Adriano Piazzesi

ADRIANO PIAZZESI (Italy, 1923–2009)
Okay three-seater sofa. 1970s.
Brown leather and chrome-plated tubular metal frame.
In very good condition, with slight signs of wear consistent with its age.
Measurements: 79 × 200 × 100 cm.

The Okay model is one of Adriano Piazzesi’s most recognizable designs and a representative example of the renewal of Italian furniture during the 1970s. In contrast to the rigid structure of the traditional sofa, Piazzesi proposes a succession of padded, enveloping volumes, held together by a chrome-plated tubular stretcher frame that remains deliberately visible. The structure thus ceases to be a hidden element and instead actively contributes to the piece’s formal identity.

The combination of leather, generous forms, and the continuous line of the metal reflects a conception of comfort closely linked to the sculptural experimentation of the era. Its design combines architectural presence, comfort, and a marked material expressiveness—qualities that have made the Okay one of the most highly regarded pieces in Piazzesi’s body of work.

A designer, painter, and sculptor, Adriano Piazzesi developed a body of work centered on the relationship between the object and its user. He collaborated with TRE D and later with Arketipo, creating organically shaped chairs and innovative structural solutions. His contribution to Tuscan design is studied and documented by the Design Toscana Museum.