Attributed to Carlo De Carli. Eight chairs, Italy, 1950s.

ATTRIBUTED TO CARLO DE CARLI (Milan, 1910–1999).
Set of eight chairs. Italy, 1950s.
Curved iron, wood, and red faux leather upholstery.
In good overall condition.
Measurements: 77 x 43 x 50 cm.

Set of eight chairs attributed to the Italian architect and designer Carlo De Carli, representative of the postwar renewal of Italian furniture and the search for light, functional, and visually dynamic forms characteristic of the 1950s.

Each chair features a stylized frame of black iron legs, slightly flared and curved, which is a hallmark of the enveloping volume of the seat and backrest. Both elements feature gently arched profiles and are upholstered in faux leather in a deep red color, leaving the sides and edges of the wooden frame visible in certain areas. The color combination of red, wood, and black reinforces the set’s graphic character.
The simplicity of the construction is balanced by a careful attention to ergonomics and the expressiveness of the silhouette—traits associated with mid-20th-century Italian design. The design reflects a desire to create modern, functional furniture without sacrificing a distinct formal personality—an approach that was particularly significant in the context of Italian design in the 1950s.

Carlo De Carli was one of the key figures in postwar Italian design, developing a career in which architecture, interior design, and furniture design were conceived as closely related disciplines. Trained at the Politecnico di Milano and initially associated with Gio Ponti, he devoted a significant portion of his work to furniture design, with a particular focus on the relationship between structure, ergonomics, and form. The 1950s represent one of the most significant periods of his career: in 1954, his famous Model 683 chair, produced by Cassina, won the Compasso d’Oro at the first edition of the prestigious award, as well as the Diploma of Honor at the 10th Milan Triennale and a Good Design Award from MoMA in New York. His work thus occupies a prominent place in the international consolidation of modern Italian design, characterized by a combination of technical innovation, structural lightness, and formal elegance.