Carlo Ratti

CARLO RATTI (Italy), for Industria Legni Curvati.
Four dining chairs, ca. 1950's.
Curved plywood seat and black lacquered metal frame.
Signed.
In good condition; the wood has been restored, with some curvature on one side.
Measurements: 39 x 52 x 83 cm.

Set of four dining chairs designed by Carlo Ratti in the 1950s and produced by Industria Legni Curvati, Italy. It responds to a minimalist and elegant design, combining the warmth of wood with the lightness of the metal structure, reflecting the influence of Italian rationalism and research into new wood bending techniques. These chairs represent a characteristic post-war example, with a balance between practicality, visual lightness and aesthetic modernity.

The seats and backrests are made of bent plywood. The slender, streamlined metal legs are joined by horizontal crosspieces that reinforce stability.

Carlo Ratti was an Italian designer and manufacturer active mainly in the 1940s and 1950s. His work focused on experimentation with bentwood and industrial techniques applied to furniture, at a time when Italian design was beginning to establish itself internationally. Ratti collaborated with the firm Industria Legni Curvati (ILC), which specialized in the production of molded wood furniture, exploring the possibilities of plywood and lightweight structures that responded to the needs of modern life in the post-war period. Its pieces are characterized by a simple and functional language, influenced by both European rationalism and the innovations of designers such as Alvar Aalto and Charles & Ray Eames, who also explored bentwood.