Enrico Franzolini received his architectural degree in 1979 and opened his design practice two years later in the town of Udine, northeast of Venice.1 His practice flourished and by the late 1980s, drew the attention of Knoll International. He was given the opportunity to design a new side chair for Knoll, and Franzolini knew it must be not only be made of wood, but the wood must play a prominent role in both its structure and aesthetic.
Franzolini designed the chair to have a one-piece seat and back of laminated beechwood, and the frame also of laminated, steam-formed beechwood, which Knoll had decades of experience manufacturing. The architect designed a cantilever arm on one version, then added slim polished, stainless-steel supports. The armchair and armless chair could be ordered unupholstered or upholstered in many available Knoll textile fabrics or superb leathers.
Designed in 19882, the Franzolini Chair was introduced to the KnollStudio catalog in 19903 and remained in production for nearly a decade.4
For collectors of Knoll furniture, sometimes an individual piece, a single chair, will appeal to them. While a Tugendhat chair might prove prohibitive, the Franzolini Chair will fall within everyone’s budget. In fact, two could be used as side chairs or four could be used as dining chairs.
1. Enrico Franzolini Architectura e Design. https://enricofranzolini.it/biografia/.
2. Ibid. https://enricofranzolini.it/design/gina-ginotta/#. The KnollStudio brochure for the Franzolini Chair states it was designed in 1989.
3. KnollStudio Price List 1990.30-31.
4. KnollStudio Price List 1998. 38-39. The Franzolini Chair was not included in the KnollStudio Price List 2000.