Vico Magistretti New Designs

In the 1990s, Knoll greatly expanded the number of designs by Vico Magistretti in its catalog. The designer partnered with the venerable Danish furniture manufacturer Fritz Hansen, producing several different stacking chairs for commercial applications. Knoll acquired distribution rights to the designs and listed them in its KnollStudio price list.

The Vico stacking armchair was designed in 1994. It had a molded plywood shell available in maple or cherry veneer with steel tube legs. The chair could be ordered unupholstered, or with cushions.¹ The VicoDuo stacking armchair was designed in 1997. The molded plywood shell could be finished in six different Lazur finishes or in maple, beech or cheery veneer. The frame was steel tube. The chair could be ordered with a ganging feature, a slipcover and armpads.²

Magistretti’s VicoSolo was designed in 1999 with a minimalist intent. It was armless, having separate seat and small back fixed to a steel tube frame, and could be ordered with a writing tablet. It was available with the same finishes as the VicoDuo.³

The Vico Magistretti Cirene stacking chair. Courtesy Knoll, Inc.

The Cirene stacking chair was also available with arms. Curtesy Knoll, Inc.

After the year 2000, Knoll added the Cirene Chair designed by Magistretti in 1999. This chair was also stacking with a molded plywood shell available in charcoal, yellow or white with options for maple or oak veneer on a steel tube frame. It could be ordered with or without arms and upholstered or unupholstered.⁴

The Vico Magistretti Silver stacking chair. It was also available with arms. Courtesy Knoll, Inc.

Another Magistretti design was the Silver stacking chair designed in 1999 to be used indoors or out. It featured a cast aluminum seat and back with extruded aluminum legs.⁵

The Vico Magistretti VicoDuo Round Table with VicoDuo Stacking Arm Chairs, Courtesy Knoll, Inc.

In 1997, Magistretti also designed a series of tables for Fritz Hansen for use in commercial applications which were also added to the Knoll Catalog as part of the Magistretti Collection. The VicoDuo Tables won numerous design awards in 1997 and 1998. Knoll offered one square, two round, and two rectangular versions of these designs. He also designed the Vico meeting and conference tables in four different sizes having boat-shaped tops.⁶

1. KnollStudio Price List 2000. 66-67.
2. KnollStudio Price List 2000. 64-65. Still manufactured by Fritz Hansen.
3. KnollStudio Price List 2000. 62-63.
4. KnollStudio Price List 2005. 88-89
5, Not listed in the KnollStudio 2000 Price List. The Silver Chair was listed in the KnollStudio Price List 2005 (pages 90-91).
6. KnollStudio Price List 2000. 224-227. The Magistretti tables were not listed in the KnollStudio 2005 Price List, having been discontinued.