Luciano Bertoncini

LUCIANO BERTONCINI (Italy, 1939) for Elco.
Modular mirror "Gronda". Italy, 1970s
Set of 8 panels: 2 smooth side mirrors + 6 central panels with integrated coat rack.
Black frame structure and normal mirrors.
In very good vintage condition; details typical of its age.
It still has the Elco label.
Measurements: 200 x 19.5 x 6 cm (each module); 200 x 155.5 x 6 cm (total).

Gronda is one of Luciano Bertoncini's most celebrated and recognizable designs. An excellent example of Elco's design, it combines function and graphic simplicity. It is based on a unique modular system consisting of elongated black framed panels that support the mirror. The central modules incorporate an integrated coat rack system: a tilting or retractable upper section that, when pressed lightly, reveals a metal hook: an ingenious solution that integrates storage and reflection in a single element. The visual effect generates a rhythmic vertical strip very characteristic of 1970s Italian design.

The Gronda design was incorporated into the Elco catalog (Italian company with a design collection in the 60s-70s) with the mediation of art director Joe Colombo, a key figure who worked for Elco and influenced the selection of designers. Gronda gained recognition in competitions (e.g. Abet Print award, mentions in 1971) and became a representative object of the mix between functionality and graphic aesthetics of the time.

Luciano Bertoncini studied technical drawing and trained in the studio of architect Vittorio Rossi in Treviso; he developed early furniture (e.g. the Zattera bed) and collaborated with renowned Italian design companies. Bertoncini is valued on the Italian design circuit for his ability to solve functional problems with clean, formal solutions. His work appears in contemporary design catalogs, galleries and in reissues or collaborations with modern manufacturers.