Red Carimate Chair by Vico Magistretti, Italy 1960s
About the Item
- Creator:Vico Magistretti (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 29.53 in (75 cm)Width: 20.08 in (51 cm)Depth: 18.9 in (48 cm)Seat Height: 16.54 in (42 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Milano, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU8767236156472
Vico Magistretti
As one of the founding fathers of modern Italian design, prolific architect and industrial designer Ludovico Magistretti (known by his nickname Vico) was guided by his philosophy, “There is no excuse for bad design.” His architectural projects are widely revered, and an ingenious meld of form and function can be found in his stylish and deceptively simple table lamps, sofas, armchairs and other mid-century furnishings.
Born in Milan, Magistretti followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather (both architects) to study architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan. At the outbreak of World War II, he fled to Switzerland, and it was there he met his role model and mentor, renowned humanist architect Ernesto Nathan Rogers. Magistretti was inspired by Rogers’s vision to revive postwar Italy, and they collaborated on several reconstruction projects. Among Magistretti’s first architectural designs is a “poetic” round church, which he created for the QT8, an experimental Milanese neighborhood.
When Magistretti returned to Milan in 1945, he worked at his father’s architectural firm. It wasn’t until the early 1950s that he expanded his talents into design while working with furniture artisans.
In the 1960s, Magistretti began his 30-year working relationship with famed entrepreneur Cesare Cassina of the Cassina furniture manufacturing company. In their design approach, the two men shared a vision of the relationship between modernity and tradition and enjoyed a close bond (Magistretti designed Cassina’s luxurious villa in 1965). However, their friendship was not without contention.
Legend has it that upon seeing the prototype for Magistretti’s Maralunga sofa, Cassina hated it so much that he punched it, breaking the back of the sofa, which crumpled into itself.
“Right, great, it looks perfect to me like that,” an unfazed Magistretti allegedly responded, and the Maralunga’s slumped, adjustable-height backrest was born. Incidentally, the Maralunga sofa won Italy’s Compasso d’Oro award as did his Eclisse lamp for Artemide and his Atollo lamp for Oluce.
Magistretti died in 2006, but his designs live on in galleries, museums and private residences and offices around the world.
Find a range of vintage Vico Magistretti furniture and lighting on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Milano, Italy
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- 1st Edition Carimate Armchair Designed by Vico Magistretti for Comi (Artemide)By Cassina, Vico MagistrettiLocated in Milano, ITGreen Carimate Wooden Dining Armchair designed by Vico Magistretti for Comi (Artemide), rare first edition manufactured before the design patent was acquired by Cassina. Blending a t...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsWood
- Table Lamp model 4720 by Filippo Panseca for Kartell, Italy, 1960sBy KartellLocated in Milano, ITSpherical lamp designed by Italian designer Filippo Panseca for Kartell, drawn at the end of the 1960s. Inside the glass sphere, a mirror is positioned diagonally and reflects neon l...Category
Antique 1660s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsMirror, Plexiglass
- Pair of 'Aprilina' folding chairs by Gae Aulenti for Zanotta, 1960sBy Gae AulentiLocated in Milano, ITThe Aprilina folding chair designed by Gae Aulenti for Zanotta in 1964 epitomizes the essence of minimalism and elegance. With an extraordinary minimalistic design, it embodies simpl...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Chairs
MaterialsAluminum
- Brass Pendant Fior Di Loto by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Flos, 1960sBy Flos, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Milano, ITThe Fior di Loto pendant, passionately conceived by the visionary minds of Tobia and Afra Scarpa, emerges as a true masterpiece within the realm of lighting design. Born in the creat...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- "Fantasia Italiana" serving plate by Gio Ponti for Ceramiche Franco Pozzi, 1960sBy Gio PontiLocated in Milano, ITThis serving plate manufactured by Ceramiche Franco Pozzi in Italy in the 1960s, is part of the renewed "Fantasia Italiana" collection designed by Gio Ponti. This iconic collection t...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Dinner Plates
MaterialsCeramic
- Kartell Magazine Rack by Giotto Stoppino, Italy 1970sBy Kartell, Giotto StoppinoLocated in Milano, ITThis beautiful magazine rack crafted by Kartell and designed by Giotto Stoppino is a minimalist piece of design from the 1970s, boasting an extra-large design featuring six storage c...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsPlastic
- Carimate Dining Chair by Vico Magistretti for Habitat/Conran, RedBy Vico MagistrettiLocated in Edinburgh, ScotlandCarimate 115 chair (single) The Carimate or “Red Chair” is one of the most iconic of Magistretti’s designs if not the most popular here in Britain. Design...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsBeech, Rush
- Pair of Vico Magistretti "Carimate" ChairsBy Cassina, Vico MagistrettiLocated in Los Angeles, CAVico Magistretti “Carimate” chairs Produced by Cassina in the 1960’s Black frames with natural woven seats Timeless classic, modern...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Chairs
MaterialsRush, Wood
- Set of 5 Carimate chairs by Vico Magistretti, Italy, 1960sBy Vico MagistrettiLocated in Palermo, PASet of 5 Carimate chairs by Vico Magistretti, Italy, 1960s Dimensions: H= 74 cm; W= 59 cm; D= 47 cm; H seat.= 44 cm.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1960, Set of 6By Cassina, Vico MagistrettiLocated in Philadelphia, PAVico Magistretti "Carimate" dining chairs for Cassina, wood and beautiful dark green velvet, Italy, 1960, set of six. The "Carimate" chair is one of Vico Magistretti’s most famous ch...Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsBeech
- Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1960, Set of 6By Cassina, Vico MagistrettiLocated in Lonigo, VenetoVico Magistretti "Carimate" dining chairs for Cassina, red lacquered wood and straw seat, Italy, 1960, set of six. The "Carimate" chair is one of Vico Magistretti’s most famous ch...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsStraw, Wood
- Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1960, Set of 6By Cassina, Vico MagistrettiLocated in Lonigo, VenetoVico Magistretti "Carimate" dining chairs for Cassina, green lacquered wood and straw seat, Italy, 1960, set of six. The "Carimate" chair is one of Vico Magistretti’s most famous ...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsStraw, Wood