Regarded as masters of Italian design, furniture company Molteni&C has successfully created a legacy brand synonymous with premium quality and a designer aesthetic through a unique recipe of collaboration, exquisite craftmanship and creative prowess.
The company, founded in 1934 by Angelo Molteni and still run by the Molteni family today, experienced and survived decades of change – from the introduction of machinery to laying the foundations for modern and modular design.
As it celebrates its 90th birthday this year, we take a look at iconic pieces created by illustrious past and present designers – from Gio Ponti to Vincent Van Duysen – for Molteni&C, all of which are viewable at Form’s dedicated shop-in-shop in Msida.
D.154.3 Armchair by Gio Ponti
Considered an Italian master of architecture, Giovanni ‘Gio’ Ponti was an eminent 20th-century figure who created a vast body of work within the furniture sector. The D.154.3 armchair, which he designed for a Venezuelan couple who were art collectors (along with their masterpiece of a villa in Caracas), reflects ideas he gathered during his trips to Latin American in the 1950s. With a rigid frame and soft upholstery, the armchair appears like a cosy shell propped up on a dainty stand.
Arc Table by Foster + Partners
Architecture firm Foster + Partners’ Arc table features a sculptural base inspired by the software that is used to create flowing architectural designs. Its undulating form is created as a single block anchored by three legs that are bridged by curves that sweep upwards to balance the tabletop, consisting of a tempered glass disc. With its intriguing and complex shape, the Arc table combines strength, structure and innovation in a single product.
Gliss Master by Vincent Van Duysen
Created by Vincent Van Duysen, an architect, designer and creative director for Molteni&C, the Gliss Master wardrobe system brings an architectural concept to an area of the home largely associated with night-time. Similar to a vitrine, the lit-up system – available with and without doors – transforms into a walk-in wardrobe with a wide choice of internal accessories for personalisation, including shoe shelves, hanging drawer units and extractable trays.
Skin sofa by Jean Nouvel
Its mould, material and structure make the Skin sofa and armchair series by French architect and designer Jean Nouvel a creative curiosity. The result of many years of collaboration between the designer and Molteni&C, Skin is a self-supporting frame made with black or white hide leather, which “reshapes itself over time so that innovation and memory hold the same form.” Featuring a peculiar pattern on the seat, it casts a similarly striking pattern when crossed by light.
Cinnamon by Naoto Fukasawa
“The inspiration for the Cinnamon armchair was the feeling of being wrapped in a soft embrace… a simple yet cozy shape, where the body is pleasantly welcomed,” said Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa of his Cinammon armchair, a piece that effortlessly blends form, function and comfort. Upholstered in a soft and elastic jersey fabric that moulds around the curvy structure, Cinnamon’s elegance makes a quiet yet bold statement.
Asterias table by Patricia Urquiola
Spanish architect and designer Patricia Urquiola drew inspiration from the asterias cactus that flourishes in Mexico’s mountainous regions for the design of this large round table that itself is full of surprises. The top of the wooden table is divided into four wedges, creating a striking pattern on the surface, and can be fitted with a Lazy Susan turntable at the centre. The hefty base that imitates the shape of the asterias cactus is composed of six 3D printed panels fixed onto a central plinth, making for an intriguing centrepiece.
To view these products and more, visit Molteni&C’s extensive shop-in-shop at Form in Valley Road, Msida.
Photography: Molteni&C
