In his role as art director and furniture designer for Italian furniture brand Giorgetti, architect, educator and painter Massimo Scolari spent over a decade producing so many imaginative, sculptural postmodern pieces that it’s easy to lose count. The Novi Ligure native has always had an eye for good design — he is an equally acclaimed painter with works in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art and the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, and has taught at Harvard University, Cornell University and the University of Cambridge.
In 1969, Scolari completed his studies in architecture and became a professor in 1973. He taught architecture history in Palermo and drawing at Venice’s Istituto Universitario di Architettura di Venezia. From 1975 onward, Scolari was a visiting professor at many of the world’s top universities for nearly three decades while creating numerous installations for the La Biennale di Venezia and Milan Triennial.
Among Scolari’s notable furniture designs are the solid beechwood Spring swivel armchair, which is characterized by organic curves and has a backrest that features ebony insets, as well as the Erasmo and Zeno writing desks. Each piece offers innovative flourishes — the hidden spring in his armchair allows the sitter to lean back comfortably, which lends an unusual level of flexibility to the modern wooden seat, while his sleek writing desks are often outfitted with hidden drawers or secret pull-out compartments.
Scolari has exhibited across the United States. and Europe as well as in Russia and Japan. A retrospective of his work that featured over 100 paintings, drawings and architectural models was staged at the Cooper Union in 2012. For his distinct and creative contributions to architecture, Scolari was awarded the Arnold W. Brunner Memorial Prize in Architecture by the American Academy of Arts and Letters in New York in 2014.
Find vintage Massimo Scolari lighting, tables and seating on 1stDibs.
Mid-Century Desk and Matching Chair by Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti, Italy1990
By Massimo Scolari, Giorgetti S.p.A.
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Desk and Matching Chair by Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti, Italy,1990s Dimensions D: 80 - Chair : 46 cm H: 73 - Chair : 89 cm W: 160,5 - Chair : 65 cm
Leather, Wood
Mid Century Maple Desk by Paul McCobb for Winchendon
By Paul McCobb, Winchendon
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Welcome to Mid-Century NoHo [Mid Century Maple Desk by Paul McCobb for Winchendon] Mid-century maple desk designed by Paul McCobb for Winchendon. This beautiful desk is made of map...
Maple
$4,432 / set
H 28.35 in W 33.08 in D 20.08 in
Italian Mid-Century Modern Small Desk and Chair Attributed to Paolo Buffa, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Cute and stylish Italian midcentury modern desk, with a graceful chair, attributed to Paolo Buffa. This teakwood desk it is a splendid example of the Italian class design of 1950. B...
Brass
$4,600
H 28.75 in W 78.75 in D 39.375 in
Danish Mahogany Executive Desk by Møbler, Mid Century Modern, 2 Matching Avail
Located in Detroit, MI
NOTE: We have two matching twin desks available for sale separately. Please reach out for details. This exceptional vintage mid century Danish modern mahogany wood desk by Søborg Mo...
Brass
$4,600
H 28.75 in W 78.75 in D 39.375 in
Large Mid Century Danish Modern Mahogany Wood Executive Desk, 2 Matching Avail
Located in Detroit, MI
NOTE: We have two matching twin desks available for sale separately. Please reach out for details. This exceptional vintage mid century Danish modern mahogany wood desk by Søborg Mo...
Brass
$34,300Sale Price|28% Off
H 28.5 in W 86.5 in D 39.5 in
Documented 'Kono' Dining Table / Desk by Lella & Massimo Vignelli, 1984, Italy
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This exceptionally rare documented 'Kono' table, which works excellent as either a dining table or a desk, by Lella Vignelli and Massimo Vignelli was designed in 1984 and this example created in the mid-to-late 1980s by Casigliani in Pisa, Italy. This rare example of the 'Kono' design features a monumental Black Granite slab for the top, two thick slabs of Imperial Red Granite which connect together to form one of the bases, and the Vignellis signature Patinated Copper cone which forms the other base. The 'Kono' design was normally made as coffee tables so it is quite rare to find examples made scaled up in dining table size. In addition, typical Kono tables were made with glass tops and a single slab granite base. This example however, the Vignellis selected Black Granite instead of the typical glass tops. Also, rather than using a rectangular single-slab base, this example features an L-shaped base constructed with two slabs that connect together along one angled edge. It still employs the cone-shaped patinated copper base typical of Kono tables, however this example is much larger of course than cocktail table versions. The Vignelli Center for Design Studies, which houses the artists’ archive, confirmed this table to be one of two known drawings by the Vignellis (a copy of the Vignelli sketch, which they provided, is included in the photo gallery) though it is unknown if the other table was ever produced, making this table potentially an important one-of-a-kind. The Black Granite top in lower light settings is dark, deep and mysterious. With direct sunlight its luminosity is intense - see the photo gallery for images of the table in direct sunlight from our skylight above. It glows, shines and shimmers with incredible vibrancy, similar to diamonds - to see it in person is quite exquisite and remarkable. While we only had it set up under our skylight for a couple hours, I would describe the experience as recharging - I felt like I had just spent a couple hours meditating, this would be incredible to wake up to every day before leaving to work. The Vignellis described the 'Kono' table as: “This design exploits the relationship between geometrical figures and material finishes." Over the course of their four-decade-long design practice, Lella and Massimo Vignelli collaborated on projects that ranged from product design and brand identity to interior and furniture design. Whether designing New York City’s subway map...
Granite, Copper
$2,350 / item
H 30 in W 48 in D 24 in
Mid-Century Modern Desk and Chair by Russell Wright for Conant Ball
By Conant Ball, Russel Wright
Located in Buffalo, NY
Simple ,,smart design..... Conant ball desk and matching spindle chair in maple,,,, Russel Wright for Conant Ball Furniture Makers Mid-Century Modern ...
Cane, Birch
$9,000Sale Price|40% Off
H 36.25 in W 71 in D 38 in
Floor Sample Alma Desk Giorgetti Designed By Pamela Amine w/ Leather Finishes
By Giorgetti S.p.A.
Located in Boston, MA
Designed By Pamela Amine Alma, from the Latin Almus, meaning “soul”, “she who nourishes”, celebrates the main function of a desk, which is to open the mind and expand one's knowle...
Leather
$4,800
H 29 in W 60 in D 32.35 in
Mid-Century Walnut and Rosewood Executive Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Edward J. Wormely for Dunbar executive desk in walnut with deeply sculpted inset rosewood drawer pulls, brass shoes, and removable woven cane privacy screen (ca. 1950s, Indiana, USA)...
Brass
$3,966
H 29.53 in W 72.84 in D 33.47 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian Desk Table by Gianni Moscatelli for Formanova
By Formanova, Gianni Moscatelli
Located in Prato, IT
Writing or conference table with console designed by Gianni Moscatelli for Formanova, dated circa 1965. Chromed metal structure and mahogany veneer top. Formanova born from the c...
Stainless Steel
$2,799Sale Price|20% Off
H 37.01 in W 36.62 in D 13.39 in
Italian Mid-Century Wooden and Glass Writing Desk
Located in Milano, IT
Cute wooden writing desk of fine Italian manufacture from the 1950s. The desk is made in the frame entirely of fine, light-coloured wood. The legs supporting the structure are long...
Brass
Vintage Yellow Campaign Desk And Matching Chair Ca' 1960's
By Drexel
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A classic and fun 1960's campaign desk and matching chair. The desk has three drawers, handles on sides and finished on the back. The rarely seen matching chair-designed to slide und...
Mahogany
$3,266
H 36.23 in W 47.25 in D 22.45 in
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Regency Desk Writing Table and Chair
By Guglielmo Ulrich, Melchiorre Bega, Vittorio Dassi, Paolo Buffa, Ico & Luisa Parisi
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful and neoclassical midcentury Regency Italian writing table or desk with its paired newly upholstered chair both supported by elegant turned and fluted legs ending with taper...
Brass
Sold
H 28.75 in W 69.5 in D 31.5 in
"Zeno" Asymmetrical Beech and Ebony Desk by Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti, 1990s
By Massimo Scolari, Giorgetti S.p.A.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A well crafted asymmetric 90's desk designed by Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti S.p.A. The desk is made of a beech frame with Macassar Ebony inset top and aluminum hardware. The leg ha...
Aluminum
Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti Zeno Beech and Ebony Desk, 1990s
By Massimo Scolari, Giorgetti S.p.A.
Located in Rochester, England
Designed by Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti in 1994, the Zeno desk is a fantastic example of modern Italian design. The desk is construc...
Beech
Sold
H 31.5 in W 63 in L 31.5 in
Contemporary Giorgetti Desk, Writing table by Massimo Scolari, Italy, 1990s
By Massimo Scolari, Giorgetti S.p.A.
Located in Antwerp, BE
Massimo Scolari; desk; office furniture; Giorgetti; Italy; 1990s; Aluminum; Beech; Italian Design; Italian Furniture; Contemporary; Art Nouveau; Minimalism; Eclectic Contemporary ...
Aluminum
Set Massimo Scolari For Giorgetti "Zeno" Desk and Chair, 1990s
By Massimo Scolari
Located in Brussels, BE
Set Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti "Zeno" desk and chair, 1990s.
Wood
Erasmo Executive Desk by Giorgetti
By Massimo Scolari
Located in New York, NY
Executive desk with the frame in walnut Canaletto wood veneer. The top is in ebony macassar veneer with cable holder. The chest with 3 drawers, two shallow and one deep, is in curved...
Chrome
Vintage Italian Desk by Massimo Scolari for Giorgetti
By Massimo Scolari, Giorgetti S.p.A.
Located in London, GB
A stylish and impressive vintage desk made in Italy, this was designed by Massimo Scolari and was made by Giorgetti around the 1970s-1980s. It’s of amazing quality, with an interesti...
Leather, Beech
Giorgetti Dining Table Massimo Scolari
By Giorgetti S.p.A., Massimo Scolari
Located in Den Haag, NL
Beautiful large Giorgetti dining table or writing desk. Designed by Massimo Scolari featuring a thick etched glass top on a solid ash wood frame. The legs feature an architectural de...
Cut Glass