Important Angelo Banfi Reclining Armchair in Dedar Wool and Walnut, Italy, 1944

This important armchair was designed by Angelo Banfi and produced in Italy in 1944. Banfi was an architect active in Milan in the first half of the 20th century. His son, Gian Luigi Banfi, later became a well-known architect and a founding member of the B.B.P.R. group.

The model is documented in the leading reference book on Italian mid-century design Il Design Italiano Degli Anni ’50. No other examples of this model are known, and it was never put into serial production. The armchair offered here is therefore very likely the documented prototype.

The design features a low, organically rounded seat and backrest paired with sharply angular armrests that extend outward in a wing-like gesture. Its silhouette combines soft curves with geometric tension, while the backrest can be manually adjusted into three positions: upright, reading, and almost fully reclined. The chair rests on four tapered walnut legs, reflecting the lightness and elegance typical of the period.

The piece has been fully restored and newly upholstered in a burgundy/amaranth-red fabric by Dedar. This Italian-made satin, woven from fine Australian carded wool, undergoes seven post-weaving processes to achieve its distinctive softness. The chosen color closely reflects the tone of the chair’s original upholstery, preserving its historical character while enhancing its tactile quality.

Literature: Il design Italiano degli anni '50, a cura del Centrokappa, 1985, figure 157, 158 and 159