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.
Pair of Gianfranco Frattini Model 877 Wing Chairs, Cassina, white boucle C. 1957
By Gianfranco Frattini, Cassina
Located in Dublin 8, IE
Presented here we have a stunning pair of 1957 Gianfranco Frattini Model 877 Wing Armchairs made by Cassina. The chairs have been fully refurbished and are now presented in a modern ...
Bouclé, Walnut
$5,303 / set
H 30.71 in W 17.72 in D 16.15 in
Six Dining Chairs "Model 101", by Gianfranco Frattini For Cassina, Italy 1960s
By Gianfranco Frattini, Cassina
Located in Wolfurt, AT
Set of six Italian dining chairs, model 101, designed by Gianfranco Frattini in the 1960s and manufactured by Cassina. Fine rosewood combined with mint-colored fabric upholstery by L...
Fabric, Wood
$10,245 / set
H 28.75 in W 33.47 in D 28.35 in
Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina Set of 2 "Model 849" Chairs, 1958
By Gianfranco Frattini, Cassina
Located in Wolfurt, AT
This pair of "Model 849" armchairs was designed by Gianfranco Frattini in the 1950s and manufactured by the Italian company Cassina. The pieces consist of up...
Fabric, Wood
Chair by Gianfranco Frattini, 1960
By Gianfranco Frattini, Cassina
Located in Berlin, DE
This extraordinary chair was designed by Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina 1960. The construction of the 'Model 904' is made of solid walnut wood. The seat and back are upholstered. Th...
Wool, Walnut
Gianfranco Frattini, Wingback Armchair Model 877, Cassina 1959
By Gianfranco Frattini, Cassina
Located in Argelato, BO
Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina, lounge chair, model 877, fabric, teak, Italy, 1959 This grand lounge chair is based on a solid construction, featuring strict lines and angular shap...
Fabric, Wood
Sofa "Sesann" by Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina, 1970s
By Cassina, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in bruxelles, BE
Sofa in pink fabric and metal, model: Sesann by Gianfranco Frattini. Seat height: 34 cm. Stamped Cassina on the underside. Wear due to time and age of the sofa. For shipping, reque...
Metal
Pair of Melchiorre Bega Wing Chairs, 1950s
By Melchiorre Bega
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Elegant pair of wing chairs, designed by Melchiorre Bega in the 1950s. Both chairs are made with dove grey velvet upholstery and solid wood legs. The velvet is embellished with a thi...
Velvet, Wood
$16,874 / set
H 27.56 in W 40.01 in D 39.38 in
Gianfranco Frattini Alpaca Sesann Lounge Chair for Cassina, 1972, Set of 2
By Cassina, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Vicenza, IT
The Sesann lounge chair was designed by Gianfranco Frattini in 1970 and produced by the Italian manufacturer Cassina. This set is composed of two lounge chairs upholstered in tobacco and chocolate brown alpaca velvet. Sesann is characterized by an organic and informal shape and is defined by the tubular metal detail that wraps around the soft, upholstered seat. In the 1970s, the Cassina catalogue...
Chrome
$11,571
H 27.56 in W 70.87 in D 39.38 in
Gianfranco Frattini Beige Wool Bouclé Sesann Two-Seater Sofa for Cassina, 1972
By Gianfranco Frattini, Cassina
Located in Vicenza, IT
Sesann two-seater sofa, designed by Gianfranco Frattini in 1970 and produced by the Italian manufacturer Cassina. It features wool bouclé upholstery and a chrome tubular cage as s...
Chrome
$14,464 / set
H 41.34 in W 33.08 in D 37.01 in
Rare Pair "Giulia" Armchair Model 877 by Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina 1957
By Cassina, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Rovereta, Repubblica di San Marino
Rare Pair Giulia armchair Model 877 by Gianfranco Frattini For Cassina 1957.
Wood
Mid-Century Modern Armchair 877 by Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Armchair 877 by Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina, New Beige Upholstery
Fabric, Wood
1970s Sesann Sofa by Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina
By Cassina, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Toronto, CA
Like sitting on a cloud... Historic design by Gianfranco Frattini, Sesann is a collection of sofas and armchairs with soft, cosy forms that evoke feelings of warmth and sensuality, ...
Steel
$25,312 / set
H 27.56 in W 40.01 in D 39.38 in
Gianfranco Frattini Brown Velvet Sesann Lounge Chair for Cassina, 1972
By Gianfranco Frattini, Cassina
Located in Vicenza, IT
Set of three Sesann lounge chairs, designed by Gianfranco Frattini in 1970 and produced by the Italian manufacturer Cassina. They features brown alpaca velvet upholstery and a chrome...
Chrome
Wing Chair 'Modell 877' Gianfranco Frattini 1957
By Gianfranco Frattini, Figli di Amadeo Cassina
Located in Berlin, DE
This high quality made wing chair with high back and beautiful details was designed by Gianfranco Frattini in 1957 and is known as model 877. The construction is made of walnut wood,...
Leather, Walnut
Rare Armchair #877 Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina
By Cassina, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in New York, NY
Great architectural lounge chair in dark wood base. Modernist wingback form with great details. The last image is a period ad from Rivista dell'Arredamento, Nov. 1961.
Very Rare Wingback Chair
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Munich, DE
by Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina / Model 877. located in hamburg.