Jordi Vilanova

JORDI VILANOVA I BOSCH (Barcelona, 1925–1998).
“MP” model divan or daybed, 1962.
Pine wood, leather, and cotton fabric.
In very good condition. Restored wood; leather straps and upholstery renewed.
Measurements: 31.5 x 189 x 81.5 cm.

Designed in 1962, this daybed (or divan) particularly well encapsulates Jordi Vilanova’s pursuit of modern, functional, and warm furniture, crafted from natural materials and characterized by a great sense of formal economy. The pine frame, with its clean lines and low proportions, is combined with a system of leather straps that support the wide, padded surface, revealing the piece’s structural logic. The cylindrical cushion completes a composition designed for relaxation without compromising the lightness of the whole.

The combination of wood, leather, and fabric, as well as the absence of ornamentation, reflects Vilanova’s deep admiration for Scandinavian design, which he reinterpreted through a sensibility rooted in the Mediterranean artisanal tradition. His work thus carves out its own path within the renewal of Catalan furniture design in the 1960s, based on structural simplicity, the quality of craftsmanship, and the adaptation of design to new ways of living.

Jordi Vilanova developed his own design language based on a synthesis of the precision of Nordic design, the Mediterranean artisan tradition, and the needs of modern housing. Working independently since 1952, he actively participated in the renewal of Catalan design during the 1960s and 1970s and was involved in initiatives such as ADI-FAD and the La Cantonada collective. In 1964, he won a Silver Delta Award for his children’s stool, and pieces such as the Tiracord and Billar chairs, the Montseny MP bunk bed, and the Tartera rocking chair are part of the collection at the Museu del Disseny in Barcelona. His professional archive is preserved at the Disseny Hub Barcelona, a testament to his significance in the history of 20th-century Spanish furniture.