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Covering Knoll furniture from 1960 to 2000 that is no longer in production.

Gianfranco Frattini

Courtesy Knoll, Inc.

In 1974, Knoll in Europe introduced a wonderfully designed and crafted table, the Kyoto Table. It was designed by Gianfranco Frattini, the Milanese architect and industrial designer, and meticulously hand-crafted by third-generation master cabinet maker, Pierluigi Ghianda, also based in Milan. The latticework tabletop displayed such precise joinery, it appeared made from one piece of wood.1

Frattini graduated from the Politecnico di Milano in 1953 with a degree in architecture. He apprenticed in the offices of Gio Ponti, and this was where Frattini received his training in both architecture and industrial design over the next four years. He quickly began producing furniture designs for Cassina, Bernini, Artemide and other companies.2 Throughout his career, Frattini also worked on interior architecture, but  a substantial portion of his design work involved product design.

The Kyoto Tables were part of a collection and system of pieces that included Etageres shelves which could be assembled in a variety of ways. Courtesy Knoll, Inc.

In 1985, Frattini designed a suite of executive office furniture3 which was distinctly different from the Platner Executive Collection and the Pfister Executive Office Collection. The Frattini Executive Office Collection for Knoll was constructed entirely of wood with mahogany veneer in a variety of finishes including high glass lacquer and devoid of chrome. It included four desks with available pedestals, desk extensions, credenzas and storage units. Desktops could be ordered in full saddle leather or with a leather insert.4

Courtesy Knoll, Inc.

The Frattini Executive Office Collection remained in the KnollStudio catalog until the mid-1990s.5

1. “The Kyoto Table.” Knoll online archive. https://www.knoll.com/the-archive/. Today, this table is manufactured and sold exclusively by Poltrona Frau.
2. Gianfranco Frattini Studio. https://gianfrancofrattini.com/Bio-Timeline.
3. Gianfranco Frattini Studio. https://gianfrancofrattini.com/Desking-office-collection. Knoll introduced the Collection in the United States after the release of the 1988 catalog and Price List in March of that year.
4. KnollStudio Price List 1990. 88-101. The Kyoto Tables and Etagere components were listed on pages 172-173.
5. The Collection was listed in the KnollStudio Price1992-93 but was not in the Price List for 1996.