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.
Sideboard by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini, Italy 1960s.
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Lot/Drogenbos, BE
Sideboard Buffet present two doors for each side, with beautiful carved handles of oval shape, four cylindrical feet and a metal finish. Designed by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini...
Metal
On Hold|$3,026
H 30.71 in W 86.62 in D 18.9 in
Italian Sideboard, 1960s Design in Style of Gianfranco Frattini
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Vintage Italian sideboard. Great design. Two sliding doors with four drawers (the first one is not origin).
Rosewood
$5,327
H 31.11 in W 39.38 in D 25.6 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian Desk Table by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini, 1960s
By Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Rare and unusual desk model N°804 designed by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini. Pulling out the desk top opens the rolltop. This desk cabinet has plenty of storage space, 10 drawers a...
Ash
Sideboard "Pranzo 602" by Silvio Coppola for Bernini - 1960s
By Silvio Coppola
Located in Uccle, Bruxelles
Magnificent sideboard designed by Silvio Coppola for Bernini in 1964. It is made of walnut and in magnificent condition. As you can see, the objective of this sideboard is above all...
Walnut
Sideboard by Gianfranco Frattini / Bernini, Italy 1961
By Bernini, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Berlin, DE
Sideboard by Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini Italy, 1961 Materials & Techniques Notes: rosewood, 2 tambour style roll down fronts, ...
Rosewood, Down
Black Desk by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini, Italy, 1960s
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Greding, DE
Refined black-lacquered desk on cylindrical legs, designed by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini. The desk features ten drawers, a pull-out writing surface, and a tambour top that conce...
Wood
Gianfranco Frattini Hardwood Writing Desk for Bernini, 1961
By Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini
Located in Barcelona, ES
Writing desk model 807 designed in 1961 by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini, Italy. Tambour top that hides small drawers and a pull out leather writing surface, ten drawers in the low...
Aluminum
"804" Rolltop Desk by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini, 1960s
By Bernini, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in bruxelles, BE
Model 804 desk by Gianfranco Fattini. The roll top opens by pulling on the leather-encrusted writing surface. There are two glass shelves at the back. On top, there's a glass shelf...
Aluminum
Gianfranco Frattini wardobe by Bernini Italy 1957
By Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
This rare sliding door wardrobe, designed by the celebrated Gianfranco Frattini and manufactured by Bernini, Italy in 1957. It epitomizes the refined elegance of mid-century modern d...
Rosewood
$6,053
H 31.89 in W 51.19 in D 31.3 in
Midcentury Modern Wooden Desk by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini
By Bernini, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Madrid, ES
Hardwood writing desk designed by Gianfranco Frattini and produced by Bernini, Italy. The desk features a removable top part with extra drawers and storage compartments. This desk ca...
Hardwood
$3,411Sale Price|50% Off
H 52.76 in W 27.56 in D 26.78 in
Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini Rosewood Modello 823 Bookshelf, 1960s
By Bernini, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Basildon, London
Originally designed in 1963 by Gianfranco Frattini, the Modello 823 bookshelf was manufactured by Bernini. After going out of production Poltrona Frau re-issued the design in 2022 un...
Rosewood
$2,421Sale Price|20% Off
H 19.69 in W 27.56 in D 19.69 in
Walnut Commode by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini
By Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini
Located in Madrid, ES
Small walnut wood chest of drawers with metal details from the 1960s. Designed by Gianfranco Frattini and manufactured by Bernini. Some stains on the metal and dents on the wooden to...
Metal
$14,528Sale Price|20% Off
H 28.75 in W 82.68 in D 27.56 in
Bilateral Sideboard by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini
By Bernini, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Iconic sideboard designed by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini. Italy 1960 ca. Three vertical tambour doors on one side, with three large and two smal...
Wood
Highboard '504' by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini, 1960s
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Milano, IT
Sideboard cabinet, made of wood veneered with exotic woods, with retractable shutter doors. Design by Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini production. Completely restored cabinet.
Wood
Sideboard '503' by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini 1960s
By Bernini, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Milano, IT
1960s sideboard with exotic wood veneer that features rolling shutter doors from the '503' series. Design by Gianfranco Frattini for a 1960s Bernini production. Completely restored c...
Wood
Gianfranco Frattini Mid-Century Vertical Tambour Sideboard
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This beautiful design by 1950's Italian designer Gianfranco Frattini is a beautiful piece for home or business. Three vertical cabinets provide plenty of storage space, while Frattin...