CASSINA

699 Superleggera Chair wood black / Gio Ponti, 1957

Treat yourself to an ORIGINAL piece of iconic furniture by Cassina. Often imitated and copied but never equalled, Cassina's original iconic furniture will always retain its value, being passed on to the next generation. Cassina is the exclusive publisher of many iconic creations that have marked the history of design.

Designed by Gio Ponti in 1957, the Superleggera chair has left an indelible mark on the history of design. Its legendary lightness, sharp silhouette and implacable sturdiness redefined the contours of design.

In 1957, the prolific architect and designer Gio Ponti was at the peak of his career. As the Italian maestro began construction of the Pirelli Tower, emblematic of modern Milan, he sketched the first designs for Superleggera, Italian for "super light": a counter-current chair that would mark his career and achieve legendary status.

Gio Ponti was inspired by one of Italy's most popular chairs: the Chiavari. The designer borrowed its simplicity and sturdiness, but lightened it up to create an unadorned silhouette. The Ashwood parts are hyper-profiled (only 18 mm thick) and fit together thanks to a clever system that requires no nails or screws. Pushing back technical limits, he developed a revolutionary chair for its time, characterized by flawless sturdiness combined with extreme lightness: on its release in 1957, Superleggera became the world's lightest chair at just 1.7. In period advertisements, a child can be seen lifting it with just one finger! Determined to prove the sturdiness of his Superleggera, Gio Ponti dropped one of his chairs out of a fourth-floor window. Ten Metres down, the Superleggera was intact... and a legend was born!

Iconic from its very first appearance, the Superleggera Chair has established itself as a UFO. A masterpiece of purity. A radical piece whose reduced lines shook up the aesthetics of the time. This cult chair has lived through the ages with the panache of an icon.

Produced without interruption since 1957, the Superleggera represents an exclusive synthesis of Gio Ponti's research and Cassina's advanced experimentation, combining craftsmanship and industrial innovation. The Superleggera Chair is meticulously crafted by experienced artisans, embodying the excellence of Italian craftsmanship. Cassina's perfectionist craftsmanship contributes to the myth of this timeless, enduring piece that will accompany the lives of generations.

Cassina's original Gio Ponti furniture can be identified by the control of three pieces of information that guarantee its authenticity: the author's signature in the form of a mark, the Cassina logo ''I Maestri'', the identification number, present on every piece produced.

In detail:

• Variation : Black / Natural Rattan

• Brand : CASSINA

• Designer : Gio Ponti

• Type : Chair

• Colour : Black structure - Seat: Natural rattan

• Material : Black lacquered solid Ashwood - Seat: Rattan caning

• Dimensions : W 41 x D 45 cm x H 83 cm - Seat: H 46 cm
• Weight : 4.4 lb
• Characteristics : Design icon - Model designed in 1957 by Gio Ponti (1891-1979) - Original piece signed and stamped by Cassina (will always retain its value) - Super-light (1700 grams) and very sturdy - Triangular-section Base, legs measuring just 18 millimetres.