Architects Franco Albini and Ezio Sgrelli designed the Gala lounge chair in 1951 for the National Organisation for the Crafts and Small Industries (ENAPI) section of the IX Triennale di Milano. The ENAPI’s goal was to revitalize Italian craftsmanship by bringing together designers and craftspeople. Albini and Sgrelli worked on the production of Gala with Vittorio Bonacina, a small company based near Milan that specialized in wicker products. In designing their chair, they chose not to use typical wickerwork. Instead, they used bent rattan twigs for the sweeping back and the deep, curved seat, and thicker rattan branches for the supporting frame. Although formally reminiscent of a heavy lounge chair, the chair attained a light, organic feel through its transparent construction. At the IX Triennale, the Gala and the Margherita rattan lounge chair – also designed by Albini – both won Gold Medals. Each design was a successful combination of traditional craftsmanship with new, contemporary design.
Text: Eva B. Ottillinger / Henrike Büscher
