Alberto Rosselli for Saporiti 'Confidential' Sofa

About the Item

Alberto Rosselli for Saporiti, 'Confidential' sofa, in iridescent scale pattern upholstery, Italy, design 1972 Two-seat sofa designed by Italian architect Alberto Rosselli in 1972 for Saporiti Italia. The shiny white upholstery shows a scale-like pattern with silver and gold tread highlighting the scales. This iconic sofa is one of the first modular sofas for the home. The elements are brought together by the puzzle-like cushions that gracefully fall into place. Alberto Rosselli (1921-1976) was born in Palermo, capital of the island of Sicily in Italy. After he graduated in architecture from the Politecnico di Milano in 1947, he stayed and worked in Milan. In 1950, Rosselli, Gio Ponti, and Antonio Fornaroli formed the architecture/design firm Studio Ponti Fornaroli Rosselli (P.F.R) where he worked on his first architectural project ‘Pirelli Tower’ in 1954. During the same year, with the help of Ponti, he founded and directed his own journal titled ‘Stile Industria’, which focused on improving the relationship between design and industry in Italy. The issues incorporated topics that touched on different disciplines, such as design, architecture, and arts, which made significant contributions to the design discourse until its last publication in 1963. He became an acknowledged pioneer of industrial design, co-founding the Association for Industrial Design (ADI) in 1956, and between 1961 and 1963, working as a vice-president for the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID). Here, he pursued a career in the academic field where he developed new teaching that embodied sophisticated methodological principles. He introduced the concept and process of “decision-making” in design to the faculty of architecture in the University of Milan. Rosselli passed away in 1976, who left his mark as an architect, designer, and university lecture, a man known for his theoretical approach to industrial design. Please note that the item contains some threadbare upholstery. For further details, we encourage you to reach out to our team of design specialists.

Creator:

Alberto Rosselli Saporiti (Designer),Saporiti (Manufacturer)

Dimensions:

Height: 21.66 in (55 cm)Width: 63 in (160 cm)Depth: 35.44 in (90 cm)Seat Height: 14.97 in (38 cm)

Style:

Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Fabric,Wood

Place of Origin:

Italy

Period:

1970-1979

Date of Manufacture:

1970s

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use. Every item Morentz offers is checked by our team of 30 craftsmen in our in-house workshop. Special restoration or reupholstery requests can be done. Check ‘About the item’ or ask our design specialists for detailed information on the condition.

Seller Location:

Waalwijk, NL

Reference Number:

Seller: 450153661stDibs: LU933136122372

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Shop All Saporiti

Saporiti

Established initially as Fratelli Saporiti in 1950, mid-century Italian furniture maker Saporiti Italia has a reputation for avant-garde and enduring designs, and its tables, chairs and cabinets inspire all who have had the pleasure of contemplating them.

Furniture designer Sergio Saporiti founded Fratelli Saporiti with a vision of creating pieces ahead of their time. By staying on top of the cultural shifts taking shape during the postwar era — and finding inspiration in the craftsmanship, durability and sensibility of Scandinavian design — Saporiti was able to tap into what the public wanted. His focus on using high-quality materials ensured that every welcoming chair and table could be used and enjoyed for decades to come.

In 1965, Saporiti collaborated with Italian designer Alberto Rosselli, a pioneer of the industrial design movement. They created such iconic pieces as the Confidential sofa, the Moby Dick chaise lounge and the Jumbo chair. In the 1970s, Saporiti initiated another collaboration with Italian designer Giovanni Offredi. The prolific partnership resulted in universally renowned designs like the Paracarro table and the Sail chair. Together, they also created the curving Wave sofa, which was popular in international markets.

The joint projects were a success, and the brand opened many international showrooms throughout the 1970s. In the 1980s, the company officially rebranded as Saporiti Italia and released a line of customizable furniture, including the Avedon sofa, in collaboration with designer Mauro Lipparini. This era also led to a partnership with Missoni — the celebrated Italian fashion brand expanded into home furnishings in 1983 and created rugs and upholstery fabrics for Saporiti soon afterward.

Since then, Saporiti Italia has pivoted to furniture contracting and design management. To this day, the company remains under the ownership of the Saporiti family, and vintage Saporiti furniture continues to capture the imagination of collectors worldwide.

Find Saporiti Italia lounge chairs, coffee tables and sofas on 1stDibs.