William Katavolos, Ross Littell and Douglas Kelley,

WILLIAM KATAVOLOS (New York, 1924- 2020) ROSS LITTELL (California, 1924-2000) AND DOUGLAS KELLEY (New York 1928-2021) ;
New York" sofa, original design from 1952.
Chromed aluminum and black lacquered steel. Leather upholstery.
Retains original upholstery.
In very good state of preservation.
Measurements: 72 x 182 x 72 cm.
The New York sofa, conceived in 1952 by the design team formed by William Katavolos, Ross Littell and Douglas Kelley, key figures of American design in the mid-twentieth century. Katavolos, Littell and Kelley met as students at Pratt Institute in New York and, after graduating, collaborated extensively on furniture, textiles and decorative objects, becoming part of the movement known as Good Design, which promoted clear forms, honest materials and a rationalist aesthetic. The New York sofa synthesizes these premises in a piece that combines formal simplicity and structural comfort. Its name refers not only to the studio's city of origin, but also to the desire to create urban furniture that is versatile and adapted to contemporary lifestyles. The general configuration of the seat favors broad horizontal lines and a restrained visual balance, avoiding unnecessary ornamentation and focusing on the purity of the volumes. The design harmonizes cushioned surfaces with a slender support structure.
Integrated into retrospectives and collections dedicated to mid-century modern design, the New York sofa has become a relevant testimony to the dialogue between industrial design and domestic aesthetics of the 1950s, representing the excellence of its authors within the history of modern furniture.