Gianfranco Frattini Desks and Writing Tables
Italian, 1926-2004
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.
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Item Ships From: Germany
Creator: Gianfranco Frattini
Desk by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini, Italy 1950s
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Greding, DE
Dark brown desk with two drawers designed by Gianfranco Frattini in the 1950s. The desk stands on a solid base frame with H-shaped bracing. The rectangular table top has two drawers ...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gianfranco Frattini Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Walnut Desk by Gianfranco Frattini 1956
By Cantieri Carugati, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Berlin, DE
Very elegant writing desk with four drawers and open compartments on both sides. Made of solid walnut wood, handles are made of blackened metal.
Height of writing surface 70 cm
Gianf...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gianfranco Frattini Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Secretary by Gianfranco Frattini, Cantieri Carugati, 1954
By Cantieri Carugati, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Berlin, DE
This beautiful secretary by Gianfranco Frattini from 1954 was made out of rosewood.
Frattini was an italien architect and designer.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gianfranco Frattini Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass, Steel
Wonderful, Amazing and Exclusive Frattini Desk
By Bernini, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Munich, DE
Very rare and elegant small desk by gianfranco frattini for bernini by opening the drawer the jalousie cover at the back opens. very special piece.
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gianfranco Frattini Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
Gianfranco Frattini Mod. 804 Rolltop Desk
By Bernini, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Munich, DE
Walnut writing desk model 804 designed in 1961 by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini, Italy. Tambour top that hides small drawers and a pull out leather writing surface. Front side with...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gianfranco Frattini Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
No. 804 Rolltop Desk
By Bernini, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Munich, DE
Rare and unusual desk designed by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini. By pulling the desk top out you open the rolltop. This desk cabinet has a lot of storage space, 10 drawers at the f...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gianfranco Frattini Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Wonderful and Extremely Rare Frattini Secretary for Bernini
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Munich, DE
By pulling the drawer the tambour roll top opens automatic. Then you can double the size of the writing surface.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gianfranco Frattini Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
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Gianfranco Frattini, dining table for Bernini
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Previously Available Items
Gianfranco Frattini Mod. 804
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Munich, DE
Ebonized wood, leather an aluminum. The secretary is a practical piece of furniture as it offers plenty of storage space. On the front side there are ten large drawers. A writing sur...
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Gianfranco Frattini Mod. 804
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Munich, DE
Walnut, leather an aluminum. The secretary is a practical piece of furniture as it offers plenty of storage space. On the front side there are ten large drawers. A writing surface ca...
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1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gianfranco Frattini Desks and Writing Tables
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Walnut
Secretary by Frattini, 1956
By Gianfranco Frattini, Cantieri Carugati
Located in Berlin, DE
Solid walnut, drawer bars blackened metal, backside two open trays
Dimension L 110 cm H 71/79.5 cm D 66 cm
Design Gianfranco Frattini, 1956
Manufacturer Cantieri Carugati, Italy.
...
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Gianfranco Frattini Desk with Roll Top - circa 1962 for Bernini, Italy
By Bernini, Gianfranco Frattini
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Desk by Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini, Italy, 1956
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Desk by Gianfranco Frattini for Cantieri Carugati, Italy 1954
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Desk by Gianfranco Frattini, Cantieri Carugati, Italy 1954
total height is 82 cm, second height is 72 cm
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Desk by Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini, 1956
By Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini
Located in Berlin, DE
Desk by Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini, 1956
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1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gianfranco Frattini Desks and Writing Tables
Gianfranco Frattini desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs.
Gianfranco Frattini desks and writing tables are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Gianfranco Frattini desks and writing tables, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original desks and writing tables by Gianfranco Frattini were created in the mid-century modern style in italy during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider desks and writing tables by Osvaldo Borsani, Franco Albini, and Ico Parisi. Prices for Gianfranco Frattini desks and writing tables can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,685 and can go as high as $17,531, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $6,415.
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