Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
A rare and playful Italian post-modern lounge chair, designed by Augusto Mandelli and Walter Selva for Salmistraro in the 1980s. It is a true statement piece that captures the bold, experimental spirit of Italian design in the Memphis era, when furniture became sculpture, colour and fun were encouraged, and comfort still mattered.
The chair is built around a deep, rounded seat and a softly curved back, now newly upholstered in an old rose velvet with a matching loose cushion. Two tall black leather panels rise up on either side like wings or shields, framing the sitter and giving the chair its striking, architectural silhouette. A small round black side table is mounted on a slim chrome arm on one side, a clever and characteristic detail that makes the chair perfect for a coffee, a drink or a book.
The combination of dusty pink velvet, black leather and chrome is typical of the period and feels surprisingly fresh today. From the front the chair reads as soft and inviting; from the side and back the black wings dominate and turn it into a graphic object that looks good from every angle in a room.
Stylistically, the chair fits naturally alongside work by Ettore Sottsass and the Memphis Group, Michele De Lucchi, Peter Shire and Studio Alchimia, and it sits comfortably next to Italian postmodern design by Gaetano Pesce, Alessandro Mendini or Paolo Deganello. It also pairs well with 1980s lacquered furniture...
Category
1980s Post-Modern Vintage Italian Wingback Chairs