Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini

GIANFRANCO FRATTINI (Italy, 1926–2004) for Bernini.
“Model 804” folding-top desk, Italy, 1960s.
Black-lacquered wood.
Used, good condition. Shows some signs of wear and tear due to age.
Measurements: 83 x 100 x 65 cm.
An elegant black-lacquered desk, raised on cylindrical legs, combining a refined aesthetic with remarkable functional complexity. It features ten drawers, a pull-out writing surface, and a shutter closure that conceals the upper compartment. Inside, it houses small organizational drawers, neatly arranged and protected by a glass panel. The open back, equipped with four storage compartments, allows the piece to stand freestanding, making it a piece designed to be admired from different angles.
Model 804 reflects Gianfranco Frattini’s ability to reinterpret the traditional desk through ingenious technical solutions and a careful organization of space. The shutter mechanism, the built-in compartments, and the understated finish embody the principles of postwar Italian design, where functional innovation is combined with architectural elegance and precision craftsmanship.
Gianfranco Frattini belongs to the generation of Italian designers from the 1950s and 1960s. He studied architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan and began his career as an industrial designer when he realized he needed appropriate furniture and lighting for the interiors of his architectural projects. In 1956, he was one of the founders of the ADI, the Associazione per il Disegno Industriale. Throughout his long career, Frattini collaborated with Gio Ponti, worked for Cassina and Acerbis, and designed lamps for Artemide, in addition to serving as a member of the Milan Triennale and creating designs for Knoll.