Gio Ponti Rationalist Daybed, 1948
Description
Gio Ponti Rationalist Daybed for Fondazione Garzanti, wood and brass, 1948.
Rationalist daybed designed by Gio Ponti in 1948. The piece reflects the architect’s search for lightness and clarity in postwar interiors, translating architectural discipline into an elegant piece of furniture.
The wooden base is defined by a sequence of horizontal ribbed moldings running along the perimeter, a detail that adds rhythm and depth to the structure. Slender tapered legs with brass sabots lift the volume from the ground, giving the daybed a sense of balance and quiet sophistication typical of Ponti’s work.
The long upholstered cushion and cylindrical headrest introduce a soft counterpoint to the linear frame, combining comfort with a precise and restrained geometry.
Ponti’s furniture from this period shares the same refined rationalism found in the work of contemporaries such as Franco Albini and Ico Parisi, where structure, proportion and material are reduced to their essential expression.
Dimensions
Height: 19.69 in (50 cm)
Width: 78.75 in (200 cm)
Depth: 31.5 in (80 cm)
Seat Height: 19.69 in (50 cm)
Design
1948
Manufacture
1940-1949
Material
Wood and brass
Location
Lonigo, IT
Condition
Our atelier carefully restored and reupholstered the item, with attention to structural integrity, materials, and finish. The process was guided by deep respect for its authenticity, balancing technical intervention and historical sensitivity.