Swiss architect Mario Botta may be renowned for his impressive postmodern architecture projects such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, but the chairs, lighting and other furniture he created reflect a mastery of geometrically rich forms and an elegant application of simple symmetry.
Born in Mendrisio, Switzerland, in 1943, Botta gained an interest in architecture at an early age. He apprenticed at the architectural firm Carloni and Camenisch and designed his first building — a two-family house at Morbis Superiore in Ticino — at age 16. During the early 1960s, Botta attended the Liceo Artistico in Milan and then studied at the University Institute of Architecture in Venice under art historian Giuseppe Mazzariol and influential Italian architect Carlo Scarpa.
While studying in Venice, Botta worked for Swiss-born French architect Le Corbusier — whose career spanned hundreds of architecture projects — and gained inspiration from Estonian-American architect Louis Kahn, who was known for his modern and brutalist architectural style. In 1969, Botta completed his studies and established his practice in Lugano, designing and building single-family homes.
Throughout the 1970s, Botta gained fame for his innovative, geometrical designs and deceptively simple forms, such as his first large-scale building project in 1977 — the Middle School in Morbio Inferiore, Switzerland. Botta later established himself as one of the masters of 1980s postmodern design in his architecture and his furniture. His postmodern ideas characterize the dining room tables and seating he designed for companies such as Alias, as well as his table lamps and floor lamps for Artemide.
Botta’s noteworthy architectural projects designed during the 1990s and 2000s include the Cymbalista Synagogue and Jewish Heritage Center in Tel Aviv, Israel; the Monastery of the Holy Apostles Saint Peter and Andrew in Lviv, Ukraine; and the Theater of Architecture in Mendrisio, in 2018.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Mario Botta lighting fixtures, seating, tables and decorative objects.
$1,200 / item
Quinta Chairs by Mario Botta for Alias, Italy, 1980s
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in Antwerp, BE
Designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta for Alias in the 1980s, the Quinta chair is a striking example of postmodern Italian furniture design. Its bold frame is constructed from blac...
Steel
"Quinta" Dining Chairs by Mario Botta for Alias, 1980s, set of 8
By Alias, Mario Botta
Located in bruxelles, BE
Set of 8 black metal chairs designed by Mario Botta for Alias. Quinta model. Stamped Alias. Seat height: 43 cm Wear due to time and age. FOR SHIPPING, REQUEST US FOR RECEIVE THE BEST...
Metal
1987 Set of Four Dining Chairs La Tonda Mario Botta Italian Orange Leather Metal
By Alias, Mario Botta
Located in Milano, IT
A set of four ‘Latonda’ chairs, 1987 Tubular metal structure with seat in orange stretched leather. Made by Alias, Italy. Sticky label ‘Alias Italy’ on the metal structure underne...
Metal
1987 Set of Four Dining Chairs La Tonda Mario Botta Italian Orange Leather Metal
By Alias, Mario Botta
Located in Milano, IT
A set of four ‘Latonda’ chairs, 1987 Tubular metal structure with seat in orange stretched leather. Made by Alias, Italy. Sticky label ‘Alias Italy’ on the metal structure underne...
Metal
"Seconda 602" Chairs by Mario Botta for Alias, 1980s, set of 6
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in bruxelles, BE
Set of 6 gray and black chairs by Mario Botta. Stamped Alias. Seat height: 46 cm. Wear due to time and age of chairs. For shipping, request us for receive the best price.
Metal
Set of Four Italian Beech Dining Chairs, 1960s
Located in Praha, CZ
- Made in Italy - Made of beechwood - Very good craftsman work - Good, original condition.
Fabric, Beech
Italian Set of Four Dining Chairs in Wood and Metal
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Set of four dining chairs, black lacquered wood, wood, Italy, 1970s Set of four dining chairs with interesting features, made in Italy in the 1970s. This design is unusual and speci...
Metal
1980s Set of Four Chrome Dining Chairs, Italy
Located in Praha, CZ
- Made of fabric and chrome - Made in Italy - The fabric needs to be replaced - Good original condition - Seat hight 47 cm.
Chrome
Mario Botta Seconda 602 Chairs by Alias
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in Highland, IN
Post modern icon, the "Seconda" chair by Mario Botta is a study in geometry as Botta strips down every element of the chair to its leanest, most essential form. This vintage pair f...
Steel
$14,800 / set
H 31.89 in W 23.23 in D 19.49 in
Mario Bellini Set of Four 'CAB 413' Dining Chairs in Patinated Cognac Leather
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mario Bellini for Cassina, set of four armchairs model 'CAB 413', leather, plastic, Italy, 1979 The iconic ‘CAB’ chair was designed by Mario Bellini in 1979. Conceptually new was th...
Leather, Plastic
$1,001Sale Price / set|28% Off
H 30.71 in W 17.72 in D 16.54 in
Set of Four Vintage Chromed Dining Chairs, Faux Leather, Italy, 1970
Located in Ceglie Messapica, IT
Set of Four Vintage Chromed Dining Chairs, Faux Leather, Italy, 1970 Four vintage dining chairs with a refined industrial touch manufactured in Italy in the 1970s. Minimilast yet r...
Chrome
$2,343
H 28.35 in W 20.48 in D 22.05 in
Post Modern Swiss Design Black Seconda Chair by Mario Botta for Alias, 1980s
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in Renens, CH
Seconda Chair by Mario Botta for Alias, 1980s The Seconda Chair (1982) is an iconic piece of design, with use of materials that are typical for Botta’s furniture and lamps: Sheet me...
Metal
$7,800 / set
H 34.5 in W 17 in D 18 in
Set of Four Mario Papperzini for Salterini Garden Dining Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Iconic Mid-Century Modern set of four patio and garden dining chairs designed by Mario Papperzini for John Salterini. The set consists of two side chairs and two host armchairs measuring 22 inches wide and 20.5 inches deep. The chairs all feature the trademark Mario Papperzini ball finials on the backs and the lattice work seat...
Iron
$1,283
H 37.4 in W 17.71 in D 21.65 in
Mario Botta La Quinta chair for Alias, Switzerland 1985, One Chair
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in Basel, BS
Fast Shipping, insured in 8-15 days. Mint condition original 1980s La Quinta chair by Mario Botta Chairs for Alias. One chair is left. During the 198...
Metal, Sheet Metal
$2,695 / item
H 28.35 in W 20.48 in D 22.84 in
Mario Botta, 4 'Seconda' Black Metal Chairs, Alias Mod. 602, 1980s
By Mario Botta
Located in Argelato, BO
Three 'Seconda' chairs designed by the famous architect Mario Botta for the Italian firm Alias, model 602. All 4 are painted black both in the structure and in the seat, they bear ...
Steel
$4,687 / set
H 28.35 in W 22.45 in D 18.9 in
Mario Botta for Atlas, Pair of Black "Prima" Chairs, Italy, 1980s
By Mario Botta, Atlas
Located in Naples, IT
Designed in 1982 by the legendary Swiss architect Mario Botta for Alias, the "Prima" chair is one of the purest and most recognizable symbols of postmodern design and architecture ap...
Metal
$1,160
H 36.62 in W 22.45 in D 17.72 in
Italian postmodern metal Quinta 605 chair by Mario Botta for Alias, 1980s
By Alias, Mario Botta
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian postmodern metal Quinta 605 chair by Mario Botta for Alias, 1980s. Quinta 605 chair, postmodern Italian, in metal by Mario Botta for Alias 1980 Quinta 605 armchair with seat ...
Metal
Quinta Chairs by Mario Botta for Alias, Italy, 1980s
By Alias, Mario Botta
Located in Antwerp, BE
Designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta for Alias in the 1980s, the Quinta chair is a striking example of postmodern Italian furniture design. Its bold frame is constructed from blac...
Steel
Sold
H 30.52 in W 24.81 in D 20.08 in
Italian Modern Black Light Blue Metal Chair La Tonda by Mario Botta Alias, 1980s
By Alias, Mario Botta
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern black and light blue metal chair mod. la Tonda by Mario Botta for Alias, 1980s Chair mod. la Tonda with curved back and legs in black painted tubular metal. The seat is made up of a light blue micro-perforated sheet metal. Produced by Alias ??in 1980s and designed by Mario Botta. Label present under the seat. Very good conditions, it has small scattered marks. Measurements in cm 63x51x77.5h 40h seat This seat is suitable both for a formal place such as an office or a waiting room, and for an informal place such as a bedroom, a living room, a dining room or an entrance hall. This chair from the fine Italian manufacture of the end of 1900s has an elegant and beautiful Silhouette in its simplicity. It also has a comfortable seat. You can fide other vintage seat...
Metal
Mario Botta Quinta Chairs for Alias, a Pair
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of Quinta chairs with chrome frame and black steel seat and back by Mario Botta for Alias, 1980s.
Steel, Chrome
Sold
H 27.96 in W 20.48 in D 22.05 in
Set of 4 Post-Modern Seconda Armchairs by Mario Botta for Alias, Italy, 1982
By Alias, Mario Botta
Located in Munster, NRW
When looking at Mario Botta's chair designs you can follow his thoughts step by step (he even named them chronologically). His architectural approach to construction redefines static...
Metal
Sold
H 28.25 in W 20.5 in D 22.5 in
Four 'Seconda 602' Armchairs Designed by Architect Mario Botta for Alias, Italy
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This chair by Mario Botta has become a design icon representing the late 20th century modern and Postmodern movement. The metal frame is painted with light gray enamel and the perfor...
Metal
Sold
H 28.5 in W 20.5 in D 23 in
Modern Pair of Mario Botta Seconda 602 Memphis Dining Chairs for Alias
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in Houston, TX
Chic modern pair of secunda memphis dining chairs. They are style 602 by Mario Botta for Alias.
Steel
Sold
H 28.25 in W 20.5 in D 22.5 in
Pair of Seconda 602 Armchairs Designed by Architect Mario Botta for Alias, Italy
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This chair by Mario Botta has become a design icon representing the late 20th century modern and Postmodern movement. The metal frame is painted with light gray enamel and the perfor...
Metal
Sold
H 37.41 in W 17.72 in D 21.66 in
Mario Botta for Alias Italian Steel Chairs "Quinta", 1980s, Set of 4
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in Puglia, Puglia
These four chairs were designed by the Italian architect Mario Botta. The Quinta chair is built with a steel rod frame, and seat and back in bent perforated sheet metal. Mario Botta He was born in Mendrisio in 1943. He graduated from the University of Architecture in Venice, where he worked with Le Corbusier and Luis Kahn...
Metal
Seconda 602 Armchairs by Architect Mario Botta for Alias, 1982
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Set of six Seconda 602 armchairs by Architect Mario Botta for Alias, Italy, 1982.
Steel
Set of 6 Seconda Chairs by Mario Botta for Alias, Italy, 1985
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in London, GB
The Seconda chair is perhaps one of his most iconic pieces. This set of early period produced chairs are, like most of his designs, are made from metal tubing, flat bar and folded pe...
Cut Steel
Seconda Chairs by Mario Botta for Alias, Italy, 1982
By Alias, Mario Botta
Located in London, GB
As you can see, we have a bit of a thing for Mario Botta. We are gradually amassing his whole collection. The Seconda chair is perhaps one of his most iconic pieces. This set of earl...
Cut Steel
Pair of Mario Botta Quinta Chair Alias, Switzerland, 1985
By Alias, Mario Botta
Located in London, GB
Predominantly an accomplished architect, Botta designed a range of furniture for the company Alias during the 1980s. His designs tend to include a strong sense of geometry, often bei...
Metal