Tito Agnoli

Tito Agnoli (1931-2012) was an Italian designer and architect, born in Lima, Peru, to an Italian family. He returned to Italy after the Second World War, trained first as a painter under Mario Sironi, enrolled in architecture in 1949 and…

Biography

Background

Tito Agnoli (1931-2012) was an Italian designer and architect, born in Lima, Peru, to an Italian family. He returned to Italy after the Second World War, trained first as a painter under Mario Sironi, enrolled in architecture in 1949 and graduated in 1959. He then worked as an assistant to Gio Ponti and to Carlo De Carli.

Signature Style

From the 1950s Agnoli worked as a freelance industrial designer. GUBI says that, rather than running his own studio, he embedded himself in his clients' companies, working on site with technicians and production teams. He designed furniture, seating and upholstered pieces as well as lamps, and is best celebrated for his rattan work with Bonacina.

Notable Works

The 9000 seating series (1969)
The 363 lamp, noted for the Compasso d'Oro in 1955, and the Drop 4161 lamp, selected for it in 1956, both for Oluce
The P3 Lounge Chair (1964) for Bonacina, reissued by GUBI

Legacy

Agnoli was repeatedly noted for the Compasso d'Oro and received a gold medal at NeoCon in Chicago in 1986. Some of his works are in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He died in Milan on 23 February 2012.