Brand Focus: Cassina
Italian luxury furniture brand Cassina needs no introduction. This year, Cassina is celebrating its 90th anniversary and with nearly a century in business, it is no surprise this design house continues to be at the forefront of innovative fusion that closely links technological skill with traditional craftsmanship. During Milan Design week, Cassina erected an ambitious and stunning installation ‘Cassina 9.0’ – shown at Herzog & de Meuron’s Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli – that showcased pieces from the company’s archive and explored what the future might hold for domestic life.
After the First World War, Cassina’s fame and size continued to grow. With commissions for cruise ships, high-end hotels and restaurants in the 60s they became the go to brand for designer, Italian furniture.
Their visionary proposition was cemented through partnerships with Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand - establishing the “Cassina I Maestri ” Collection (Cassina Masters). Now, they are three of the most important names of 20th-century design. Furthermore, it was in 1964 when the rights for the LC1, LC2, and LC3 luxury armchairs and the LC4 chaise lounge were acquired by Cassina, and these are now synonym with the label.
Another notable collaboration was with revered Scottish designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh, from the design group known as the “Glasgow School” inspired by his most recognised work – the ‘Hill House’. If you’re ever in Helensburgh, Scotland, then we recommend a visit, as it is a wonderful space.
Cassina are masters at finding the ideal partnerships and producing designer tables, which are unique, stylish and ultra functional. Frank Lloyd Wright famously said “Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.” And indeed he did. The 615 Husser table is made of natural cherry wood that is stained in either walnut or black. The beautiful rectangular shaped table has a fret design on the edge and a four-legged base with slats.
In contrast, Theodore Wadell’s 714 dining table has a space age feel which is no surprise as it was designed in 1973 only four years after the US landed on the moon, starting all the rage for space inspired furniture and fashion design. The table base is comprised of six chrome-plated rods held in tension by steel wire with a clear glass top and a bevelled edge on the underside.
One of Sherry’s favourite pieces is the 280 Zig-Zag chair by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld, it ingeniously joins four elements with a system of dovetailing that looks simple at first sight but, boasts a complex and quirky construction. It is available in a natural polished cherry wood, ash wood or stained either in blue, red, yellow, white, black with a natural ash wood edge.
Cassina’s collaborations read like a who’s who of furniture design, architects and artists over the last 90 years, and its artistic vision is now being lead by imaginative designer Patricia Urquiola so we expect this brand to continue to go from strength to strength.
Which one is your favourite piece? Check out our entire collection here!
