Quintessentially Italian — Minotti’s 75th Anniversary Collection

Words by Deborah Cooke
In Partnership with dedece

Italian maker Minotti celebrates its 75th anniversary with a furniture collection that features collaborations with creative visionaries from around the world.

For 75 years, Minotti has embodied what the “Made in Italy” imprimatur signifies to the design world: a respect for heritage and craftsmanship, exquisite attention to detail and world-leading technology. Founded by Alberto Minotti in Meda, just north of Milan, in 1948, the brand has continued to meld sartorial tradition and innovative technological solutions to create furniture that is ultra-stylish, durable and masterful. That ethos is beautifully encapsulated in Minotti’s 2023 Collection, which celebrates the brand’s 75th anniversary.

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“For an impressive 75 years, this Italian powerhouse has skilfully orchestrated the fusion of tradition and modernity.”

Unveiled at the prestigious Salone del Mobile Milano 2023, the collection – available in Australia through dedece – encompasses indoor and outdoor pieces created in collaboration with some of the world’s leading designers and design studios, unified in a stylistic language under Minotti’s late art director, Rodolfo Dordoni, who passed away in August. For John Engelen, founder of dedece, Minotti remains a paragon of style and innovation. “For an impressive 75 years, this Italian powerhouse has skilfully orchestrated the fusion of tradition and modernity,” he says.

Highlights of the anniversary collection include the Raphael series, created by Italian-Danish design duo GamFratesi (architect Stine Gam and industrial designer Enrico Fratesi) and comprising three sofas, two armchairs, two dining chairs and a footstool. “GamFratesi draws inspiration from the timeless traditions of Danish furniture and craftsmanship coupled with the enduring intellectual and conceptual approach of Italy,” John says. “Raphael boasts organic forms distinguished by generous proportions, elegantly complemented by refined upholstery that artfully captures the distinctive sinuous lines.”

“The bed is a testament to the formal simplicity, exquisite attention to detail and clean lines that define Marcio’s architectural works.”

Japanese studio Nendo, founded by Oki Sato in 2002, has solidified its collaborative relationship with Minotti by extending the iconic Torii collection with the Torii Bold family of chairs and sofas. Torii Bold is a study in contrasts, between the large soft curves of the upholstery and the lightness of the small metal legs, embellished with a jewel-like button. The backrest is punctuated by a vertical quilting effect and piping that outlines the edge of the upholstery, a small detail but one that highlights Nendo’s considered craftsmanship.

Brazilian Marcio Kogan of award-winning Studio MK27 brings his refined architectural eye to the Horizonte Bed, an extension of his Horizonte modular seating system for Minotti, with the same consideration of horizontal lines. The base comes in either leather or fabric, or a mix of both, while the prominent rear panel becomes the supporting element for the nightstand, itself available in different timbers. “The bed is a testament to the formal simplicity, exquisite attention to detail and clean lines that define Marcio’s architectural works,” John says.

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“Their ethos is deeply influenced by the connection between the East and Scandinavia but above all it is guided by the brand’s inexhaustible pursuit of beauty and excellent workmanship.”

Finally, there’s the Sendai seating range, the creation of Milan-based INODA+SVEJE, a partnership between Kyoko Inoda of Japan and Dane Nils Sveje. Their work blends the design philosophies of both nations, perfectly illustrated in the elegant Sendai family, which includes a sofa, indoor and outdoor incarnations of a swivel armchair and a dining chair. “Their ethos is deeply influenced by the connection between the East and Scandinavia but above all it is guided by the brand’s inexhaustible pursuit of beauty and excellent workmanship.”