Roberto Mango

ROBERTO MANGO (Italy, 1920–2003).
Pair of “Sunflower” armchairs, c. 1950.
Wicker and iron.
Measurements: 80 x 80 x 73 cm (x2).
The Sunflower chair, also known as the Cono chair, was designed in 1952 by Italian architect Roberto Mango, becoming one of the most iconic pieces of mid-20th-century Italian design. Its characteristic conical structure, inspired by the shape of a sunflower, combines a hand-woven wicker seat with a lightweight base of black iron rods, achieving a balance between visual lightness and structural stability. Originally produced by the Italian firm Tecno and distributed in the United States by Allan Gould Inc., the chair gained significant international recognition, appearing in specialized publications such as *Domus* in 1953. Its design embodies postwar ideals by integrating artisanal techniques with industrial materials and an innovative formal language. Thanks to this fusion of tradition, functionality, and experimentation, the Sunflower has established itself as an icon of Mid-Century Modern design.
Roberto Mango was a prominent Italian designer and architect trained in both the United States and Italy, specifically within the Neapolitan design scene, where he helped revitalize the language of industrial design culture. He served as a correspondent for Giò Ponti’s Domus magazine and collaborated with Edgar Kaufmann Jr.’s MoMA, the Milan Triennale, the ADI (Association for Industrial Design), and the emerging industries associated with companies such as Arflex, Tecno, Poltronova, and Gavina. Since 1958, he has been a professor of design at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Naples Federico II. From 1954 to 1964, he served as the Italian correspondent for the American magazine *Industrial Design*, and in 1967 he received the Compasso d’Oro for his research on design. The Duca di Martina Ceramics Museum at Villa Foridiana (Naples) dedicated a comprehensive and exhaustive exhibition to him, curated by Ermanno Guido. Among his most famous creations are the parabolic-shade lamp for the MoMA competition, several variations on the conical chair theme, the Compass armchair for Wiener, and the armchair for the Ferragamo shoe store in Piazza dei Martiri.