Molteni&C was founded in 1934 by Angelo Molteni. Originally an artisan workshop, it quickly evolved into one of the leading design brands, known for its craftsmanship and focus on technological and social progress. In the 1950s, Molteni&C anticipated the needs of modern living by presenting the first prototype of modern furniture—a drawer with a three-fork geometric joint designed by Werner Blaser, an assistant to Mies van der Rohe, along with two bookshelves by designers Itoh and D'Urbino-Volonterio.
Over the years, Molteni&C partnered with leading designers and architects who helped define the brand’s aesthetic and solidify its role in the design world. These include Luca Meda—who transformed Molteni’s style, Afra and Tobia Scarpa, and Aldo Rossi. In 1994, the brand received the Compasso d'Oro alla Carriera for its leadership in furniture design and its broad vision of the cultural context. Since 2012, Molteni&C has produced the Gio Ponti Collection, featuring valuable archival designs brought to life through research conducted with Ponti’s heirs.
Today, Molteni&C stands as a benchmark in Italian design, with a distinctive and refined aesthetics under the art direction of Vincent van Duysen.
Molteni was founded in 1934 in Giussano as an artisan carpentry company. Right from the start, knowledge of traditional workmanship allowed the company to identify the search for quality and attention to technological progress as its focal points.
The desire for change in the 1960s pushed Molteni to change with society, translating its needs into furniture through a design process conceived as pure planning. Molteni began to transform into a modern company, growing through collaboration with designers and the acquisition of office and kitchen furniture companies. Molteni has grown into a group that is capable of bringing its unmistakable style and craftsmanship to furniture and contract projects, all over the world.
The sobriety and the warmth conveyed by Molteni&C furniture transcend the personal style of the designers who collaborate with the brand. The Molteni identity is such that it succeeds in merging and synthesizing individual styles to create a unique aesthetic that envisions the home as “cozy, warm and reassuring.”
Part of this vision of refined, quality design are some of the leading international designers and architect, such as Herzog & de Meuron, Foster + Partners, Michael Anastassiades, Jean Nouvel, Jasper Morrison, and Ron Gilad, as well as masters of Italian style such as Gio Ponti, Tobia Scarpa, Rodolfo Dordoni, Ferruccio Laviani, and Aldo Rossi.
- Foster + Partners. The design firm collaborates with Molteni&C. with projects featuring innovative materials. These include the Ava Table, the Arc table with a lightweight concrete base, the Teso coffee table, and the Vicino Table coffee tables.
- Rodolfo Dordoni. The celebrated Milanese designer has created collections for dining room and bedroom systems in which technology plays an important but hidden role. Designs created for Molteni include the Gliss Master-Blend and Beauté closets, the understated British elegance of the Kensington, Piccadilly, and Chelsea armchairs, and the Gatwick and Old Ford tables.
- Vincent van Duysen. The Belgian designer has served as the company's creative director since 2016 and has designed furniture from an architectural perspective, creating some of Molteni's best-loved sofas, such as Augusto, Lucio, and Octave, as well as the Mateo table, Gillis and Petalo armchairs, the Anton and the Ribbon beds.
- Gio Ponti. The promoter of industrial design, a supporter of the democratic and modernity of mass production. Ponti is the author of memorable furniture, produced in small series or for private projects, and repurposed exclusively by Molteni since 2012. These include the D.154.2 armchairs (Compasso d'oro for product lifetime achievement), D.153.1 and Round, the D.859.1 table, and the Molteni coffee tables series D.555.1 and D.552.2. All objects in which the Ponti style shines through in all its modernity and class.
- Patricia Urquiola. Her style is a mix of the Milanese rigor of her training and the flair of her Spanish origins. Prominent among her completed projects is the Molteni Diamond table with origami-style details, winner of the 2005 Red Dot Award.
- Aldo Rossi. His works have made design history, with projects strongly influenced by his training as an architect and urban planner: the Piroscafo glass cabinet, inspired by a former confectionery factory, and the Carteggio secrétaire cabinet.
Giò Ponti, an icon of 20th century Italian design, embodies timeless elegance and bold innovation. His story is intertwined with the threads of Italian modernism, shaping the design landscape with its unique vision and creativity. Born in Milan in 1891, Ponti graduated in architecture at the Polytechnic of Milan, an education that would shape his multidisciplinary approach to design. His career embraces a wide range of disciplines, ranging from architecture to industry, from interior design to the design of furniture and art objects. Its versatility artistic was reflected in his ability to range between monumental projects and intimate details, always with a careful eye for aesthetic harmony and functionality.
Ponti has left an indelible mark on the world of design through his collaborations with some of the most popular brands in the world. renowned in the interior design sector. His partnership with Cassina, FontanaArte and Venini has produced iconic pieces such as the famous Superleggera chair, a symbol of lightness and refinement. Ponti also made his mark on the world of ceramics through his collaboration with Richard Ginori, where he created a series of tableware and decorative pieces that still embody the timeless elegance of his style. In addition to these famous collaborations, Ponti has worked with a myriad of other brands, helping to shape the Italian and international design landscape. His work is celebrated and made accessible through the Ciat Design catalogue, where it is possible to discover the best creations by Giò Ponti, testimony to his extraordinary talent and his lasting influence in the world of design.
Welcome to the section dedicated to domestic elegance, where comfort blends with style in a timeless union. The living area, the beating heart of every home, is revealed here in all its majesty, ready to welcome you with the warmth of a designer home. In this realm of harmony and refinement, every piece of furniture is unique. a work of art, designed to satisfy the senses and reveal your personality; through impeccable shapes, colors and textures.
Here, in the welcoming embrace of the living area, each element narrates a unique story, woven with threads of creativity and craftsmanship. The sofas, inspired by design icons, enchant with their sinuous lines and the luxury of fine materials. Next to them, tables designed by masters of the caliber of Isamu Noguchi offer a canvas on which to paint your moments of conviviality. and relaxation, while suspended lamps, such as the iconic "Arco" by Flos, spread an enveloping and evocative light.
In this refined setting, your personal taste finds full expression. From the upholstery of the sofas to the choice of fabrics to the choice between the vast lines and materials, every detail can be customized. be shaped according to your desires, transforming the living area into an authentic sanctuary of style. With furniture with a unique design you can create a timeless environment, where every day is transformed into an experience of pure luxury and comfort.