Italian furniture design has always emphasised the use of fine quality materials and beautiful craftsmanship. Read more about its history and discover the top Italian furniture brands you need to know.
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BEHIND THE BRAND
Italian Furniture Brands You Need To Know in 2024
Proof that fashion doesn’t have the monopoly on luxury Italian brands
By Jessica Harding, Senior Creative Buyer
History of Italian Furniture
Whilst much of history would suggest that the luxury furniture and decorative arts worlds have been completely owned by France from the Louis’ of the 17th and 18th centuries to the Art Nouveau and Art Deco of the 1910s-30s, Italian furniture has a unique and impressive history of its own.
Since the time of the Renaissance, Italian luxury has been as sought-after as its French counterpart with families like the Medicis playing a major role in the development of the arts in Florence. And, even still, in the modern era, the contribution of contemporary Italian furniture designers has left an indelible mark, establishing the country as a major exporter of modern-day classics.
“Nowhere else in the world can one find so many varied examples, both in terms of conception and of formal outcome; so many applications of diverse forms, from fashion and graphics to product and set design; such an extensive and multifaceted documentation recorded in literature; and such an international resonance,” says Paola Antonelli, senior design curator at New York’s Museum of Modern Art and renowned expert of Italian design, in the preface of Design Directory: Italy.
Consider the Castiglioni brothers, Vico Magistretti, Ettore Sottsass, Gio Ponti, Gae Aulenti, Marco Zanuso, Fornasetti, Harry Bertoia, Joe Colombo, Carlo Scarpa and Gabriella Crespi—all names which have become ingrained in the design world’s vocabulary for their nonchalant Modernist style. These lodestars of Italian design were proof of the country’s creative vision in the second half of the 20th century and, these days, the same fervour for innovative design remains.
Paola explains, “To this day, Italian furniture design companies have been able to maintain their status and their experimental verve and, in a time short of great indigenous designers, are attracting the best talents from all over the world. They keep the flag of Italian Design flying high.”
Top Italian Furniture Brands
These Italian furniture brands represent 10 of the best of those design-minded flag bearers.
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Porada
Known for: Their expertise in wooden craftsmanship, creating fluid feeling furniture that lasts a lifetime.
Exquisitely carved walnut, sculptural armchairs and dining tables delicately topped with glass panels—not bad for an Italian brand which started life as a small collection of chairs. Porada, the first on our list of Italian furniture brands, has come a long way in the last five decades (it was founded in 1968) and, whilst its brand name might not be as well known as the designer style it evokes, its pieces are no less impressive.
Just look to its aptly named Infinity collection, a showcase of confidence in the art of woodwork, as well as an appreciation of the natural materials for which Italy is known. Born from a love of wood, Porada combines traditional Italian design characteristics with functionality. The result? Furniture that looks as beautiful as it feels.
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Smania
Known for: Furnishings, including its sought-after garden collection, made from highly-prized materials like original walnut crotch to soft and exotic nabuk
This Italian furniture company’s collections are extensive with options for every part of the home, including exterior design and accessories. Most of its products are made by hand and they pride themselves on achieving nothing but their vision of absolute perfection.
Founded in 1967 by Alberto Smania who worked in iron manufacturing, he began by crafting his first low table which later led to him expanding from iron into wood. Today, with Smania’s new MyMood service, you can adapt the colour, finish and fabric on any of its products to produce tailor-made interpretations of its original pieces for clients who value unique, personalised interiors.
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Opera Contemporary
The modern offshoot of Angelo Cappelini, purveyor of French-inspired furniture (think Louis and Regency styles), Opera Contemporary enjoys all the history of its predecessor’s Brianza heritage (which extends to the 1880s) but with a renewed aesthetic for the modern age.
Its collection exchanges intricate rococo lines for clean, angular ones and rich damasks for luxurious plain velvets—interpreting historical design in a unique way. A button-back sofa, for example, features a dramatic undulating back and a roll-back bed is updated with sabot-ended tapered legs and a simple split quilted headboard. Each design harks back to a time of tradition but with the modern luxuries of exotic high-gloss veneers, modern engineering (cantilever chairs for one) and simple metal trims.
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Casamilano
Known for: The form-conscious silhouettes, clean lines and plain but textured upholstery loved by subtle luxury enthusiasts
With an almost 80-year history in Italian furniture making and a predecessor company which had the backing of illustrious designers such as Aulenti and Magistretti, Casamilano enjoys a design sensibility well beyond its years.
The well-informed, family-run company debuted at the Milan Furniture Fair in April 1988 focusing on producing understated Italian furniture designs of the highest quality which, equally, respect the environment. Its made-in-Italy pieces are characterised by curving lines which mimic the lines of the body and unadorned finishes which allow the integrity of the material speak for itself—a respect which has roots in the Brianna tradition of casegoods manufacturing.
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Capital
Known for: Its search for Italian-grown natural materials for all of its collections with wood, marble, fabric and leather being at its core
Capital has been crafting Italian furniture collections in the purest sense for over 40 years. Its ‘made in Italy’ recognition is only part of its story. One of the brand’s missions is to move away from man-made materials and to source substances grown from the Italian earth with extreme consciousness on environmental impact.
Like Opera Contemporary, Capital is part of another flagship Italian furniture brand. Atmosphera is the high-end manufacturer to which Capital is related, based in Italy’s Padua region. Sharing the same dedication to flawless attention to detail, Capital differs in its commitment to contemporary silhouettes across its collection wardrobes, sofas, armchairs, writing desks and more.
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Signorini & Coco
Known for: Chic Italian glamour with reference to the Art Deco period across expertly crafted furniture and its luxurious lighting line
‘A touch of mastery every time’ is the line that Signorini & Coco use to summarise its approach to furniture and lighting design. Aside from feeling the hand of the craftsman in every piece, it’s the evidence of classical contours, ornate carvings and inlays and decorative finishes that distinguishes its designs on the global interior design stage.
For this Italian furniture brand, the design cycle begins with the careful selection of materials, choosing to work only with the finest of raw materials. The artistry of decoration follows with previous gold leaf gilding being a favourite of theirs to invent an age of new, timeless masterpieces that each comes with a certificate of authenticity.
