In 1889 Giovanni Bonacina founded his small business in the wake of the ancient art of Lombard basket makers.

He was full of confidence due to the experience he had gained working with rattan furniture manufacturers from Germany, Austria and Holland.

As the years go by the firm has always maintained its craftsman’s touch in order to offer a highly qualified product.

At the beginning of the century Givanni Bonacina started to export his products.

The high quality of design and the fine precision work resulted in the winning of the gold medal at the exhibitions of London and Paris in 1909 and in Rome in 1910.

Of that period are also the prestigious projects such as Villa d’Este on Lake Como.

In the 1950s (Giovanni’s son) understands the importance of cooperating with important designers such as Albini, Helg, Crespi, Forges Davanzati, Sambonet and many others.

The Bonacina’s line of products became a reference point for Italian designers over that period.

Since then the company has grown obtaining various acknowledgements.

Vittorio Bonacina’s business is now represented by his son Mario Bonacina, who besides having a manager role is also a designer.

He has had the idea of re-inventing the pieces produced by his grandfather, while understanding the right balance between craftsmanship and design.

A commitment to excellence means the best materials, skilled craftsmanship and patience.

In design you have to start out with a deep knowledge of your raw materials.

Rattan and rattan core embody strength, vitality and fluidity, and are an ecologically sustainable, natural and renewable resource

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Vittorio Bonacina uses numerous types of rattan, a prolific vine that is harvested, cursorily cleaned and prepared for shipping to Italy where all of the furniture is handmade in its local workshops.

Whether applying a wide range of water-based, appealing and modern colours, or opting for natural finishes and tones, the material is enhanced – and almost seems to breathe.

Vittorio Bonacina’s artisans exhibit true mastery when working rattan, and, they make it look easy.

Each piece is made by hand, and using the basic elements water and fire, in combination with their manual expertise, they create both classic and fresh, new forms.

Having the patience to find the most intelligent, essential and aesthetic solutions, in both the design and manufacturing phases, creates excellence; exquisite and functional pieces that are a delight to live with; furniture that is both timeless and of its time

2014 Product Introductions

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Elliptic Armchair

It’s an openwork exoskeleton where the seating seems suspended.

Its antropomorphic aspect is meant to welcome the body.

Between domestic and organic typology, this rattan seat is permeable to space and opens itself to others.

The weave of the rattan – core is always tinted using natural, non-toxic, water – based products and lacquered in many RAL colours

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Elliptic Lamp

It’s a three dimensional object, with a flexible geometry that continuously transforms without ever altering the line.

Emptiness becomes an entity, the outline structure of rattan, its plasticity, re-introduces complex design.

Available in all colours found on the colour chart.

The weave of the rattan – core is always dyed using natural, non-toxic, water – based products

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Radeau

The geometric line is an invisible thing. It is the track made by the point moving; that is, it’s product. It is created by movement- specifically through the destruction of the intense self-contained repose of the point….. “Wassily Kandinsky”

Available in all colours found on the colour chart.

The weave of the rattan – core is always dyed using natural, non-toxic, water – based products – and lacquered in many RAL colour

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Eris

The novelty particularity resides in the aesthetic effect of a seamless single continuous rattan-core thread in a repeating spiral coil creating a macro-cylindrical structure defining empty space between the coils and in the centre of the macro tubular structure itself.

Available in all colours found on the colour chart.

The weave of the rattan – core is always dyed using natural, non-toxic, water – based products – and lacquered in many RAL colours

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Arija

It is a re-edition of a model from the 50’s , taken from the historical archives of the company.

The light, minimalistic form enable it to be clearly seen amongst the realms of contemporary pieces.

It stems from the original version with

The rattan skin weaving is available in natural colour only.

The rattan-core weaving is available in all finishes on the colour card

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Canarino

Canarino is an “easy” table, it’s round, small and fits easily every space.

The structure made of natural material, is in open sight since the top is transparent. Its shapes are those suggested by the material itself: curves and bindings are handmade today as they
were manufactured 125 years ago.

The rattan curves follow two different paths in order to create the same shape.

Canarino comes in two sizes, occasional table and occasional table/bed-side.

Available in all colours found on the colour chart.

The weave of the rattan – core is always dyed using natural, non-toxic, water – based products – and lacquered in many RAL colour