a footrest that continues the armchair's visible tubular metal structure
Kyoto Small Table
Kyoto small table by Gianfranco Frattini: a square grid of solid beech boards with 45° joints.
Albero Anniversary Edition Bookcase
Albero GFF 100 Anniversary Edition: Frattini's rotating bookcase in Santos rosewood and walnut.
Turner Bookcase
Turner: Gianfranco Frattini's freestanding swivel bookcase in Canaletto walnut with a leather top.
Lina
A re-edition of an early Gianfranco Frattini chair that joins solidity and lightness.
