Alky Lounge Chair by Giancarlo Piretti for Artifort, 1970s
View Similar Items
Alky Lounge Chair by Giancarlo Piretti for Artifort, 1970s
About the Item
- Creator:Artifort (Manufacturer),Giancarlo Piretti (Designer)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 28.35 in (72 cm)Width: 25.99 in (66 cm)Depth: 32.68 in (83 cm)Seat Height: 15.75 in (40 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. The chairs are in very good condition.
- Seller Location:Oud Beijerland, NL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5578222456372
Alky Chair
In the 1960s, Giancarlo Piretti (b. 1940), who earned a degree in art education at the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna and taught interior design, began working with the Italian manufacturer Castelli, where he would go on to produce some of the most popular chairs in the world. In 1969, he debuted the Alky, a sculptural, modernized riff on a slipper chair that appears to float above the ground.
Unlike most chairs, the Alky doesn’t have a distinctive base and seat; rather the entire form appears as one continuous piece, originally upholstered in velvet and wool and set on narrow, aluminum feet.
Much of Piretti’s popularity in the United States can be attributed to Castelli’s exhibition “The Piretti Collection” at the 1988 iteration of the NeoCon design exposition in Chicago. There, his ergonomic office seating earned him a slew of awards and led to increased global attention.
Compared to Piretti’s widely revered folding chairs and wheeling desk chairs (the Plia, of which millions have sold, is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art; the DSC 106 is among Castelli’s best known), the Alky — no longer in production — is by far the most sumptuous design. Yet, as much as its shapely silhouette has made it a favorite of interior designers in residential and commercial spaces alike, it is also rooted in comfort. Its foam-covered back and seat give soft resistance, and the Alky chair’s organic shape perfectly cradles the sitter — a true mark of the modernist dedication to human-centric design.
Giancarlo Piretti
Giancarlo Piretti was born in Bologna, Italy, in 1940. He attended art schools there and subsequently taught Interior Design. During that time, he was also designing furniture for Anonima Castelli. He has won numerous awards and has items in many museums, including MoMA, New York. He still lives and works in Bologna with his son, designer Alessandro Piretti.
- Set of 2 Alky Lounge Chairs by Giancarlo Piretti for Artifort, 1970sBy Artifort, Giancarlo PirettiLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLSet of 2 lovely and comfortable Alky chairs. Designed by Giancarlo Piretti in 1969, produced by Artifort. They are just reupholstered with very soft and cosy fabric, it feels l...Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsAluminum
- Alky Lounge Chair by Giancarlo Piretti for Artifort, 1980sBy Artifort, Giancarlo PirettiLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLLovely and comfortable Alky chair. Designed by Giancarlo Piretti in 1969, produced by Artifort. There are 3 chairs available, the price is for 1 chair. They are just reupholstered...Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsAluminum
- Alky Lounge Chair by Giancarlo Piretti for Artifort, 1980sBy Artifort, Giancarlo PirettiLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLLovely and comfortable Alky chair. Designed by Giancarlo Piretti in 1969, produced by Artifort. There are 3 chairs available, the price is for 1 chair. They are just reupholstered...Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsAluminum
- Alky Lounge Chair by Giancarlo Piretti for Castelli, 1980sBy Castelli, Giancarlo PirettiLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLLovely and comfortable Alky chair. Designed by Giancarlo Piretti in 1969, produced by Castelli Italy. Both chairs have the original wool fabric, color red. The chairs are professi...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsAluminum
- 508 Lounge Chair by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort, 1970sBy Geoffrey Harcourt, ArtifortLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLVery cute and comfortable Lounge Chair designed by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort in the 70's. It has a rotating metal foot. It has just been reupholstered with lovely bouclé fa...Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsMetal
- Midcentury 508 Lounge Chair by Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort, 1970sBy Geoffrey Harcourt, ArtifortLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLVery cute and comfortable "508" lounge chair. This pivoting chair is designed by Geoffrey Harcourt. It is fabricated by Artifort in the 1970s. The chair is just reupholstered ...Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsMetal
- Giancarlo Piretti “Alky” Chair in New Velvet, Artifort, 1970s, *Customizable*By Artifort, Giancarlo PirettiLocated in London Road, Baldock, HertfordshireA single Giancarlo Piretti “Alky” chair newly upholstered in Designers Guild linen-colored cotton velvet & potentially customizable in over 100 colors. *Lead time for despatch of Al...Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
- Giancarlo Piretti “Alky” Chairs in New Velvet, Artifort, 1970s - *Customizable*By Artifort, Giancarlo PirettiLocated in London Road, Baldock, HertfordshireA pair of Giancarlo Piretti “Alky” chairs newly upholstered in Designers Guild linen-colored cotton velvet & potentially customizable in over 100 colors. *Lead time for despatch of ...Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
- Alky Chair by Giancarlo Piretti for Anonima Castelli, 1970sBy Giancarlo Piretti, Anonima CastelliLocated in Lasne, BEArmchair in red fabric. Model: Alky. Seat height: 39 cm. Wear due to time and age.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsMetal
- Alky Chairs by Giancarlo Piretti for Anonima Castelli, 1970s, Set 2By Giancarlo Piretti, Anonima CastelliLocated in Lasne, BEPair of alky chairs in red fabric. Seat height: 37cm. Wear due to time and age.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsMetal
- Alky Armchair by Giancarlo PirettiBy Artifort, Giancarlo PirettiLocated in PARIS, FRAlky armchair by Italian designer Giancarlo Piretti for Artifort, 1970s. The structure is covered with thermoformed foam, and the base is made of aluminum. Good condition. This armch...Category
Mid-20th Century Armchairs
MaterialsTextile
$2,922 / item - Alky Chairs by Giancarlo Piretti for Anonima Castelli, 1970s, Set of 2By Giancarlo Piretti, Anonima CastelliLocated in Lasne, BEPair of alky chairs in red fabric designed by Giancarlo Piretti in the 70s. Seat height: 37cm. Wear due to time and age.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsMetal