It's no easy task whittling down the thousands of new lighting and furniture designs that hit the market every year during Salone del Mobile and Milan Design Week. To edit it down to a bold whole number like 50 is purely to lend the number a sense of importance - like half centuries and centuries. Design daily could have made it 100 but after our mammoth installations post it seemed a little excessive. The term 'Best' is used for the purposes of descriptive simplicity and is a selection of personal favourites whether they were selected for their shape, materials, beautiful construction or unique concept - or a combination of all of these attributes.
The limited edition version of Frank Loyd Wright 'Taliesen' chair from (1949) has been reissued by Cassina. The plywood shells are in special colours with cowhides dyed precisely to match. The original version with natural wood grain exterior and fabric upholstery has also been reissued.
2018 was a very interesting year with a huge number of exciting reissues from the 30's through to the 80's finding their way back into production and a some great lighting designs despite the fact that it wasn't Euroluce (the massive lighting fair that runs in conjunction with Salone del Mobile every second year). 2018 was a Eurocucina year, when the secondary focus of Salone del Mobile turns to kitchen and bathroom products (which runs every alternate year to Euroluce). Suffice to say it is a herculean task to also cover these products and there are websites which are much better equipped at assessing new products of this sort so Design daily has made no attempt to cover these in this post. Apologies to all those design focused chefs out there but to make amends here are two interesting kitchen concepts that break from the norm.
Elisa Ossino's diminutive 'E0 01' kitchen for Japanese manufacturer Sanwa. At only 1.2 square metres the kitchen should fit into even the smallest apartments. The kitchen features magnetic walls for notes & recipes, an integrated wooden cutting board, sink and dual induction hob. Photograph by Giuseppe De Francesco.
Italian brand Stip have created 'Critter Kitchen' - a solid timber table / bench with handles for tea towels at either end and rails from which to hang pots and pans. The Kitchen consists of an induction hob, preperation area, cutlery drawers, sink and tap.
LIGHTING
The 'Palazzo' light by Federico Peri for Editions Milano. Photograph by Paola Pansini.
'Filamento' by Mayice Studio. Photograph by Pablo Gómez-Ogando Rodríguez.
The two lighting designs below are from the Observatory Collection by Lee Broom. The horizontal and vertical tube design on the left is called 'Orion' The horizontal version is called 'Tube', the vertical is called 'Globe'. The pendant and table lights on the right featuring two interlocking discs are called 'Eclipse'.
'Horah' light by Raw Edges for WonderGlass. The revolving light of spiralling textured glass blades is a limited edition of 12 for each shape and colour - 240 pieces in total. Photograph by Craig Wall.
Studio Truly Truly's 'Pitch' light is made from machined brass and sandblasted glass. The prototype can be hung in various configurations to provide horizontal or vertical emphasis.
Danish brand Karakter Copenhagen launched a large amount f beautiful product this year amongst them the proportionally perfect 'Pearl' pendant by Nick Ross. The combination of the dome-shaped smoke coloured glass and the large internal etched sphere is exceptionally beautiful. The 'Lari' table light by Mangiarotti has been doing the design fair rounds since last year with Karakter but the version on show at Palazzo Litta this year was it in its final production form. The light features a ribbed mouth-blown glass shade. It was originally designed by Mangiarotti in 1978.
The 'Decamp' suspension lamp by Federica Biasi for Mingardo.
Both the lights below are by Massimo Castagna for Gallotti & Radice. On the left is the ‘Bolle Tela’ chandelier, on the right is the the ‘Narghile’ pendant.
The 'Vine' suspension light by Caine Heintzman for ANDlight. The design can specified in a variety of lengths and finishes.
Lindsey Adelman's new 'Drop' lighting system in aged nickel - just one of the many configurations and finishes the light is available in.
Below left is Cecilia Xinyu Zhang’s ‘Equant’ light below right is the ‘Elementari’ pendant by Elisa Ossino for De Padova.
Luca Nichetto's lighting system 'Legato' for Matter Made consists of grouped cones that can be arranged in single string-like drops, horizontal lines or geometric clusters. The leaning wall light is called 'Profana' and is by Pedro Paulø-Venzon. Photo by Brooke Holm.
'Gamma' pendants by Serena Confalonieri for Nason Editions at Ventura Future. Photograph by Craig Wall.
FURNITURE
The 'Vuoto' table by Dmitry Kozinenko for Durame combines solid walnut legs in an open sculptural form with marble top, round corners and a reverse bevel edge. The table is also available with black stained ash base, circular top and single base.
The 'Killian' bed by Marconato and Zappa for Porada features integrated brass bedside tables. The bed frame is in Canaletta walnut with an upholstered bedhead and brass feet.
'Wienerbox'coffee table by Argentinian designer Cristian Mohaded for Gebrüder Thonet Vienna (GTV). The table features criss-crossing brass rods and woven split cane in the traditional Vienna pattern.
The 'Alton armchair for LEMA by Milan based Spanish designer David Lopez Quincoces. The double tube design of the front legs flows adroitly into the arm and backrest. Quincoces launched his own collection at Six Gallery and designed several new pieces for his long-term collaborator Living Divani and for Potocco.
The 'Louis' armchair by Philippe Nigro for Zanotta. The skeletal form gives the chair an insect-like quality but also has a slight element of an angular version of the work of Carlo Mollino. Zanotta also reissued the 'Fenis' chair by Mollino this year.
Cassini celebrated 50 years in their showroom in via Durini not only with a complete makeover of the space adding a new basement level and renovating the domed cupola at the top of the building but with a massive number of reissues from as early as the 1920's in the case of Gerrit Rietveldt's 'Beugel' chair (see below), the 40's in the case of Frank Lloyd Wright's 'Taliesin' armchair (at the top of this post), right through to the sixties with Vico Magistretti's '905' chair.
Gerrit Rietveldt's 'Beugel' chair from 1927 - reissued in 2018 by Cassina.
The 'Pebble' vanity / desk by Lanzavecchia + Wai and 'Kiwi' stool by Keiji Takeuchi - both for Living Divani.
Stephen Burks' 'Grasso' armchair for BD Barcelona. The chair and footstool come in standard leathers in addition to the rather special Bolon fabric where certain strands of thick wool that make up part of the weft are cut to create a trailing 'hair'.
You can watch a video on the collaboration between BD Barcelona and Bolon for the making of Stephen Burks' 'Grasso' armchair (seen above) here.
The 'Tethys' table by Gabriele & Oscar Buratti for Living Divani. Proportions and simple material combinations drive this coffee table piece. The metal tray sits within the timber top as if an extension of the base below.
'Waves' seating by Constance Guisset for La Cividina. A lightweight wire frame tightly upholstered with fabric, the various elements of the 'Waves' collection can be held together by concealed magnets.
This sweeping form is 3-D printed in a type of concrete. 'Digital Chaiselongue' by Philipp Aduatz for Incremental3D.
Like a lot of Giorgetti the 'Pegaso' bed by Roberto Lazzeroni is a little over the top but its hard not to be impressed by the sinuous, curved timber back of this particular bed. As a statement piece in a large room it would definitely be a bed fit for a king (or queen).
The 'Crab' sideboards by Maurizio Di Lauro for Durame incorporate a vertical panel of aged brass with oak or walnut doors and cabinet. The external legs are a very interesting feature of this design. The Crab collection also includes a tall wardrobe.
Seen below are two examples of a collection of 'QD 03' tables in lacquered turned timber by David Lopez Quincoces for Six Gallery.
The 'Hype' table by Studio Klass for FIAM Italia. Executed in fused and tempered glass and steel, the table's elegant geometry is set off by the unique qualities of it's slab glass top.
The T54 saucer-shaped lounge chair by Fratelli Monti from the historical archives of Bonacina - reissued by De Padova. As the name suggests the rattan chair was designed in 1954.
The 'Eight' coffee and side tables in slab glass with cylinders of aged metal from Ivano Raedelli.
The Harbour lounge bbq Naoto Fukasawa for B&B Italia is by no means groundbreaking but as an example of a beautifully proportioned two seater sofa its exceptionally good. A few decorative details like its central rear zip and the way the arms flow directly into the floor is like a perfectly fitting jacket - neat and very sexy. See more Fukasawa in the previous D.d post.
Cristina Celestino's 'Caryllon' marquetry dining table for Gebrüder Thonet Vienna (GTV). Very decorative but really quite amazing. Steam-bent square section beech in red lacquer with triangular sections of veneer laid across the table's surface.
The coffee table version of Cristina Celestino's 'Caryllon' marquetry table for Gebrüder Thonet Vienna (GTV). Steam-bent square section beech in black lacquer with triangular sections of veneer.
The 'ARCH' dining table by Giacomo Moor for limited edition gallery Giustini / Stagetti. The stone top is supported by a series of timber 'bricks' in reference to the ancient process of making arches from small sections of masonry. Photo Giustini Stagetti.
Piero LIssoni's 'Eda-Mame' for B&B Italia is an uncharacteristically organic shaped design for the master of minimal boxes.
'Ishino' coffee tables by Daï Sugasawa for Walter Knoll. These pebble-shaped low tables are cast metal with finishes ranging from aged bronze to copper and brass. Rather than a flat top like most tables, 'Ishino' seems to be under the effects of gravity becoming noticeably thicker underneath as if the metal has flowed there.
The 'Jack' shelving system from B&B Italia is a room divider and bookshelf featuring Michael Anastassiades' usual interest for pushing the balance of things to a slightly uncomfortable place. In this instance the shelving is supported by only one leg while each shelf is supported by a single horizontal beam. Available in white or black.
Patricia Urquiola added to her 'Garden Layers' collection of outdoor cushions and rugs for Spanish brand GAN with two furniture pieces - a daybed and side table - in lacquered aluminium. They feature boldly turned legs and the collections extraordinary textured woven outdoor fabrics.
The Bodil-Kjær designed 'Desk' with red frame (1959) reissued by Karakter. This is one of the most famous executive desks of the 60's and 70's - featured in three James Bond films - "From Russia with Love", "You Only Live Twice" and "On Her Majesty's Secret Service"! Bodil Kjaer is now in her late 80's, still designing and was in Milan to launch the reissues of her work.
Konstantin Gricic's 'Chess' storage system for Magis. Available with wooden drawer pulls or handles for sliding doors in a variety of shapes and sizes.
The chairs below couldn't be more different but somehow express a similar generosity of volume through arched arms in the case of Denis Guidone's 'Minima' chair for Mingardo (left) and the curved underside of seat in the David Lopez Quincoces designed 'QD 01' chair for Six Gallery.
Chiara Andreatti had a massive year in 2018 following on from her selection as the Fendi designer for Design Miami in 2017. The cabinet shown above is the 'Sen' by Andreatti for Potocco. There is a matching low sideboard in the collection.
Elisa Ossino's 'Proiezioni' side and coffee tables for Salvatori are based on shadow play, albeit using slivers of solid marble.
More chairs that express some new construction ideas. Both are aluminum but the 'Marc Newson Aluminum Chair' on the left is cast alloy with a mesh seat (a heavy investment in tooling required to create this) while the 'Elipse' chair on the right by Patrick Jouin for Zanotta uses a bent extruded aluminum frame and tecnopolymer seat and back. The later creates a strong visual impact with a round hole in the backrest.
Made entirely of marble, the 'Tense' table by Piergiorgio & Michele Cazzaniga for MDF Italia seems to defy what is possible in the notoriously breakable stone. The white lines on the surface are shallow cuts in the stone. Originally released in wood in 2016, the design has been reworked to make it possible to manufacture in stone. Available in sizes up to 4 metres in length.
Ini Archibong's 'Circe' chairs for London brand Sé. The chairs form part of a highly original collection of furniture and lighting by the Swiss-based Nigerian American designer. The Sé Collection IV also features the strangely penguin like 'Eos' Table (sheepishly standing in the background).
The 'Tenso' sofa by Luca Nichetto for Kristalia.
The 'No.ONE' table by Aldo Bakker for Karakter Copenhagen - a gorgeous solid wood piece that flows vertically but which has a rigid horizontal top.
Another delight from the vault is the Paul McCobb desk (1952) reissued by Karakter Copenhagen. McCobb was an extremely influential designer in his day creating a wide variety of furniture and lighting pieces - mainly for his American home audience.
Brodie Neill's coffee table for Made in Ratio features a massive slab of Cornish slate to great effect. Suitable supported by a solid oak cross base, the table is monolithic but extremely subtle to boot with its use of black on black.
The chairs below are both from Living Divani which had a great year in 2018. The 'Rivulet' chair (shown left) by Junpei & Iori Tamaki, (who also designed Living Divani's 'Tonbo' coat stand featured later in this post) is available either in black tubular metal or in natural bentwood with natural or black leather binding. The chair on the right is called 'Era' and is by David Lopez Quincoces of Quincoces-Drago.
The 'Kensington' table by Jean-Marie Massaud for Poliform has a highly sculptural look with its use of two curved shield-like parts as bases joined but a rounded beam.
Vico Magistretti's '905' chair from 1964 is a wonderful example of industry meets craftsmanship. The chair is simple in structure but with some lovely detailing in the leatherwork. The way the signature curved arms slot into the turned legs is utterly beautiful. The '905' is a continuation of the ideas developed for Magistretti's well known 'Carimate' chair from 1959.
The 'Noli' dining / side chair by Ludovica + Roberto Palomba for Zanotta. The chair shows a strong influence from Gio Ponti's 'Superleggera' chair (which is no bad thing). Available in a host of lovely subdued colours, which along with its visual lightness will make it a favourite with designers.
The new 'Blinder' sofa by Hella Jongerius for Vitra. The duvet-like fabric covering is the feature of this sofa. Developed specially for the project by a team of textile experts, the fabric (as seen on the back wall) is as much artwork as useable textile
The 'Tape' modular sofa system by Benjamin Hubert / Layer for Moroso. The sofa system uses small sections of fabric held together with a special seam tape developed by Hubert & Layer for the project.
ACCESSORIES
Shown below are a selection of the seven glazed ceramic vessels designed by Natalie Du Pasquier for Bitossi. The work was originally designed by Du Pasquier in 2017 for the exhibition ‟Other Rooms” curated by Jenni Lomax at the Camden Arts Center in London. Shown here in beautiful images by Delfino Sisto Legnani.
Living Divani's ultra-minimalist clothes rail 'Tombo' by Junpei & Iori Tamaki looks beautiful as an objet d'art or when draping just one item. The design also works for a larger amount of clothes with simple closed circle hooks that thread onto the T-bar.
The Gallotti & Radice 'Ki' screen by Silvia Fanticelli. Stained ash wood and brass.
The 'Pinch' mirror collection by Lanzavecchia + Wai for FIAM Italia.
'Rayures' screen in hinged ribbed glass by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec for GlasItalia.
The 'Etta' wardrobe / screen / vanity by Dossofiorito for Zilio A&C.
'PiDou' vases by Alvino Bagni for Tacchini. Photograph by Andrea Ferrari.
Mae Engelgeer screen / room divider at the Baars & Bloemhoff Transitions III installation.
Another example of the many directions Dutch textile designer Mae Engelgeer is going in. Here her ability to develop extraordinary textile patterns is put to good use to design a wallpaper for young Italian brand Texturae. The 'Vault' design is not for the fainthearted but it can certainly make a room come alive!
'Composition XII by Angelina Askeri for Tapis Rouge.
Bethan Laura Wood's high-powered rug SUPER FAKE for cc-tapis. The round version is one of four shapes offered by Milan hand knotted rug specialist, cc-tapis. In Bethan's immutable style, several other of the shapes in the collection are like shards of rock.