Item Description
Rare Carlo Bartoli for Matteo Grassi Vela armchairs in black Italian leather, made in Italy, circa 1980. High-end chair consisting of handstitched leather upholstery wrapped over an internal walnut frame. The design of this chair is inspired by how our skin fits over our skeleton. The black leather has a wonderful patina and is in excellent condition. In 1880 in the Brianza region of Italy, the Grassi family began crafting saddles, bridles, reins, and other leather equipment for horses. Following World War II, the Grassis joined the rapid industrialization under way in northern Italy and expanded their production to include a wide range of leather goods, especially items for both the home and public interiors. By the late 1970s, Matteo Grassi had built an international reputation for distinctive, finely made leather furniture, from chairs and sofas, to tables and beds. Over the years, Matteo Grassi has worked with an impressive list of designers, such as Carlo Bartoli, Piero Lissoni, Alessandro Mendini, Franco Poli, Eoos, Luigi Massoni, Jean Nouvel, Matteo Nunziati, Mauro Lipparini, and Rodolfo Dordoni.
