In his role as art director and furniture designer for Italian furniture brand Giorgetti, architect, educator and painter Massimo Scolari spent over a decade producing so many imaginative, sculptural postmodern pieces that it’s easy to lose count. The Novi Ligure native has always had an eye for good design — he is an equally acclaimed painter with works in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art and the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, and has taught at Harvard University, Cornell University and the University of Cambridge.
In 1969, Scolari completed his studies in architecture and became a professor in 1973. He taught architecture history in Palermo and drawing at Venice’s Istituto Universitario di Architettura di Venezia. From 1975 onward, Scolari was a visiting professor at many of the world’s top universities for nearly three decades while creating numerous installations for the La Biennale di Venezia and Milan Triennial.
Among Scolari’s notable furniture designs are the solid beechwood Spring swivel armchair, which is characterized by organic curves and has a backrest that features ebony insets, as well as the Erasmo and Zeno writing desks. Each piece offers innovative flourishes — the hidden spring in his armchair allows the sitter to lean back comfortably, which lends an unusual level of flexibility to the modern wooden seat, while his sleek writing desks are often outfitted with hidden drawers or secret pull-out compartments.
Scolari has exhibited across the United States. and Europe as well as in Russia and Japan. A retrospective of his work that featured over 100 paintings, drawings and architectural models was staged at the Cooper Union in 2012. For his distinct and creative contributions to architecture, Scolari was awarded the Arnold W. Brunner Memorial Prize in Architecture by the American Academy of Arts and Letters in New York in 2014.
Find vintage Massimo Scolari lighting, tables and seating on 1stDibs.
Set of 4 Giorgetti “Normal” Armchair by Massimo Scolari, Leather & Fabric, Italy
By Giorgetti S.p.A., Massimo Scolari
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Set of four “Normal” armchairs designed by Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti, Italy. Each chair features a solid beechwood frame with a dark-stained finish. The structure combines rigid...
Leather, Fabric, Beech
$2,313Sale Price / set|65% Off
H 31.7 in W 27.17 in D 29.93 in
Italy Violet Fabric Set of 2 Armchairs by B&B Italia, 2020
Located in Brescia, IT
This iconic pair of armchairs made of purple custom fabric made by the Italian company B&B. This model, called Piccola Papilio, swivels on its base and it is a contemporary produ...
Fabric
$6,725 / set
H 47.25 in W 24.41 in D 29.53 in
Pair of Giorgetti Progetti Armchairs and Pouf by Umberto Asnago
By Umberto Asnago, Giorgetti S.p.A.
Located in Vilnius, LT
Pair of vintage Progetti armchairs including pouf, designed by Umberto Asnago. Manufacture date circa 1980s by Giorgetti, Italy. Pouf with labeled textile on the bottom. Metal labele...
Textile, Wood
$3,191Sale Price|20% Off
H 42.13 in W 28.75 in D 33.47 in
Vintage Giorgetti Progetti Armchair by Umberto Asnago
By Umberto Asnago, Giorgetti S.p.A.
Located in Vilnius, LT
Vintage Progetti armchair, designed by Umberto Asnago. Manufacture date circa 1980's by Giorgetti, Italy. Wooden frame in black color and natural wood inserts. In original removable ...
Textile, Wood
$1,415
H 35.44 in W 25.99 in D 25.99 in
Postmodern Spring Office Chair by Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti, c.1990
By Giorgetti S.p.A., Massimo Scolari
Located in Surbiton, GB
A Postmodern Spring swivel chair designed by Italian architect Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti, circa 1990. Featuring a sprung cantilever back, leather upholstered seat and a five star...
Leather, Wood
Giorgetti Progetti Armchairs Pair
By Giorgetti S.p.A., Umberto Asnago
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Umberto Asnago for Giorgetti Progetti arm or lounge chairs. Chairs are upholstered in off-white Bouclé with an oak and beech frame.
Bouclé, Beech, Oak
$2,889Sale Price / set|35% Off
H 40.95 in W 23.63 in D 26.78 in
Set of 2 pcs. Giorgetti Progetti Armchairs by Umberto Asnago
By Umberto Asnago, Giorgetti S.p.A.
Located in Vilnius, LT
Set of 2 pcs. vintage Progetti armchairs, designed by Umberto Asnago. Manufacture date circa 1990's by Giorgetti, Italy. Labeled on the bottom. In original textile removable upholste...
Textile, Wood
$2,000
H 34.5 in W 26 in D 24 in
"Spring" Armchair by Massimo Scolari, Italian Design, Solid Beech Wood
By Massimo Scolari
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
SPRING is a small armchair in polished solid beech wood, with ebony insets in the backrest. The seat is in nondeformable polyurethane, with fabric or leather covering. The arms and...
Leather, Wood, Beech, Ebony
$9,004 / set
H 47.64 in W 24.02 in D 29.53 in
Pair of Mid-century Giorgetti Progetti Leather Wing Armchairs
By Giorgetti S.p.A., Umberto Asnago
Located in Vilnius, LT
Pair of vintage Progetti armchairs. Manufacture date circa 1980s by Centro Ricerche Giorgetti, Italy. Labeled and stamped on the bottom. In black leather removable upholstery and wo...
Leather, Wood
$2,940Sale Price|40% Off
H 47.25 in W 24.41 in D 17.72 in
Midcentury Giorgetti Progetti Leather Armchair by Umberto Asnago
By Giorgetti S.p.A., Umberto Asnago
Located in Vilnius, LT
Vintage Progetti armchair, designed by Umberto Asnago. Manufacture date circa 1980s by Giorgetti, Italy. Labeled and stamped on the bottom. In dar...
Leather, Wood
Giorgetti Janet High Armchair by Umberto Asnago
By Umberto Asnago, Giorgetti S.p.A.
Located in Boston, MA
Designed by Umberto Asnago Janet High Back Armchair 97828 -Inside in fabric cat. C Penny, 02 Sable -Outside in pelle, 205 -Base in wood stained 2Z This item is a floor sample.
Fabric, Wood
$8,548 / set
H 42.13 in W 28.75 in D 33.47 in
Pair of Giorgetti Progetti Natural Alpaca Wool Armchairs by Umberto Asnago
By Umberto Asnago, Giorgetti S.p.A.
Located in Vilnius, LT
Pair of vintage Progetti armchairs, designed by Umberto Asnago. Manufacture date circa 1980's by Giorgetti, Italy. Wooden frame in black color and natural wood inserts. In new white ...
Textile, Wool, Alpaca, Wood
Vintage Giorgetti Progetti Armchair by Umberto Asnago
By Umberto Asnago, Giorgetti S.p.A.
Located in Vilnius, LT
Vintage Progetti armchair designed by Umberto Asnago. Manufacture date circa 1980s by Giorgetti, Italy. Metal label on armchair bottom. In new white boucle textile upholstery. Very g...
Textile, Wood