Set of Six Melchiorre Bega Dining Chairs, Lacquered Wood, Chenille, Italy, 1930s

This exceptionally rare set of six dining chairs was designed by Melchiorre Bega in the 1930s and produced by Bega & Figli in Bologna, Italy. An important early example of Bega’s refined modernist vocabulary, the set was exhibited at the Mostra della Moda di Torino in the early 1930s.

These chairs present a distinctly Art Deco interpretation of the classical klismos silhouette, with gracefully swept rear legs that rise into a continuous curved backrest, while the straight, geometric front legs root the design firmly in the 1930s. The pronounced curve of the back paired with the subtly splayed legs underscores the sculptural quality of Bega’s work. The frames are finished in an ebonized wood, providing a refined contrast to the new camel-toned Dedar chenille upholstery, whose velvety surface has a characteristic mottled effect. The backrests are detailed with three horizontal channeled sections that enhance both comfort and the rhythmic visual structure of the design.

The chairs are in very good condition. The original black lacquer has been preserved and only selectively retouched where necessary. The upholstery has been completely renewed, following the original scheme with its three vertical channeled panels on the backrest, ensuring the design remains faithful to Bega’s intent.

Literature Il mobile déco italiano, 1920–1940, Irene de Guttry and Maria Paola Maino, Gius. Laterza & Figli, 2006, design illustrated on pp. 78 and 80.