Gae Aulenti Sgarsul rocking chair Poltronova Italy 1962

Iconic Sgarsul rocking chair designed by Gae Aulenti and manufactured by Poltronova in Italy in 1962. It’s made from birch plywood and has a sleek black gloss finish that gives it a modern and elegant look. What makes this particular chair stand out is the stunning patina on the original leather seat. The cognac leather has aged gracefully, making the chair one-of-a-kind. Back in 1962, Gae Aulenti, who was just in her early thirties, made her debut as a designer with this remarkable piece of furniture. The Sgarsul rocking chair was created by a small but significant Tuscan company with a strong tradition of craftsmanship, Poltronova, under the artistic direction of Ettore Sottsass.

The name “Sgarsul” comes from the Neapolitan dialect and means “scugnizzo” or street urchin. It’s a modern take on a rocking chair design from a century ago, Thonet’s 1862 rocking chair No. 1. This rocking chair has an elegant and curvy frame made of bent and stained beechwood, along with a comfy, cushioned seat covered in sophisticated leather upholstery. The beechwood frame has graceful, drop-shaped lines that cradle you in comfort. A pouch-like seat, designed by Aulenti to minimize the number of stitches. What’s intriguing is how it combines industrial manufacturing techniques with handcrafted artistry, blending tradition and innovation seamlessly. This reinterpretation of the classic Thonet model shows how Gae Aulenti saw innovation – not as a complete departure from the past, but as a creative and inventive dialogue with it.

Literature; Repertorio Del Design Italiano 195o~2000 Volume 1 Giuliana Gramigna, page 93