Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina

GIANFRANCO FRATTINI (Italy, 1926–2004) for Cassina.
“780” coffee table, 1960s.
Black-lacquered frame and white-lacquered tabletop.
Exhibits wear consistent with age and use.
Includes manufacturer’s label.
Measurements: 34 x 58 x 58 cm.
Designed for Cassina in the 1960s, the Model 780 coffee table fully embodies the principles for which Frattini achieved international recognition. Conceived during a period of expansion in Italian design, it combines rigorous construction with a light and functional appearance, eschewing any decorative excess. More than half a century after its creation, this table remains one of the most representative pieces of the collaboration between Frattini and Cassina and a paradigmatic example of the so-called “Italian Modern” style of the 1960s, whose influence has been decisive in the history of contemporary design.
Gianfranco Frattini belongs to the generation of Italian designers of 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.