Gianfranco Frattini Round Coffee Table in Walnut and Glass

Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina, coffee table, model '774', walnut, glass, Italy, 1960s

Designed by Gianfranco Frattini for a sophisticated residential project in Milan, this design was later put into production by Cassina. Its design exudes harmony, primarily through the repetitive use of circular shapes discernible in the top and the wooden framework and legs. The table features a central compartment, accessible via an opening, that serves a versatile purpose: it can function as a storage space holding bottles or magazines, or as a decorative container for sculptures, objects, or plants. The walnut finish is particularly striking, showcasing pronounced grains and a rich, warm color.

Gianfranco Frattini (1926-2004) was born in Padua and studied architecture at the Milan Politechnico. After his studies, Frattini started working for Gio Ponti until 1956. Afterwards, he opened his own practice in Milan and began creating his own designs. His work is mostly part of the generation that created the Italian design movement of the late 1950s through the 1960s. The designer eventually died in Milan in 2004.