Pair of Otto 111 Armchairs by Paola Navone for Gervasoni, 1990s

Architect and designer Paola Navone has had an enormous impact on modern furniture design. For over 40 years, she has created interior furnishings for residential and hospitality spaces. She has traveled the world and infused her experiences into her creations, developing a strong appreciation for the architecture and design of Asia. This includes the use of bamboo in much of her furniture, as well as in the simple, natural look of her works.

Not adhering to a single style, Navone’s work reflects a range of influences. She is just as comfortable fashioning a simple, rustic footstool as she is creating an opulent pendant lamp. From her sofas and armchairs to the design of her table lamps and vases, the eclectic variation demonstrates her versatility and innovation.

Navone was born and raised in Turin, Italy. She studied architecture at Turin’s polytechnic school and graduated in 1973. Shortly after, she moved to Milan and entered the world of interior design and architecture. She also worked as a product designer, event organizer and teacher.

Throughout the 1980s, Navone was part of the Memphis Group — a collective of designers and architects who challenged the conventions of traditional design — and associated with such notable designers as Ettore Sottsass and Alessandro Mendini. She also belonged to the avant-garde design group Studio Alchimia, which shared many affiliations with the Memphis Group.

In 1983, Navone won the Osaka International Design Award and in 2000, she was named the AW Architektur & Wohnen Designer of the Year. In 2011, she won the ELLE Decor International Design Award. In recent years, Navone has collaborated with Crate & Barrel and clothing retailer Anthropologie and continues to work with companies across the architecture and design industries.

On 1stDibs, browse Paola Navone seating, lighting, tables and more.

The family-owned Gervasoni furniture brand has been designing and producing top-quality armchairs, coffee tables, chandeliers and more for a century and a half. Creating indoor and outdoor pieces, Gervasoni has a reputation for fine craftsmanship and attention to detail, exporting their exceptional works to 80 countries around the globe.

The Gervasoni company began in 1882 in Pavia di Udine, Italy, as a small workshop that wove wicker products. The brand has adapted its design style numerous times, fine-tuning and improving production methods along the way to create works ranging from rustic to ultramodern. While wicker and rattan remain important, Gervasoni has employed a variety of materials in its furniture, including concrete, porcelain, brass, hardwoods and bamboo.

The company has stayed in the Gervasoni family for three generations and is currently headed by brothers Giovanni and Michele Gervasoni. They pride themselves on substance and form, pursuing a mission of informal elegance in all they produce. Several notable designers, such as Italian architect Paola Navone and English product designer Michael Sodeau, have collaborated on Gervasoni creations, adding their singular perspective to collections.

On 1stDibs, explore Gervasoni seating, tables and lighting.