Altamira: Italian Furniture Glassware Lamps Accessories

Catalog showcasing high-end Italian furnishings and accessories, published circa 1956 by the fabled Altamira design center located at 18 East 50th St in New York City. Per the introduction, “Altamira is the only center in this country where Interior-Architecture by Italy’s foremost architects is represented together with furniture, handicrafts, accessories and every other element essential to the modern interior.” Altamira commissioned a line of furniture from Gio Ponti in 1953, crafted by Giordano Chiesa in Milan. Included were a number of Ponti’s iconic mid-century designs—the Distex lounge chair and a self-described masterpiece, the two-drawer desk, model AP 1025, are shown in the present catalog. Shown, too, are furniture designs by Ponti’s fellow “interior architects” and designers Marco Zanuso (produced by Arflex Milano), Enrberto Carboni, Enrico Peresutti of BBPR, Carlo Pagani, Enrico Taglietti, Nino Zancada, Ico and Luisa Parisi, Ignacio Gardella, Melchiorre Bega, Mario Rinaldi, and Cesare Lacca. In addition to furniture, the catalog features a 2-page spread of Venini glass fixtures, vases, and bottles by Massimo Vignelli, Gio Ponti, Ercole Barovier, and others; a 2-page spread of light fixtures including work by Gino Sarfatti and Angelo Lelli for companies such as Arteluce and Arredoluce; plus hand painted screens by Salvatore Fiume, enamel objects by Paolo de Poli, and ceramic figurines by Fausto Melotti. All told, a highly curated selection of some of the best and presently most prized Italian designs of the period. 4to, 16 pages, stapled, printed wrappers, fully illustrated with b/w photos. Laid in is a 4-page price list with curatorial information dated to March 1956. Catalog design by Robert and Jack Strimbans. A scarce record of this key entrepôt of important, blue-chip mcm design, and a highly useful reference source. In quite good original condition but for minor rubbing and bumping to the wrappers.