Tito Agnoli for Mateo Grassi

TITO AGNOLI (Lima, 1931–Milan, 2012) for MATTEO GRASSI.
Set of two Korium armchairs.
Black leather upholstery.
Measurements: 76 x 76 x 55 cm.
Set of two armchairs with a metal frame and black leather upholstery. The Korium chair is a true design classic that future generations will enjoy. Designed by Tito Agnoli in the 1970s, it was marketed by Matteo Grassi in that same decade. It is a chair raised on four wheels, with slightly curved armrests and side frames covered by a black leather panel that extends all the way to the floor. It features a slightly reclined backrest. Its pure and elegant geometric forms stand out, making this chair a true icon of mid-century design.
Born in Lima, Tito Agnoli moved to Italy to study in the years following World War II. He studied painting under the guidance of Mario Sironi. In 1949, he enrolled at the Polytechnic University of Milan to study architecture. Specializing in industrial design, Agnoli interned with the renowned designers Gio Ponti and Carlo De Carli after graduating. Starting in the 1950s, Agnoli worked in the field of furniture design, creating pieces for major Italian brands such as Arflex, Bonacina, Mattero Grassi, Poltrona Frau, and Ycami. He also made significant contributions to the field of lighting design. Among his most notable designs are the Arflex Model 9000 Sofa (1969); the sculptural P3 Lounge Chair and the wicker P3S Lounge Chair, the stainless steel Sorbet Chair and the Punto e Virgola Chair for Pierantonio Bonacina (all from the 1960s); and the Korium Chair for Matteo Grassi (1970s). In 1974, Agnoli began collaborating with Poltrona Frau, designing numerous leather sofas and armchairs that were commercially very successful. His prestige was further enhanced by two nominations for the Compasso d’Oro award, and he won a gold medal at the Neocon exhibition in Chicago in 1986.