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.
20th Century, Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini Cabinet with Desk mod. 804
By Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini
Located in Turin, Turin
Frattini graduated in architecture from the Milan Polytechnic in 1953. He opened his professional studio in Milan, after working in the studio of his teacher and mentor Gio Ponti. Hi...
Glass, Wood
$7,382Sale Price|20% Off
Sculptural wood Italian cabinet by Gianfranco Frattini for Berini
By Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini
Located in Milano, IT
Rare and beautiful wood cabinet by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini, Italy, 1950 - 60s. A true classic of Italian Mid-Century design, capable of speaking with style and sophisticatio...
Wood
Gianfranco Frattini for Cantieri Carugati Cabinet in Cherry
By Gianfranco Frattini, Cantieri Carugati
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gianfranco Frattini for Cantieri Carugati, cabinet, cherry, Italy, 1958 This piece of furniture is crafted with a solid design, characterized by clean, straight lines and angular sh...
Cherry
Gianfranco frattini cabinet by Bernini Italy 1957
By Bernini, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Behold the exquisite craftsmanship of the small sideboard or cabinet, a testament to the visionary design of Gianfranco Frattini and the masterful production of Bernini, Italy, in 19...
Rosewood
Gianfranco Frattini Highboard Model 504 Bernini, Italy 1960
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Paris, IDF
Rare high credenza in Brazilian rosewood by Gianfranco Frattini Model 504 made by Bernini, Italy around 1961. Vertical rolling curtain doors Good condition
Wood, Rosewood
Tacchini Serie 500/3 Storage Cabinet by Gianfranco Frattini
By Tacchini, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in New York, NY
Serie 500/3: three-unit sideboard with shutters and drawers in the left compartment; glass or wood shelves available as optional. Optional wooden shelf or Optional glass shelf - Se...
Walnut
Mid-Century Wooden Bar Cabinet on wheels by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Wooden Bar Cabinet on wheels by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini, 1970s Gianfranco Frattini was born in Padua in 1926 and graduated in architecture at the ...
Glass, Wood
Cabinet / End Table by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini, 1950s
By Bernini, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A Mid-Century Modern walnut cabinet / end table designed by Gianfranco Frattini. This cabinet has two (2) top drawers having round handles and three (3) drawers with oval integral ha...
Aluminum
Tacchini Serie 500/4 Storage Cabinet by Gianfranco Frattini
By Gianfranco Frattini, Tacchini
Located in New York, NY
Optional wooden shelf or Optional glass shelf - Serie 500/4: four-piece sideboard with shutters and drawers in the lower left compartment; glass or wood shelves available as optio...
Walnut
Series 500/3 Three-Element Sideboard by Gianfranco Frattini for Tacchini
By Gianfranco Frattini, Tacchini
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Serie 500/3 by Gianfranco Frattini, reissued today by Tacchini, is far more than a storage unit: it represents a fundamental chapter in the history of Italian design. Originally ...
Wood
$5,599
H 32.68 in W 74.02 in D 17.72 in
Sideboard by Gianfranco Frattini for Permanente Mobili Cantù, 1960s
By Gianfranco Frattini, La Permanente Mobili Cantù
Located in London, GB
Designed by Gianfranco Frattini in the 1960s and manufactured by La Permanente Mobili in Cantù, Italy, This streamlined chest of drawers exemplifies the refined craftsmanship and mod...
Metal
Gianfranco Frattini Sideboard for Bernini 1957
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in taranto, IT
Wonderful sideboard by Gianfranco Frattini designed for Bernini, 1957. Made in rosewood with two parts closed by shutters. Very good conditions, as pics. Measures: width cm 140,...
Wood
$14,953
H 28.75 in W 82.68 in D 20.87 in
Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini Credenza Mod.503, Italy 1960s
By Bernini, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Naples, IT
An icon of Italian design, the wooden sideboard model 503, designed in 1957 by Gianfranco Frattini and manufactured by Bernini, features clean lines and a sophisticated rationalist s...
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
$5,861
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
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
Desk Model 530, Gianfranco Frattini Bernini Edition, 1957
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Saint ouen, FR
Desk model 530 - Gianfranco Frattini - Circa 1957 Bernini edition (label in right drawer) Rosewood H95xW130xD79.5cm In a perfect state The desk features a removable storage un...
Wood, Rosewood
$3,387Sale 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 Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini
Located in Rochester, England
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
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
$27,038
H 29.14 in W 82.68 in D 20.48 in
Series 500/3 Three-Element Sideboard by Gianfranco Frattini for Tacchini
By Gianfranco Frattini, Tacchini
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Serie 500/3 by Gianfranco Frattini, reissued today by Tacchini, is far more than a storage unit: it represents a fundamental chapter in the history of Italian design. Originally ...
Wood
$5,264
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
$28,808
H 46.86 in W 55.52 in D 20.48 in
Series 500/4 High Sideboard by Gianfranco Frattini for Tacchini
By Gianfranco Frattini, Tacchini
Located in Alcamo, IT
500/4 Series - High Sideboard with Tambour Doors Design: Gianfranco Frattini (1960) Considered even today one of the most distinctive and complete collections ever designed by Gianf...
Wood
Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini Cabinet with Built-in Desk
By Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini, cabinet with desk model 804, lacquered wood, glass, suede, metal, Italy, 1960s This black cabinet with integrated desk...
Metal
Sold
H 46.46 in W 55.12 in D 20.48 in
Madia Serie '504' di Gianfranco Frattini per Bernini anni 60 restaurato
By Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini
Located in Milano, IT
Mobile credenza anni '60 della serie '504', disegnato da Gianfranco Frattini per una produzione Bernini. Restaurato con cura nei nostri laboratori, presenta ante a serranda avvolgibi...
Wood
Sold
H 46.46 in W 55.12 in D 20.87 in
Gianfranco Frattini model 504 cabinet in rosewood Bernini Italy 1960
By Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
This beautiful model 504 cabinet was designed by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini, Italy, 1960. A superb example of Italian modern craftsmanship, it combines functional design with ar...
Rosewood
Cabinet with writing desk 1960s Bernini production
By Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini
Located in Milano, IT
Vintage furniture made of wood with exotic wood veneer characterized by three modules, two of them with hinged doors and interior shelves, one with open compartment and pull-out desk...
Wood
Sold
H 24.41 in W 43.31 in D 23.63 in
Wooden sideboard by Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini production, italy, 1960s
By Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini
Located in Milano, IT
Wooden sideboard by Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini production, italy, 1960s wooden sideboard with two separate doors with steel base decoration. Iconic collection designed by Frattini ...
Steel
Modular Cabinet by Gianfranco FRATTINI fro BERNINI, Bergamo
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Berlin, Berlin
A cabinet with four doors, placed on the typical Frattini base with round wooden feet and a black metal frame. Each compartment has a height-adjustable shelf. A beautiful walnut com...
Wood
Sold
H 39.38 in W 25.6 in D 25.6 in
Midcentury Wooden Bar Cabinet on Wheels by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Brussels, BE
Midcentury Wooden Bar Cabinet on wheels by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini, 1970s.
Wood
Gianfranco Frattini Drawer Console Bernini, Italy, 1957
By Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Drawer console table designed by Gianfranco Frattini and manufactured by Bernini, Italy 1957. This stunning quality low console or side table is a unique piece in its genre. This mul...
Rosewood
1960's Wall Unit Cabinet
By Cantieri Carugati, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Milano, IT
Cabinet in the style of Gianfranco Frattini for Cantieri Carugati, with flap opening compartments with fabric-covered fronts, removable lattice grids, sliding shutter for drawer comp...
Fabric, Formica, Mahogany
Sold
H 39.77 in W 43.31 in D 23.63 in
Gianfranco Frattini Tambour Writing Desk Model 807 Bernini, Italy, 1961
By Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Beautiful well-crafted writing desk or secretary model 807 designed by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini, Italy 1961. This multifunctional secretary is executed in nicely grained walnu...
Aluminum
Gianfranco Frattini Bernini Small Sideboard Italy 1957
By Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Small sideboard with roll top doors designed by Gianfranco Frattini and manufactured by Bernini, Italy 1957. This small sized sideboard has 2 roll top tambour doors which open horizo...
Rosewood
Sold
H 46.46 in W 20.87 in D 55.52 in
Highboard in Rosewood by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini, Italy 1960s
By Bernini, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Hellouw, NL
Impressive highboard in rosewood by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini, Italy 1960s. This highboard has four tambour doors that hide either shelves or drawers. The drawers have nice det...
Rosewood