Gianfranco Frattini is widely regarded as a mid-century master of Italian modern design. He was an award-winning architect and designer, and specialized in creating furniture and decor that is both decorative and practical — Frattini’s vintage desks, armchairs, nesting tables and other works are celebrated for their sophisticated merging of function and form.
Born in Padua in 1926, Frattini studied architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan. He later apprenticed with his teacher and mentor, Gio Ponti. Through Ponti — arguably the most important figure in 20th-century Italian architecture and design — Frattini met many notable modernist designers such as Oscar Niemeyer and Le Corbusier, but an introduction to famed Italian entrepreneur Cesare Cassina would prove incredibly significant in helping launch his career.
During the mid-1950s, Frattini began to collaborate with Cassina’s eponymous company. He designed the brand’s acclaimed leather and walnut Model 849 lounge chair — a winner of the Compasso d’Oro award — the Marema nesting tables and the iconic Sesann collection. The latter, an enduring 1970s suite of impossibly welcoming leather-covered seating, is now produced by Tacchini. In addition to Cassina, Frattini created furniture and lighting for other manufacturers such as Bernini, Arteluce, Artemide, Knoll and more.
While many of his designs incorporate glass, tubular steel and other materials, Frattini loved working with wood. The sculptural Albero bookcase — an innovative floor-to-ceiling structure made in walnut that swings on a 360-degree vertical swivel axis — is a striking example of Frattini’s dedication to traditional woodworking techniques. In the early 1970s, he traveled to Japan with friend and collaborator Pierluigi Ghianda — a master Milanese cabinet maker — in order to study the work of artisans in Kyoto. The trip inspired his design of the Kyoto table, a work of solid beech with Canaletto walnut inserts that is part of the permanent collection of the Milan Triennale’s Design Museum. The Kyoto and Albero have been revived by Poltrona Frau.
Frattini’s designs are in the permanent collections of prestigious museums such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.
Find vintage Gianfranco Frattini furniture, lighting and decor on 1stDibs.
Gianfranco Frattini 'Aspide' Table Lamp for GUBI
By Gubi, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Glendale, CA
Gianfranco Frattini 'Aspide' Table Lamp for GUBI. Named after the Italian word for ‘asp’, for its serpentine form, the Aspide was designed as a versatile task lamp that may be adjus...
Metal, Chrome, Iron
"Noa" Table Lamp by Gianfranco Frattini for Luci Italia, 1980s
By Gianfranco Frattini, luci
Located in bruxelles, BE
White metal and glass lamp designed by Gianfranco Frattini. Stamped under the lamp (see photo). For shipping, request us for receive the best price.
Metal
Rare Lotus Table Lamp by Gianfranco Frattini for Meroni
By Meroni, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare lotus table lamp by Gianfranco Frattini for Meroni. Designed and manufactured in Italy, 1966. Wooden ring stand, glass base, metal armature covered in fabric. Shade is secured b...
Aluminum
Megaron Floor Lamp by Gianfranco Frattini for Artemide, 1970s
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in bruxelles, BE
Floor lamp in chromed metal. The intensity of the light is adjustable. Stamped Artemide. Wear due to time and age of the lamp. For shipping, request us for receive the best price.
Metal
Space Age Vintage White Table Lamp Desk Lamp Gianfranco Frattini, 1970s, Italy
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Vienna, AT
Space Age vintage white table lamp or desk lamp model Abele from white lacquered metal by Gianfranco Frattini for Luci Milan 1979. The table l...
Metal
"Abele" Desk Lamps by Gianfranco Frattini for Luci, Italy, 1970s
By Gianfranco Frattini, Luci Italia
Located in Milan, IT
Abele table lamp with dimmer by Gianfranco Frattini for Luci. Red lacquered aluminium and halogen light.
Metal
Gianfranco Frattini Model 597 Table Lamp Cream Fringe Aluminium for GUBI
By Gianfranco Frattini, Gubi
Located in New York, NY
First released in 1961, the Model 597 by Italian virtuoso Gianfranco Frattini is the lamp that launched him as a lighting designer. Its unique and playful form perfectly encapsulates...
Aluminum
Italian lamp Boalum by Livio Castiglioni Gianfranco Frattini for Artemide, 1970s
By Gianfranco Frattini, Livio Castiglioni, Artemide
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian lamp Boalum by Livio Castiglioni Gianfranco Frattini for Artemide, 1970s Floor, table or pendant lamp mod. Boalum in translucent flexible PVC with resin terminals. Made up of...
Plastic
Gianfranco Frattini Table Lamp Metal Glass, 1979, Italy
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Milano, IT
Gianfranco Frattini table lamp metal glass, 1979, Italy.
Metal
$1,000Sale Price|60% Off
1979 Halogen Table Lamp '' Abele'' from Luci , Italia
By Gianfranco Frattini, Luci Italia
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
Powerfull halogen table / desk lamp designed by Gianfranco Frattini . Extruded aluminium body powder coated in a black semi-gloss finish. Accurate rotating dimmer on base. Take...
Aluminum
Gianfranco Frattini Table Lamp Metal Glass, 1979, Italy
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Milano, IT
Gianfranco Frattini table lamp metal glass, 1979, Italy.
Glass
Set of Two "Lucilla" Fabric Table Lamps By Gianfranco Frattini for Leuka, 1970s
By Carmellini&tronconi, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Milan, IT
Rare pair of Lucilla table lamps by Gianfranco Frattini for Leuka, later produced by Tronconi. Two lighting sources: top mirrored bulb as main one, then a lot of small bulbs behind ...
Metal
Gianfranco Frattini Aspide Table Lamp Chrome for GUBI
By Gianfranco Frattini, Gubi
Located in New York, NY
Serpentine in shape, beautifully balanced and gleaming like a jewel, the Aspide Lamp by Gianfranco Frattini is both a brilliantly practical piece of industrial design and an irresist...
Chrome
Italian lamp Boalum by Livio Castiglioni Gianfranco Frattini for Artemide, 1970s
By Artemide, Livio Castiglioni, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern lamp Boalum by Livio Castiglioni Gianfranco Frattini for Artemide, 1970s Floor, table or pendant lamp mod. Boalum in translucent flexible PVC with resin terminals. It ...
Plastic
“Boalum” vintage lamp by Livio Castiglioni & Gianfranco Frattini for Artemide
By Gianfranco Frattini, Livio Castiglioni, Artemide
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Early Edition “Boalum” Lamp by Livio Castiglioni & Gianfranco Frattini for Artemide, 1970 Italy — MoMA Collection A true design landmark, this first-edition “Boalum” lamp was de...
Plastic
Abele Table Lamp by Gianfranco Frattini for Luci, Italy, 1979
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in PARIS, FR
Abele table lamp by Gianfranco Frattini for Luci, Italy 1979 Matt black lamp with intensity variator, black metal structure and base. Totally functional ! good condition.
Metal
Italian Mid-Century Modern Lucilla Table Lamp by G. Frattini for Leuka, 1970s
By Leuka, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Mid-Century Modern Lucilla table lamp by G. Frattini for Leuka, 1970s. enameled aluminum structure and elastic fabric Lucilla model table lamp. Designed by Gianfranco Frat...
Fabric, Plastic
Gianfranco Frattini Table Lamp Metal Glass, 1979, Italy
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Milano, IT
Gianfranco Frattini table lamp metal glass, 1979, Italy.
Metal
$1,716
H 71.66 in W 5.91 in D 3.15 in
Early edition Megaron floor lamp by Gianfranco Frattini for Artemide, Italy 1979
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Steenwijk, NL
The Megaron floor lamp was designed by Gianfranco Frattini for Artemide in Italy. An iconic piece of midcentury Italian design, that is still in production. This piece is an early ve...
Metal, Chrome
Vico Magistretti for Artemide Chimera Floor Lamp, Italy, 1970s
By Vico Magistretti, Artemide
Located in Naples, IT
Designer floor lamp from the 1970s, created by Vico Magistretti for Artemide. The "Chimera" model is made of methacrylate and white lacquered metal . An iconic piece that can add st...
Metal
Space age yellow table lamp, 1970s
Located in Delft, NL
Space age yellow table lamp, 1970s.
Metal
$2,975
H 71.5 in Dm 12 in
Mid-Century Megaron Black Enamel Floor Lamp by Gianfranco Frattini for Artemide
By Gianfranco Frattini, Artemide
Located in New York, NY
This tall and strikingly minimal Mid-Century Modernist Megaron Floor Lamp in Black Enamel by Gianfranco Frattini for Artemide originates from Italy, Circa 1979. Formed in curved meta...
Enamel
$2,040 / item
H 71.88 in Dm 13.75 in
Gianfranco Frattini 'Megaron' Floor Lamp for Artemide in Aluminum
By Artemide, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Glendale, CA
Gianfranco Frattini 'Megaron' floor lamp for Artemide in aluminum. New modern edition of the design classic by Gianfranco Frattini from 1979. The elegant uplighter radiates with it...
Aluminum, Steel
Red & Black metal 1980s Megaron floor lamp by G. Frattini for Artemide
By Gianfranco Frattini, Artemide
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Black plastic round base, rare red painted metal body and aluminum floor lamp designed by Gianfranco Frattini in 1979 and produced by Artemide. Good vintage condition: signs of wear ...
Metal, Aluminum
$2,000
H 71.66 in W 13.78 in D 13.78 in
Artemide Gianfranco Frattini Megaron floor lamp Italian modern design
By Artemide, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Gianfranco Frattini designed it in 1978 for Artemide. Made of steel. Body is white, base is black. It illuminates upward, to ceiling. and makes soft light in the room. Light source ...
Steel
Gianfranco Frattini Red Floor Lamp
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Rare Red lacquered floor lamp by Gianfranco Frattini Sleek aluminum structure with interior bulb with cast iron base Italy, 1960s
Aluminum
$5,801
H 13.59 in Dm 13.78 in
Large Italian table lamp with fringes, Gianfranco Frattini style, 1960s/1970s
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Italian table lamp from the 1960s/1970s in the style of Gianfranco Frattini. Lacquered and nickel-plated metal structure, lampshade made with a multitude of cream-colored fringes. Th...
Metal
Vintage Italian Space Age Table Lamp, Model 4030 by Guzzini, 1970s
By Guzzini, iGuzzini
Located in Ceglie Messapica, IT
Vintage Italian Space Age Table Lamp, Model 4030 by Guzzini, 1970s Produced by Harvey Guzzini, a company renowned for high-quality Italian design, this lamp is an example of craftsm...
Iron
Vintage Space Age Lamp, Italy, 1970s
By Space Age Products
Located in Roma, IT
This vintage Space Age lamp is a beautiful decorative object realized in Italy during the 1970s. An elegant table lamp realized in glass and ...
Steel
'Boalum' Lamp by Livio Castiglioni and Gianfranco Frattini for Artemide
By Artemide, Livio Castiglioni, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
'Boalum' Lamp by Livio Castiglioni and Gianfranco Frattini for Artemide. Design and manufactured in the 1970s. And off-white and clear malleable special PVC casing is laced with an L...
Plastic, PVC
Sold
H 1.97 in Dm 76.78 in
“Boalum” Lamp by Livio Castiglioni & Gianfranco Frattini for Artemide, 1970s
By Artemide, Livio Castiglioni, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Brescia, Brescia
“Boalum” Flexible Lamp by Livio Castiglioni & Gianfranco Frattini for Artemide, 1970s The “Boalum” Lamp features a flexible tubular body that can be shaped to your desire, allowing ...
Plastic
"Noa" Table Lamp by Gianfranco Frattini for Luci Italia, 1980s
By Gianfranco Frattini, luci
Located in bruxelles, BE
White glass and metal lamp. It is possible to adjust the intensity of the light with the switch. Stamped under the lamp (see photo).
Metal
Sold
H 29.53 in Dm 19.3 in
Italian Midcentury Murano Glass Lotus Table Lamps, G. Frattini for Meroni, 1964
By Meroni, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Mid-Century Modern Murano glass and fabric Lotus table lamps by Gianfranco Frattini for Pino Meroni, 1964. Lotus model table lamps or lampshades, ...
Fabric, Murano Glass
Gianfranco Frattini, Table Lamp, Aluminium, Silk, Italy, 1960s
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in High Point, NC
An aluminum and silk cord table lamp produced by Gianfranco Frattini, Italy, 1961.
Aluminum
Model Noa Table Lamp by Gianfranco Frattini for Luci Italia, 1980s
By Gianfranco Frattini, luci
Located in bruxelles, BE
Lamp in glass and metal of white color. Stamped under the lamp (see photo). Electrical change because old defective.
Metal
Gianfranco Frattini for Arteluce Table Lamp
By Gianfranco Frattini, Arteluce
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gianfranco Frattini for Arteluce, table lamp, model 597, aluminium, rayon, Italy, 1961. Gianfranco Frattini designed this innovative ...
Aluminum
Model 597 Table Lamp by Gianfranco Frattini for Arteluce
By Gianfranco Frattini, Arteluce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Model 597 Table lamp by Gianfranco Frattini for Arteluce. Designed and manufactured in Italy, circa 1970's. Silk fringe, aluminum. Ori...
Aluminum
"Abele" Desk Lamp by Gianfranco Frattini for Luci, Italy
By Gianfranco Frattini, Luci Italia
Located in Rochester, NY
A beautifully designed sleek minimalist desk lamp "Abele" by Gianfranco Frattini for Luci, Italy - 1979. Halogen light, lacquered aluminum, iron and plastic. Very good all original w...
Aluminum, Iron
Megaron Floor Lamp by Gianfranco Frattini for Artemide, 1970s
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in bruxelles, BE
Metal floor lamp in black color. Wear and tear due to the time and age of the lamp.
Metal
Megaron Floor Lamp by Gianfranco Frattini for Artemide, 1970s
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in bruxelles, BE
Metal floor lamp in black color. Wear and tear due to the time and age of the lamp.
Metal
Fringe Table Lamps
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of vintage Italian 1960s Gianfranco Frattini table lamps made from painted steel, nickel plated brass and fabric. Fully rewired with a single E12 candelabra based sockets per la...
Steel