An accomplished architect, exhibition designer, furniture maker and magazine editor, Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig helped direct Italy’s rationalist architectural movement until his death near the end of World War II. Wounded twice and captured twice in World War I, Pogatschnig left military service to work as the editor and director of Casabella architecture magazine and went on to design the V Milan Triennale and VI Milan Triennale alongside fellow Italian architect Gio Ponti.
Originally born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, now modern-day Croatia, Pogatschnig studied Italian in Trieste before joining the Italian army to serve in the First World War. After that harrowing and traumatic experience, he became a founding member of the first Fascist Party in Parenzo. In 1924, he graduated from Turin Polytechnic with an architecture degree and began designing bridges, pavilions and buildings, including the Gualino office complex, in Turin. Nearing 1928, Pogatschnig began work on pavilions for the Turin International Exhibition.
Pogatschnig’s involvement in the V and VI Milan Triennales stand today as some of his greatest contributions to Italian architecture. He held full control over the design of the latter exhibition, in 1936, which led to the opportunity to design many of the interiors of the Italian Pavilion at the Paris Expo the following year.
Pogatschnig’s reputation as an architect and designer were overshadowed only by his outspoken nature as an editor. By 1942, he openly criticized the Italian regime and left the Fascist Party to join the resistance a year later. These activities led to his capture, imprisonment and escape from Brescia in 1944. Ultimately, Pogatschnig was recaptured, tortured and transferred across prisons to Austria’s Mauthausen concentration camp, where he died on April 22, 1945, less than a month before the end of fighting in Europe.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig seating, tables, and case pieces.
Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig. 'Bocconi' Sofa, Italy, 1940s
By Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig
Located in Almelo, NL
Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig. 'Bocconi' sofa, Italy, 1940s. Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig e Gino Maggioni designed this 'Bocconi' sofa in curved wood. Two large squares form it in cu...
Rope, Beech, Bentwood
$4,098
H 35.04 in W 78.75 in D 30.32 in
1940s Kaare Klint Three Seater Sofa, Hardwood Legs & Striped Wool Upholstery
By Rud Rasmussen, Kaare Klint
Located in London, GB
1940s Kaare Klint Three Seater Sofa, with Mahogany Legs & Striped Wool Upholstery with Leather Trim. Usable condition. Bespoke quote ca...
Leather, Wool, Hardwood
$4,800
H 31.5 in W 59 in D 29 in
Danish Midcentury 1940s Sofa or Settee with Open Armrests by Alfred Christensen
By Alfred Christensen, Slagelse Mobelvaerk
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Fantastic 1940s Alfred Christensen designed sofa in his characteristic style of open armrests carved from solid beech wood and made by Slagelse Mobelvaerk in the 1940s. Beautiful ref...
Wool, Beech
$7,514
H 30.71 in W 65.75 in D 26.78 in
Rare Gio Ponti Attributed Sofa by Casa E Giardino, Italy, 1940s
By Casa e Giardino, Gio Ponti
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
Rare Gio Ponti attributed sofa for Casa e Giardino, Italy, 1940s. Structurally sound but reupholstery required. We can assist with reupholstery in customers choice of fabric if requi...
Fabric, Wood
Italian Freeform Curved Sofa in Light Blue Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sofa, fabric, iron, brass, Italy, 1950s This eccentric sofa features an interesting composition. The seating area and the backrest are organically sha...
Brass, Iron
$3,046 / set
H 20.48 in W 20.48 in D 16.54 in
Giuseppe Pagano Pair of Italian Oak and Woven Rope Stools, Italy, 1940s
By Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig
Located in Roma, IT
Marvelous and unique pair of stools entirely crafted in solid oak and completed by beautifully hand-woven rope seats. These refined stools were designed by the mastery of Giuseppe Pa...
Rope, Wood, Oak
1940s Curved Danish Cabinetmaker Banana Sofa
By Märta Blomstedt, Viggo Boesen, Flemming Lassen
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A superb curved 1940s Danish sofa, reupholstered in the recent past in red and white striped fabric. Fast shipping worldwide.
Alpaca, Wood
Italian Mohair Settee Sofa, Brown, 1950s
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful mohair upholstered curved sofa with wooden legs. Perfect shape and size. In excellent condition, 1950s, Italy. Same era as: Ch...
Mohair, Wood
Guglielmo Ulrich Art Deco Italian Velvet Sofa, 1940s
By Guglielmo Ulrich
Located in Puglia, Puglia
A large Italian sculptural sofa designed by Guglielmo Ulrich, very comfortable. Recently upholstered in light blue velvet with a light gray velvet border, in a minimalist way, which ...
Velvet, Beech
$2,929 / set
H 18.51 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Rare Pair of Stools by Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig for Gino Maggioni, Italy 40s
By Gino Maggioni, Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig
Located in Lucija, SI
Rare pair of "Rationalist" stools designed by the Italian architect Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig in the Art Decò period and made by the Maggioni factory. These stools with an elegant ...
Rope, Plywood
Italian-made sofa from the 1940s - 1950s
Located in SAN PIETRO MOSEZZO, NO
Small sofa from the 1940s-50s of Italian manufacture. Wooden frame and fabric upholstery, still original. The frame is sound, upholstery and padding are to be reupholstered so as t...
Fabric, Wood
Italian Sofa in Red Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Settee, red fabric, wood, metal, Italy, circa 1960 This Italian two-seat settee features a soft red color and can be placed in an entryway or bring a touch of elegance to any room. ...
Metal
Giuseppe Pagano (Attr.), Rope and bentwood Armchair, Italy 1940s
By Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig
Located in Argelato, BO
Rare armchair with footrest in cured wood and rope, made in Italy in the 1940s and attributable to the famous Italian architect and designer Giuseppe Pagano Pogatsching. The rope ha...
Rope, Wood
Sold
H 29.93 in W 23.63 in D 26.78 in
20th Century, Giuseppe Pagano & Gino Maggioni Pair of armchairs mod. Lamellare
By Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig, Gino Maggioni
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Giuseppe Pagano was an Italian architect and designer, notable for his involvement in the movement of rationalist architecture in Italy up to the end of the Second World War. He desi...
String, Wood
Sold
H 29.14 in W 48.04 in D 26.78 in
Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig & Gino Maggioni Wood Woven Rope Settee, Italy, 1941
By Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig, Gino Maggioni
Located in Catania, IT
Settee designed by Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig & Gino Maggioni and manufactured in Italy, 1941. Minimalist settee with curved wood structure and seat and back in woven river rope, that have been redone new. Both sides have two square-shaped curved wooden armrests that support the bar of the backrest by three screws on one side and on the other, and support also the wooden structure of the seat thanks to three screws on one side and on the other and an additional bar at the base. On the outside of the backrest bar is present rhomboid logo "STABILIMENTI NAPOLI ANTONINO GORGONE".
Wood, Rope
Bentwood Settee by Giuseppe Pagano
By Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig
Located in Culver City, CA
Wonderful bentwood frame. Newly reupholstered in mohair.
Mohair, Bentwood