
Pair of Giancarlo Piretti “Alky” Grey Leather Chairs, Castelli, 1969
View Similar Items
Pair of Giancarlo Piretti “Alky” Grey Leather Chairs, Castelli, 1969
About the Item
- Creator:Cassina (Manufacturer),Giancarlo Piretti (Designer)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 27.96 in (71.02 cm)Width: 25.99 in (66.02 cm)Depth: 27.96 in (71.02 cm)Seat Height: 14.18 in (36.02 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1975
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. We could only find a small damages in form of scratches and rub off to the leather, other than that the chairs are perfectly fine for years of use to come. They have been newly treated with a leather conditioner.
- Seller Location:Vienna, AT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU993523437802
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 chair, 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 lounge chair — 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.
More From This Seller
View AllVintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Leather, Oak
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Leather
Vintage 1940s Italian Art Deco Armchairs
Fabric, Oak
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Hemp, Rope, Beech
Vintage 1980s German Post-Modern Armchairs
Chrome, Metal
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Stainless Steel
You May Also Like
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Metal
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Aluminum, Steel
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Billy Cotton Layers His Interiors with Lived-In Comfort
The Brooklyn-based designer is adept at styles ranging from austere to over-the-top, espousing an architectural, detail-oriented approach also evident in his line of furniture and lighting.