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.
Postmodern Spring Office Chair by Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti, c.1990
By Massimo Scolari, Giorgetti S.p.A.
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
Post Modern Knoll Swivel Desk, Office, Chairs 11 Available
By Knoll, Don Chadwick
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional Knoll swivel desk chair(s) from the 1970's, in rich brown formed foam upholstery, on five star base. The chair swivels a full 360, and the base is on double wheel coaster...
Plastic
$15,296 / set
H 40.56 in W 28.35 in D 29.14 in
Set of Eight Leather Office Chairs by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Barcelona, ES
Set of eight office chair designed in 1966-1976 by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, Italy. Cast aluminum with chrome-plated bases and original black leather upholstery. Swivel base with ad...
Metal, Aluminum
$5,450 / set
H 32 in W 30 in D 32 in
1990s Post Modern Muave Swivel Chairs by Michael Wolk for Directional, Set of 2
By Directional
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most iconic swivel chairs you could hope to find. Outstanding design is exhibited throughout. The beautiful chairs are statement piece and very comfortable. The award-winning Miami Swivel...
Upholstery, Wood
Postmodern swivel chair, Cofemo
By Cofemo
Located in Neuss, NW
Rare postmodern swivel chair by Cofemo from the 1980s. High-quality red lacquered steel frame with plastic castors. Seat and backrest are covered with the original leather cover in r...
Steel
Executive Swivel Office Chair by Eero Saarinen for Knoll, c. 1950
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in New York City, NY
Executive swivel office chair by Eero Saarinen for Knoll. Made in the United States circa 1950.
Steel
$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
Regency Style Leather Executive Office Chair by Century
By Century Furniture
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Stately leather executive swivel office chair crafted by Century Furniture. The chair features a svelte gondola form frame finished in dark espresso leather bordered by brass tack nail heads in the regency taste. The chair has height adjustments including tilt and swivel. The flat top crest of the seat has small ears...
Metal, Brass
Elegant Swivel Chair, by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful swivel chair, style of Karl Springer, on the picture it look like they is large black stain, it is the reflection due to the velvet fabric, the fabric is good condition.
Metal
$1,295
H 32.75 in W 25.5 in D 24 in
Eames for Herman Miller MCM Blue Padded Fiberglass Swivel Office Chair
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Eames for Herman Miller Mid Century Blue Padded Fiberglass Swivel Office Chair This office chair measures: 25.5 wide x 24 deep x 32.75 high, with a seat height of 18.5 and arm heigh...
Metal
$1,759
H 44.09 in W 22.05 in D 22.05 in
Vintage Supporto Series Office Swivel Chair by Frederick Scott for Hille, 1970s
By Frederick Scott
Located in Hamburg, DE
Office chair from the british manufacturer hille based on a design by frederick scott from the 1970s. the solid aluminium seat shell and backrest are special features of the chair...
Metal
$3,196
H 30.71 in W 20.87 in D 22.45 in
1st Edition "Parioli" Rosewood and Leather Office Chair by Ennio Fazioli for MIM
By Ennio Fazioli, MIM Roma
Located in Ceglie Messapica, IT
Early Mid-Century Modern "Parioli" Model Rosewood and Leather Office Chair by Ennio Fazioli for MIM Roma, 1960s (First Generation model - Rare 4-Spoke Base) An exceptional, early-p...
Metal
$2,967 / item
H 28.35 in W 20.87 in D 24.41 in
Postmodern Space Age Mustard Sage Swivel Dining Chair Coraje
By Moanne
Located in Almería, ES
Swivel Chair in Green/Lilac Relief Fabric. The Coraje Dining Chair is a tribute to bravery. Its fearless design stands firm, inspiring you to take bold steps while offering the perfe...
Cotton
Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen Office Chair in Red Upholstery
By Fritz Hansen, Arne Jacobsen
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, office chair model ‘3217’, wood, fabric, chrome-plated metal, plastic, Denmark, designed in 1955, later production This office chair by Arne Jacobsen...
Chrome, Metal
Postmodern Directional Furniture Style Swivel Chair
By Directional, Thayer Coggin, Milo Baughman
Located in Houston, TX
Postmodern Directional furniture style swivel chair. Our shapely Postmodern lounge chair is most comfortable and stunning from every angle. This versatile chair will work in a variet...
Velvet
Weiman Petite Postmodern Slipper Swivel Chair
By Weiman
Located in West Chester, PA
Weiman Petite Postmodern Slipper Swivel Chair in the original purple and gold upholstery which is in excellent condition. Labeled on underside.
Upholstery, Wood
Sold
H 35.83 in W 24.81 in D 18.9 in
Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti Beech and Ebony Spring Chair with Wheels, 1990s
By Giorgetti S.p.A., Massimo Scolari
Located in Rochester, England
The Spring office chair was designed in 1994 by Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti to match the iconic Zeno desk. Constructed from polished beechwood, the chair sits on a comfortable s...
Leather, Beech, Ebony
Pair of Spring Swivel Armchairs by Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti Italy
By Massimo Scolari
Located in Miami, FL
A pair of early 21st century spring swivel armchairs by Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti Italy. Feature polished solid beech wood frames, ...
Fabric, Wood