Giuseppe Pagano — “Bocconi” Armchair with Matching Footstool, c. 1940
A rare and exceptionally elegant “Bocconi” armchair with its matching footstool, designed by the great Italian Rationalist architect Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig. The sculptural structure in curved laminated wood is complemented by finely handwoven natural cord, creating a particularly accomplished balance between architectural rigour and understated comfort.
Both pieces retain their beautiful original patina, with the gentle wear and mellow tonal variations that only many decades of honest use can bestow. Far from diminishing the set, these traces of age lend it authenticity, depth and considerable decorative presence.
The model was conceived around 1940–42 for the interiors of Milan’s Bocconi University and is associated with the production of Gino Maggioni. It remains one of the most recognisable examples of Italian Rationalist furniture.
Born in Parenzo in 1896, Giuseppe Pagano was one of the leading figures of Italian Rationalism: architect, designer, photographer and influential editor of Casabella. A committed anti-Fascist, he was arrested and deported, dying at Mauthausen in 1945. His brief yet remarkable career left an enduring mark upon twentieth-century Italian architecture and design.
#GiuseppePagano #ItalianRationalism #BocconiChair #CollectibleDesign #OriginalPatina