Gianni Moscatelli

1930 —

Gianni Moscatelli (born 1930) embodies the bold, sculptural spirit of Italian design in the 1960s and 1970s. Hailing from Brianza, the cradle of Italian furniture, he discovered early the magic of working wood and the harmony between craftsmanship and function. After graduating from the Higher Institute of Design in 1959, he founded Formanova in Meda, a laboratory where forms and materials engage in an inventive dialogue.

His major creations reveal this industrial poetry: the Bivalve 940, a series of rosewood plywood chairs, plays with curves and light; the Poney swivel chair, iconic in the 1970s, transforms office space into a sculptural stage; the Micaela lounge chair envelops the sitter in soft, flowing lines, perfectly blending comfort and graphic elegance; his dining tables and buffets, such as the sunburst-top table and the wood-and-steel buffet, elevate furniture into works of art, each detail celebrating mastery of form.

Through his work, Moscatelli created a language where functionality never yields to poetry, where craftsmanship meets technical innovation, and where every piece breathes elegance, lightness, and timeless modernity. Today, his creations are highly prized by collectors and continue to inspire contemporary design, standing as enduring witnesses to an inimitable creative spirit.