Vico Magistretti for Cassina, Maralunga sofas

VICO MAGISTRETTI (Milan, 1920–2006) for Cassina.
Pair of “Maralunga” sofas, 1970s.
Gray leather.
In good used condition, with visible signs of wear consistent with its age and use.
Measurements: 72 x 165 x 85 cm.

Legend has it that Vico Magistretti’s Maralunga was born out of a monumental outburst of anger by Cesare Cassina, the industrialist who had commissioned him to create the most comfortable sofa possible. The master of industrial design presented a prototype that, apparently, was too stiff. Cassina, in a fit of frustration, punched the back of the sofa, which gave way and tilted forward. “Right, great—I think it’s perfect just like that,” Magistretti replied. He wasn’t pretending or just going along with his client; he was being completely sincere: when the backrest bent, the sofa gained the precise movement needed to make it perfect. The designer incorporated an internal mechanism into the backrest and arms that allowed them to swivel inward using a simple bicycle chain, and he called Cassina again. This time, the reaction was different: the Maralunga was born—one of the most famous sofas of the 20th century, a milestone in furniture design, and, without a doubt, the model that marked a turning point in the industry.

Vico Magistretti was an Italian industrial designer who specialized in furniture and architecture. He graduated from the Polytechnic University of Milan in 1945 and became a follower of Ernesto Nathan Rogers. During the 1950s, he devoted himself to the design of mass-produced furniture. Some of his lamps, such as the one called Eclisse, are particularly famous. Some of his designs are on display in major museums in Europe, the United States, and Japan. The MoMA in New York features Magistretti’s works in its permanent collection.