New Arrival : Mid-Century Pepper Coffee Table by Ado Chale - Signed 🤍
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Kontiki Sofa by Adrianno Piazzesi for 3D, 1970s
Adriano Piazzesi was an Italian architect, artist, and furniture designer born in Florence. He studied architecture there, developing a strong interest in the relationship between space, form. In his early career, he worked on architectural projects, exhibition stands, and interior designs, while also pursuing painting, sculpture, and photography. From the late 1960s onward, Piazzesi focused mainly on furniture design. He became known for innovative and expressive seating, notably the Premier armchair (1969), which broke with traditional internal structures, and the Okay sofa and armchairs of the 1970s, characterized by bold forms, comfort, and the use of leather and metal. Piazzesi’s work stands out for its sculptural quality and artistic approach, placing him among the significant fiures of post-war Italian design.
With the Kontiki sofa, Adriano Piazzesi refers to a scientific expedition that, in the immediate postwar period, fueled debates on the origins of the settlement of the Pacific islands. Designed around 1970, this piece of furniture indeed evokes, through its name and design, the raft Kon-Tiki built in 1947 by the Norwegian anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl to undertake a crossing of the Pacific Ocean. With this raft, named Kon-Tiki in reference to Inca and Polynesian deities, Heyerdahl sought to demonstrate that the colonization of Polynesia could have taken place from South America. The sofa thus echoes the construction techniques of this rudimentary vessel, with its velvet tufting suggesting wooden logs and its straps serving as ropes.
Large Wall Light Rottura Spaziale by Albano Poli for Poliarte, Italy, 1970s
Albano Poli was an Italian artist, designer, and stained glass master, celebrated for blending
traditional craftsmanship with modern artistic vision. Born in Verona, he studied at the Scuola
d’Arte Napoleone Nani, where he trained in artistic techniques including stained glass.
In 1968, Poli founded PoliArte, a design studio renowned in the 1960s and 1970s for artistic
lighting and decorative objects that combined glass, metal, and geometric forms—now
considered collectible examples of Italian design. Later, he focused on fine arts and sacred art
under Progetto Arte Poli, creating stained glass, mosaics, sculpture, and liturgical works, while
also restoring historic pieces.
Throughout his career, Poli received multiple awards and recognition, including participation
in the Venice Biennale. His work continues to influence Italian design and art, maintaining a
legacy of innovation rooted in traditional techniques
Poliarte was an Italian lighting design company founded in 1968 in Verona by designer and
artist Albano Poli. It became known for creating highly artistic and sculptural lighting objects
that blur the line between functional light and design art. Poliarte produced lighting roughly
from 1968 to 1979, with each model often made in small series and handcrafted by a team of Artisan.
Set of five « Pulcini » Birds by Alessandro Pianon & Peter Pelzel for Vistosi, 1960s
Alessandro Pianon was an Italian designer best known for his innovative work in Murano glass
lighting and decorative objects. Active primarily in the postwar period, Pianon developed a
distinctive design language characterized by organic forms, refined proportions, and expressive
use of color and light.
He collaborated closely with leading Murano glass manufacturers, most notably Vistosi, for
whom he designed some of the most iconic lighting pieces of the 1950s and 1960s. His most
celebrated design, Pulcini (1965), exemplifies his poetic and playful approach, combining
sculptural form with technical glassmaking mastery.
Pianon’s work reflects the broader spirit of Italian modern design, blending experimentation
with craftsmanship. His designs are represented in private collections and continue to be
recognized as important contributions to 20th-century Italian lighting and glass design.
Pianon's collaborator Peter Pelzel was born in Murano in 1937 and studied architecture at
I.U.A.V. in Venice, graduating in 1964. He had moved to S.A.L.I.R. in 1958 and worked with
his father: in 1962 he worked as designer at Vistosi's, then from 1968 to 1973 he cooperated
with La Murrina, and after 1969 with the Vetrelco firm in Treviso. In 1972, he opened an
architecture studio while going on working as designer for many glass factories.
Ilmari Tapiovaara (1914-1999) for La Permanente Mobili Cantù
Ilmari Tapiovaara was a Finnish interior designer and architect, one of the most important figures of modern Scandinavian design. He studied furniture design at the Central School of Applied Arts in Helsinki and later worked with Alvar Aalto, which strongly influenced his approach.Tapiovaara believed that good design should be functional, durable, and accessible to everyone. His work focused on simplicity, modularity, and the use of natural materials such as wood. He designed furniture for public spaces, schools, housing projects, and offices, aiming to improve everyday life through design.
Among his most famous works are the Domus chair (1946) and his modular shelving systems, which reflect his interest in flexibility and social design. Today, Ilmari Tapiovaara is recognized as a key contributor to modern Nordic design and his furniture is still produced and exhibited worldwide.
BRAFA Art Fair 2026
