The modern and contemporary furniture industry of Italy represents a unique paradigm: its industrial design production was created by the most important international architects and designers of the 20th and 21st centuries. While reams have been written about Italian architects and designers, until now no volume has ever been dedicated to those who contributed to their success.

This book takes a behind-the-scenes look at the manufacturers who made possible the most important modern and contemporary furnishings, who risked and invested in innovative products, many of which have become icons of design; and who first believed in a new form of elegance.

Foreword

A difficult story

The industry behind the scenes of italian design

Chapter 1

 The Fifties: the resurrection of industry and the birth and apotheosis of design in Italy

Chapter 2

 The Sixties and Seventies: boom and flop, the pop era

Chapter 3

 The end of the story? From the Eighties to the Third Millennium: genetic mutations in Italian design

Dealers

Annexes

 Biographies manufacturers

 Biographies designers

 Companies

Credits

 Biographies authors

 index historical photos and photocredits

 Special Thanks