Francesco Binfaré

FRANCESCO BINFARÉ (Milan, 1939) for EDRA
Corbeille" armchair.
In white leather.
In very good condition, with some slight wear marks on structure and leather.
Measurements: 120 x 108 x 74 cm.

The "Corbeille" armchair, designed by Francesco Binfaré for Edra, is a sculptural piece that combines formal poetry and enveloping comfort. Its name (corbeille, French for "basket") alludes to the inspiration that guides its design: the idea of a cozy receptacle, elaborated through a structure that recreates the organic braiding of vegetable fibers, reinterpreted here with a contemporary and material language.

The structure is composed of two continuous metallic tubes that intertwine and zigzag with geometric precision, generating a visually light but structurally solid support. This framework, handcrafted in appearance but resolved with industrial precision, envelops the generously upholstered seat, covered in high-quality white leather, which accentuates the contrast between the technical coldness of the metal and the tactile softness of the upholstery.

After receiving artistic training under his father's tutelage, Binfaré began working for Cassina in 1960, first as a researcher of new technologies and then as Cesare Cassina's assistant on new projects and prototypes, and from 1969 to 1976 he was director of the Cassina Center and contributed to the creation of design classics such as Gaetano Pesce's "Up 5" (1969) and Paolo Deganello's "AEO" (1973).In 1980 he created the Centro design e comunicazione for project development and is considered the midwife of Cassina's most important projects, such as "Wink" by Toshiyuki Kita (1980), "Tramonto a New York" (1980) and "Feltri" (1987) by Gaetano Pesce, "Torso" by Paolo Deganello. After leaving Cassina in 1991, he designed the matching sofa "L'Homme et la Femme" (1993), Tangeri (1994) and Angels (1996) for Edra; the armchair "Girotonda" in 1994 and the sofa "Grand'angolo" in 1995 for Adele C. Painting, which he still practices, is the main source of inspiration for his designs.