Alky Chair by Giancarlo Piretti for Artifort, 1970s
View Similar Items
Alky Chair by Giancarlo Piretti for Artifort, 1970s
About the Item
- Creator:Artifort (Maker),Giancarlo Piretti (Designer)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 26.78 in (68 cm)Width: 26.38 in (67 cm)Depth: 32.29 in (82 cm)Seat Height: 13 in (33 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970
- Condition:Reupholstered. Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Renens, CH
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5599231831942
Alky Chair
In the 1960s, Giancarlo Piretti (b. 1940), who earned a degree in art education at the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna and taught interior design, began working with the Italian manufacturer Castelli, where he would go on to produce some of the most popular chairs in the world. In 1969, he debuted the Alky, a sculptural, modernized riff on a slipper chair that appears to float above the ground.
Unlike most chairs, the Alky doesn’t have a distinctive base and seat; rather the entire form appears as one continuous piece, originally upholstered in velvet and wool and set on narrow, aluminum feet.
Much of Piretti’s popularity in the United States can be attributed to Castelli’s exhibition “The Piretti Collection” at the 1988 iteration of the NeoCon design exposition in Chicago. There, his ergonomic office seating earned him a slew of awards and led to increased global attention.
Compared to Piretti’s widely revered folding chairs and wheeling desk chairs (the Plia, of which millions have sold, is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art; the DSC 106 is among Castelli’s best known), the Alky — no longer in production — is by far the most sumptuous design. Yet, as much as its shapely silhouette has made it a favorite of interior designers in residential and commercial spaces alike, it is also rooted in comfort. Its foam-covered back and seat give soft resistance, and the Alky chair’s organic shape perfectly cradles the sitter — a true mark of the modernist dedication to human-centric design.
Giancarlo Piretti
Giancarlo Piretti was born in Bologna, Italy, in 1940. He attended art schools there and subsequently taught Interior Design. During that time, he was also designing furniture for Anonima Castelli. He has won numerous awards and has items in many museums, including MoMA, New York. He still lives and works in Bologna with his son, designer Alessandro Piretti.
- Giancarlo Piretti, Plia Chairs, 1970sBy Castelli, Giancarlo PirettiLocated in Renens, CHPlia foldable chairs produced by Castelli and designed by Giancarlo Piretti (also known for the Alky or Plona lounge chairs). These practical folding chairs are still in very goo...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
MaterialsMetal
$329 / item - Giancarlo Piretti for Castelli, Plia Chairs, Set of Two, 1970sBy Castelli, Giancarlo PirettiLocated in Renens, CHPlia foldable chairs produced by Castelli and designed by Giancarlo Piretti (also known for the Alky or Plona lounge chairs). These iconic folding chairs are still in very good co...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Vintage Reupholstered Pierre Paulin Big Tulip Chair, for Artifort, 1960sBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in Renens, CHVintage reupholstered Pierre Paulin big tulip chair, for Artifort, 1960s A lounge chair by Pierre Paulin produced by Artifort, with red wool...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Reupholstered in Bouclé Theo Ruth “115” Sofa for Artifort, 1950sBy Theo Ruth, ArtifortLocated in Renens, CHReupholstered 115 sofa by Theo Ruth for Artifort (The Netherlands). The Sofa has been reupholstered with new foam and a soft bouclé/sheep wool style fabric. The material used is v...Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal
$6,772 Sale Price20% Off - Vintage Swedish Ari Lounge Chair by Arne Norell for Norell Möbel, 1970sBy Arne NorellLocated in Renens, CHVintage Ari lounge chair by Arne Norell for Norell Möbel, 1970s Sweden An extremely comfortable lounge chair, the frame is made in chromed steel, with a channel-stitched thick l...Category
20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
$6,244 Sale Price20% Off - J. Kastholm, JK 720 Lounge Chair for Kill International, 1970sBy Knoll, Jørgen KastholmLocated in Renens, CHJK 720 Lounge Chair by Jørgen Kastholm for Kill International: The JK 720 Chair was only produced for a short time during the 1970s by Alfred Kill’s company; it features a brushed ...Category
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Giancarlo Piretti “Alky” Chair in New Velvet, Artifort, 1970s, *Customizable*By Artifort, Giancarlo PirettiLocated in London Road, Baldock, HertfordshireA single Giancarlo Piretti “Alky” chair newly upholstered in Designers Guild linen-colored cotton velvet & potentially customizable in over 100 colors. *Lead time for despatch of Al...Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
- Giancarlo Piretti “Alky” Chairs in New Velvet, Artifort, 1970s - *Customizable*By Artifort, Giancarlo PirettiLocated in London Road, Baldock, HertfordshireA pair of Giancarlo Piretti “Alky” chairs newly upholstered in Designers Guild linen-colored cotton velvet & potentially customizable in over 100 colors. *Lead time for despatch of ...Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
- Alky Chairs by Giancarlo Piretti for Artifort in Pierre Frey, 1970s, Set of 2By Artifort, Giancarlo PirettiLocated in ŁÓDŹ, PLA pair of beautiful Giancarlo Piretti "Alky" chairs reupholstered in a fluffy blend of wool, mohair and alpaca, produced by one of the world's most luxurious fabric manufacturers, Pi...Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWool, Alpaca, Mohair
- Vintage Alky Chairs in Off-White Fabric by Giancarlo Piretti for Artifort, 1970sBy Artifort, Giancarlo PirettiLocated in ŁÓDŹ, PLA pair of beautiful Giancarlo Piretti “Alky” chairs reupholstered in luxurious off-white wool-cotton blend fabric produced by a highly recognized textile manufacturer Chase Erwin fro...Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBouclé
- Alky Chair By Giancarlo Piretti for Castelli 1970sBy Giancarlo PirettiLocated in Čelinac, BAGiancarlo Piretti Alky Chair for Castelli1970sCategory
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric
- Exquisite Pair of Artifort Alky Chairs by Giancarlo PirettiBy Giancarlo Piretti, ArtifortLocated in Voorburg, NLThese Sculptural Alky chairs are designed by Giancarlo Piretti in the ‘70s for Artifort. Piretti is renowned for his innovative and functional furniture designs, particularly in the realm of ergonomic seating. The Alky chair...Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsAluminum