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.
18K Gold, Diamonds, Amethyst, Tourmaline, Bloodstone, and Jasper Toucan Bird
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Long Island City, NY
An 18K gold, diamonds, amethyst, tourmaline, bloodstone, carved emerald, opal and jasper toucan bird resting on a gold tree branch, mounted on a carved malachite base. A very rare and unique gold-mounted jeweled object...
Amethyst, Diamond, Tourmaline, Jasper, 18k Gold
Cartier 18k 750 Yellow Gold and Diamond Compact
By Cartier
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Vintage 18K yellow gold Cartier compact powder box with a woven texture and diamond encrusted thumb-piece. Circa 1950's. The compact is stamped with th...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mario Buccellati Silver Squirrel
By Mario Buccellati
Located in New York, NY
Mario Buccellati Silver Squirrel, silver texted fur with glass eyes, enamel nose and gilt acorns. Signed on one leaf Mario Buccellati, 925, and 15-MI M...
Silver
Chaumet snake sapphire hairpin in 18k gold and horn, unsigned, animal jewelry
By Chaumet
Located in PARIS, FR
Chaumet snake sapphire hairpin in 18 karats gold. This Chaumet hairpin features a serpent motif coiling around the top. The serpent is crafted in gold, its head adorned with two rose...
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
$46,526
H 0.99 in W 1.19 in L 2.76 in
Exclusive And Iconic Scarab Brooch in 18K Gold With Ebony Wood, Horn & Diamonds
By Eva Soussana
Located in Paris, FR
Eva Soussana and her partner the "Atelier Franck Mico", are proud to introduce to you the "Goliath" Scarab, an exclusive and iconic piece created by Eva Soussana and Franck Mico, man...
Diamond, 18k Gold
$568 / item
Object d’Art Brass Pomellato King
By Pomellato
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
A window display Pomellato King Original and authentical a 13mm Brass King from Pomellato merchandising and window display actually 4 in stock Established 43 years ago in the Italian city of Milan, Pomellato has been forging its own meticulous path in jewelry making for many years. Having started life as a chain maker, the distinctive chain design still appears in every collection, albeit in ever more luxurious and bejeweled forms. From the iconic Nudo collection and its almost infinite combination of stackable rings to the colorful Capri collection, Pomellato jewelry...
Brass
$6,940
H 0.71 in W 1.07 in L 1.66 in
Contemporary 18K Gold Turtle Tortoise Reptile Tourmaline Brooch Pendant
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This wonderfully chunky and excellently modelled 18K turtle has been mounted as a pendant / brooch by Munich master-goldsmith, Günther Hahn. The lovely animal is decorated with 40 di...
Tourmaline, 14k Gold
$30,000 / set
Dm 1.3 in L 1.97 in
Three Big Golden Eggs with Diamonds Emeralds and Rubies in 18K yellow gold
Located in Idar-Oberstein, DE
This beautiful set of three ornamental gold egg boxes are truly novel and symbolise good fortune, prosperity and love. Each egg was fine crafted in 18K gold with screw fittings in th...
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
Subtle Green Jadeite Jade Carved Antique Buddha Fine Estate Find
Located in Montreal, QC
High quality Antique Natural Jade Jadeite Carving; beautiful translucency, when held to the light, the carving shows off a subtle variation of soft gre...
Jade
Siberian Nephrite Rabbit Miniature
By MOISEIKIN
Located in Hong Kong, HK
Snowy white rabbits are on the way to celebrate the year of the rabbit 2023. Fond by many cultures for its adorable features, swift move, and spiritual meanings of good luck and the new beginning, the rabbit plays an important role in many fairy tales and folklore, like the famous Alice in Wonderland and Moon Rabbit. Specialised in stone carving art, MOISEIKIN🄬 aesthetically and skillfully has created a rabbit miniature from rare white Siberian nephrite...
$1,530
W 0.4 in D 0.32 in L 2.96 in
Antique Reverse Crystal Stickpin Tiepin Boxer Dog 14kt Red Gold Red Dog Collar
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This reverse crystal of a boxer dog wearing a red dog collar has been hand carved and hand painted in the last quarter of the 19th century. The crystal is mounted in a red gold setti...
Crystal, 14k Gold
Hand Carved Animal Figure, Rat Talisman for Home
By MOISEIKIN
Located in Hong Kong, HK
The Urals in Russia are rich in semi-precious stones, so this region has become one of the leaders among the Russian "workshops" of artistic carving on marble, jasper, rhodonite, rock crystal and other ornamental stones. The beginning of the path of widespread dissemination of stone-cutting art in Russia dates back to the end of the 18th century. The tradition of the Ural art stone carving still exists. Skilled craftsmen of the MOISEIKIN not only preserve, but also develop the tradition, using the latest technologies and creativities to make original stone-cut sculptures. Carved animal...
MOISEIKIN 18K Gold Diamond and Pearl Floral Miniature
By MOISEIKIN
Located in Hong Kong, HK
An exquisite floral miniature with chrysanthemums and a golden rooster was created inspired by the Eastern Asian Painting "Flowers and Birds." Chrysan...
Chalcedony, Diamond, Garnet, Jade, Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold