Red and Clear Acrylic Glass Plia Folding Chairs by Piretti for Castelli, Italy, 1970s, Set of 4

Lovely set of 4 original and signed “Plia” chairs with a vibrant red metal structure and clear lucite seat. NOS (new old Stock) This fantastic set was designed by Giancarlo Piretti for Castelli in 1967. PLIA, the symbol of a new era focused on plastic: this is how the plia chair from 1967 was welcomed when it was presented at the Salone del Mobile in Milan. on the occasion of the fair, the session received so much public acclaim that many visitors walked away from the stand taking samples without even asking for permission … following this unorthodox compliment, the chairs were tied with a chain for safety. These folding chairs are made of very rare pink plexiglas with a chrome structure and are in perfect condition. The “Plia” folding chair is a true design classic as it has won several awards and is also part of the MoMA collection. The “Plia” chair has a fantastic folding mechanism which allows the chair to be folded very flat so that it can be stored easily. Each chair in this set is signed and engraved with the manufacturer’s mark. A multipurpose and iconic set that will be perfect for a modern or minimal project. Giancarlo Piretti was born in Bologna in 1940. He attended the Bologna State Institute of Art, where he obtained the title of Design Teacher. In 1960 he attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna. Subsequently, for seven years, he was a lecturer in Industrial Design at the State Art Institute of Bologna. In the same period, for 12 years, he worked as an interior designer for Anonima Castelli, designing their lines of furniture for the home, office and community, for which he registered numerous industrial and mechanical invention patents. His best-known projects include PLIA, a folding chair, PLATONE, a folding table, DSC (106-AXIS), a seating system for collective and institutional spaces, and SISTEMA 61, a modular sofa system. Giancarlo Piretti participates in numerous Italian design competitions, obtaining prizes and special mentions. In 1971 he received the SMAU award and the BIO 5 Distinction at the Ljubljana biennial, Slovenia for Plia. In 1973 he was awarded, as always for PLIA, the GUTE FORM mention by the Chamber of Commerce of the Federal Republic of Germany, and a special mention by the British Government. In 1971 PLANO won the IBD gold medal (USA). For the VERTEBRA seating system: in 1977 he was awarded, together with Emilio Ambasz, the gold medal of BD (USA), the SMAU prize in 1979 and the Compasso d’Oro (Italy) in 1981. As always together with Ambasz, in 1980 receives the “National Industrial Design Award” (USA) for LOGOTEC, a lighting system. In 1975 Giancarlo Piretti was appointed member of the Scientific-Didactic Committee of the Higher Institute for Artistic Industries of Florence. His work is often published in numerous international journals.