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Viscontea Armchair by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Simon Internation

$3,482.60

£2,579.39

€2,900

CA$4,764.03

A$5,184.72

CHF 2,748.42

MX$62,376.18

NOK 34,858.75

SEK 31,893.32

DKK 22,098.50

About the Item

Rare and extraordinary Viscontea armchair, designed by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Simon Gavina-a refined industrial reinterpretation of the Sanluca armchair from twenty years earlier and a true icon of 1980s Italian design. This piece is often mistakenly attributed to the Gavina Technical Studio; however, the reissue was entrusted to the Castiglioni brothers, as clearly stated in Simon's original advertising materials. Published in leading design magazines of the time, the Viscontea is a perfect synthesis of formal experimentation and enveloping comfort. Its bold and sculptural silhouette, marked by the iconic "double curve" of the backrest-evoking the profile of a noble collar or the shape of a stylized pelican-makes the Viscontea instantly recognizable and visually striking. The fully padded structure, upholstered in original bright green Alcantara, emphasizes the theatrical nature of the seat and the craftsmanship behind its creation, while the enveloping volume invites the sitter into a protective, immersive comfort zone that balances art and function. Produced by Simon International under the direction of Dino Gavina, this armchair stands as one of the pinnacles of the Castiglioni brothers' collaboration-brilliant interpreters of the radical and innovative thinking that brought Italian design to global fame. The original upholstery, bearing the Simon label beneath the shell, guarantees the authenticity of the piece. A collector's item that is increasingly rare on the market, this armchair doesn't just furnish a space-it defines it. Ideal for both contemporary interiors and curated collections, the Viscontea is a visionary tribute to 20th-century design. In near-perfect condition, with only minimal signs of use on the base-otherwise, it appears as new. Product Name: Viscontea Armchair by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Simon International Designer: Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni Design Year: 1980s (reissue of the 1960s Sanluca) Style: Postmodern Italian design, experimental and sculptural Main Materials: Padded structure, original upholstery in bright green Alcantara Distinctive Design: Sculptural double-curve backrest, enveloping and theatrical form, iconic and instantly recognizable volume Dimensions: Height 100cm Width 90cm Depth 90cm Comfort: Enveloping and protective seat, designed for immersive and refined comfort Typical Use: Ideal as a central piece in contemporary living rooms, design studios, or collector's interiors Design Icon: Renowned reinterpretation by the Castiglioni brothers for Simon Gavina; published in period magazines, original Simon mark beneath the frame Versatility: Perfect in both modern and collectible interiors, it adds strong personality and historical value Current Condition: Near-perfect condition; original upholstery, minimal signs of wear only on the base Additional Notes: Please note that this item is in excellent vintage condition. Minor signs of age may be present but do not affect functionality. Kindly consider these characteristics prior to purchase. Simon International was founded in 1968 by Dino Gavina with the aim of moving beyond traditional industrial logic and restoring a cultural and poetic dimension to design, where furniture becomes a conceptual and intellectual expression. The name "Simon" was chosen to represent a new, abstract, and international identity. The brand stood out for its production of sophisticated, minimal, and architectural furnishings-often straddling the line between art and design-crafted with premium materials and artisanal care. Simon collaborated with masters such as Carlo Scarpa, Kazuhide Takahama, Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Marcel Breuer, Man Ray, Tobia Scarpa, and Mario Ceroli, creating pieces that have become true cult classics of Italian design-frequently published and now highly sought after by collectors. In 2013, Cassina acquired the Simon collection, preserving its original vision and reintroducing its iconic pieces through the "SimonCollection." Simon remains one of the most radical and visionary experiences in 20th-century Italian design. Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni were among the most influential and innovative Italian designers of the 20th century, key figures in the golden age of Italian design, celebrated for their ability to blend functionality, irony, and formal research into everyday objects elevated to icon status. Sons of the sculptor Giannino Castiglioni, both earned architecture degrees from the Politecnico di Milano and began working together in the 1950s, founding a studio known for its experimental and deeply interdisciplinary approach that combined architecture, art, engineering, and popular culture. They collaborated with the most important Italian design companies, including Flos, Zanotta, Cassina, Kartell, and Simon Gavina, creating historically significant products such as the Arco lamp, Toio lamp, Mezzadro seat, Sella stool, and Brionvega radio. Their work is distinguished by ingenious use of materials, formal clarity, ergonomic focus, and a signature ability to reinterpret existing objects with a touch of irony and lightness. Pier Giacomo died prematurely in 1968, but Achille continued the studio's work with the same energy and design coherence until his death in 2002. Their creations are now part of the world's most prestigious museum collections, including the MoMA in New York, and remain a fundamental reference in the history of design.

Creator:
Simon International (Manufacturer),Achille Pier Giacomo Castiglioni (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 39.38 in (100 cm)Width: 35.44 in (90 cm)Depth: 35.44 in (90 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Fabric,Other
Place of Origin:
Italy
Period:
1960-1969
Date of Manufacture:
1980
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Conversano, IT
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU8395246175402

Shop All Achille Pier Giacomo Castiglioni

Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni

Milanese industrial designer-architects Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni (1918–2002; 1913-68) created some of the most iconic furniture designs in the world, particularly those that originated in the realm of mid-century modern lighting.

In the late 1930s, after graduating from the acclaimed Polytechnic University of Milan, Pier Giacomo opened a design studio with his brother Livio and likeminded architect Luigi Caccia Dominioni. Achille, also a graduate of Milan Polytechnic, joined the group after completing his studies in 1944. The era’s architects were encountering difficulty in their attempts to secure building commissions, so the group focused on designing practical everyday objects such as the Model 547, a tabletop radio for Phonola that was encased in Bakelite.

The Castiglioni brothers produced wildly popular and innovative designs throughout the 20th century. While Livio departed the practice in 1952 to pursue lighting design and sound technology on his own, Pier Giacomo and Achille would continue to collaborate on a wealth of projects in the ensuing years.

Vintage furniture collectors may be familiar with Livio and Italian designer Gianfranco Frattini’s serpent-like Boalum lamp, while Achille’s Taraxacum hanging lamp — created for FLOS with sprayed plastic polymers originally intended for military use — as well as the Arco, Snoopy and Toio lamps, which were the result of the collaboration between Pier Giacomo and Achille, are milestones in modernist lighting design.

Also for FLOS, Pier Giacomo and Achille created a series of metal frames that, wrapped in the polymer, became floor lamps (Gatto) or pendant lights (Viscontea and Taraxacum), all released in 1960. The Gatto floor lamp takes its name from the Italian word for “cat” and the inspiration for its aesthetic from lighting that George Nelson developed for legendary American furniture manufacturer Howard Miller during the 1940s. Around the same time, the designer Tobia Scarpa (son of the famed Italian architect Carlo Scarpa and one-half of the widely revered postmodern husband-and-wife design duo Afra and Tobia Scarpa) created a floor lamp called Fantasma (1961) using the polymers technique. FLOS continues to make the Castiglionis’ innovative pieces today.

Materials

Animal Skin, Ash

Erberto Carboni for Arflex, Italy, circa 1955. A "Delfino" or "Dolphin"armchair. Velvet upholstery in seafoam green, likely not original but nor is it newly reupholstered. Steel fram...

Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

Materials

Metal

Erberto Carboni for Arflex, Italy, 1955, Delfino Armchair

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