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.
Mid-Century Desk and Matching Chair by Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti, Italy1990
By Massimo Scolari, Giorgetti S.p.A.
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Desk and Matching Chair by Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti, Italy,1990s Dimensions D: 80 - Chair : 46 cm H: 73 - Chair : 89 cm W: 160,5 - Chair : 65 cm
Leather, Wood
$495 / set
H 27.5 in W 51 in D 19.25 in
Mid Century Writing Desk and Chair by Carl Sasse for Casala Germany c. 1950's
By Casala, Carl Sasse
Located in New York, NY
Stylish architectural writing table, desk and chair, designed by Carl Sasse, for Casala made in Germany, circa 1950's. Constructed of solid wood, this example is structurally sound ...
Wood
$4,539 / set
H 28.35 in W 33.08 in D 20.08 in
Italian Mid-Century Modern Small Desk and Chair Attributed to Paolo Buffa, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Cute and stylish Italian midcentury modern desk, with a graceful chair, attributed to Paolo Buffa. This teakwood desk it is a splendid example of the Italian class design of 1950. B...
Brass
$2,975
H 29 in W 48 in D 24 in
Welcome to Mid-Century NoHo Mid Century Maple Desk by Paul McCobb for Winchendon
By Paul McCobb, Winchendon
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Welcome to Mid-Century NoHo [Mid Century Maple Desk by Paul McCobb for Winchendon] Mid-century maple desk designed by Paul McCobb for Winchendon. This beautiful desk is made of map...
Maple
Mid-Century Executive Walnut Desk by Edward J. Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Wonderful mid-century executive walnut desk designed by Edward J. Wormley for Dunbar in the United States, circa 1950s. This desk is made with a timeless design that has been profess...
Brass
Italian Mid-Century Writing Desk by Vittorio Dassi, 1950s
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Buccinasco, MI
Elegant and refined Italian Mid-Century writing desk designed by Vittorio Dassi in the 1950s, a period in which his work reflects the broader cultural dialogue of Italian post-war de...
Brass
$19,800
H 32 in W 63 in D 31.5 in
Mid-20th Century Executive Desk by Luigi Caccia Dominioni for Azucena, Italy
Located in New York, NY
Large desk, designed by Luigi Caccia Dominioni for Azucena in the 1960s. The desk stands on brass legs that are set back under the drawer elements, giving it an elegant, floating cha...
Brass
$2,350 / item
H 30 in W 48 in D 24 in
Mid-Century Modern Desk and Chair by Russell Wright for Conant Ball
By Conant Ball, Russel Wright
Located in Buffalo, NY
Simple ,,smart design..... Conant ball desk and matching spindle chair in maple,,,, Russel Wright for Conant Ball Furniture Makers Mid-Century Modern ...
Cane, Birch
$2,867Sale Price|20% Off
H 37.01 in W 36.62 in D 13.39 in
Italian Mid-Century Wooden and Glass Writing Desk
Located in Milano, IT
Cute wooden writing desk of fine Italian manufacture from the 1950s. The desk is made in the frame entirely of fine, light-coloured wood. The legs supporting the structure are long...
Brass
$9,000Sale Price|40% Off
H 36.25 in W 71 in D 38 in
Floor Sample Alma Desk Giorgetti Designed By Pamela Amine w/ Leather Finishes
By Giorgetti S.p.A.
Located in Boston, MA
Designed By Pamela Amine Alma, from the Latin Almus, meaning “soul”, “she who nourishes”, celebrates the main function of a desk, which is to open the mind and expand one's knowle...
Leather
$4,800
H 29 in W 60 in D 32.35 in
Mid-Century Walnut and Rosewood Executive Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Edward J. Wormely for Dunbar executive desk in walnut with deeply sculpted inset rosewood drawer pulls, brass shoes, and removable woven cane privacy screen (ca. 1950s, Indiana, USA)...
Brass
$26,900 / set
H 32.25 in W 79.25 in D 25.25 in
Mid-Century Modern Walnut Desk & Armchair by Amleto Sartori, Italy
By Amleto Sartori
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage Mid-Century modern Italian office set of a writing desk and an armchair made of hand crafted polished Walnut, designed by Amleto Sartori in good condition. The floating rec...
Metal, Brass
$3,345
H 36.23 in W 47.25 in D 22.45 in
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Regency Desk Writing Table and Chair
By Ico & Luisa Parisi, Paolo Buffa, Guglielmo Ulrich, Melchiorre Bega, Vittorio Dassi
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful and neoclassical midcentury Regency Italian writing table or desk with its paired newly upholstered chair both supported by elegant turned and fluted legs ending with taper...
Brass
Massimo Scolari x Giorgetti Glass Top Coffee Table
By Massimo Scolari, Giorgetti S.p.A.
Located in Astoria, NY
Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti Modern Glass Top Coffee Table, with Y-shaped ebonized base and circular top, with label "Giorgetti / design MASSIMO SCOLARI / Made In Italy / 054241" to...
Glass, Beech
Sold
H 28.75 in W 69.5 in D 31.5 in
"Zeno" Asymmetrical Beech and Ebony Desk by Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti, 1990s
By Massimo Scolari, Giorgetti S.p.A.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A well crafted asymmetric 90's desk designed by Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti S.p.A. The desk is made of a beech frame with Macassar Ebony inset top and aluminum hardware. The leg ha...
Aluminum
Sold
H 28.75 in Dm 70.87 in
Walnut and Black Glass Round “ Erasmo”Table of Italian Manufacture, by Giorgetti
By Massimo Scolari, Giorgetti S.p.A.
Located in Traversetolo, IT
This beautiful Giorgetti round table is a rare find. Its three solid Canaletto walnut legs support a honeycomb wood and aluminum structure, with a top made of Black Glacè glass. Sati...
Metal, Aluminum
Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti Zeno Beech and Ebony Desk, 1990s
By Giorgetti S.p.A., Massimo Scolari
Located in Rochester, England
Designed by Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti in 1994, the Zeno desk is a fantastic example of modern Italian design. The desk is construc...
Beech
Sold
H 31.5 in W 63 in L 31.5 in
Contemporary Giorgetti Desk, Writing table by Massimo Scolari, Italy, 1990s
By Massimo Scolari, Giorgetti S.p.A.
Located in Antwerp, BE
Massimo Scolari; desk; office furniture; Giorgetti; Italy; 1990s; Aluminum; Beech; Italian Design; Italian Furniture; Contemporary; Art Nouveau; Minimalism; Eclectic Contemporary ...
Aluminum
Sold
H 31 in W 35 in D 35 in
Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti S.p.A. Extendable Ur Table, Fluted Pedestal Base
By Giorgetti S.p.A., Massimo Scolari
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti S.p.A. Ur extendable, adjustable table, fluted pedestal base. With label and serial number. 35” x 35” squar...
Wood, Maple
Set Massimo Scolari For Giorgetti "Zeno" Desk and Chair, 1990s
By Massimo Scolari
Located in Brussels, BE
Set Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti "Zeno" desk and chair, 1990s.
Wood
Erasmo Executive Desk by Giorgetti
By Massimo Scolari
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Executive desk with the frame in walnut Canaletto wood veneer. The top is in ebony macassar veneer with cable holder. The chest with 3 drawers, two shallow and one deep, is in curved...
Chrome
Vintage Italian Desk by Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti
By Massimo Scolari, Giorgetti S.p.A.
Located in London, GB
A stylish and impressive vintage desk made in Italy, this was designed by Massimo Scolari and was made by Giorgetti around the 1970s-1980s. It’s of amazing quality, with an interesti...
Leather, Beech
Giorgetti Dining Table Massimo Scolari
By Massimo Scolari, Giorgetti S.p.A.
Located in Den Haag, NL
Beautiful large Giorgetti dining table or writing desk. Designed by Massimo Scolari featuring a thick etched glass top on a solid ash wood frame. The legs feature an architectural de...
Cut Glass
Massimo Scolari Side Table for Giorgetti, 2000s
By Giorgetti S.p.A., Massimo Scolari
Located in Den Haag, NL
Inviting mid-sized table in precision-crafted maple with a creamy white acrylic top. Designed by Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti and produced in the early 2000s.
Acrylic, Maple