Author(s): Valeria Manferto de Fabianis

Design

Since the 1930s, the Made in Italy label has been synonymous with design excellence, the very definition of style, beauty, sensuality, and whimsicality. This compact, affordable volume is a veritable museum galley of Italy's greatest designs of products for the home, including typewriters, lamps, sofas and chairs, kitchen appliances, utensils, salt and pepper services, ashtrays, and more. Over 200 photographs of classic objects by the nation's top designers are featured with texts that describe the context of their origins and influences from around the world. The quirky, often futuristic invention of Italian design can be appreciated in these fancifully produced images of products manufactured by Olivetti, Fiat, Alessi, Cassina, Swatch, Memphis, and other internationally known firms.