When design history is in the material

When Cassina celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Maralunga sofa in 2014, a new, futuristic edition was produced in a silver-coloured upholstery. The limited edition was named Mercurio Vivo and was produced in only 40 pieces. But not all of the metallic material was used.

Eight years later, Cassina together with Nordiska Galleriet Maralunga 40 Nordiska Galleriet Limited Edition, an edition of Maralunga in the form of an armchair made of the same silver-coloured material used in the production of Mercurio Vivo. The number of limited copies has been determined by the amount of material still available in Cassina's factory and therefore the armchair is sold in an exclusive number of only five armchairs globally.

A lucky mistake

The original Maralunga furniture was a sofa released in 1974 and designed by Vico Magistretti thanks largely to a happy accident. A conflict is said to have arisen between the designer and Cassina's owner Cesare Cassina, who, after seeing an early prototype of the sofa, was so disappointed that it didn't offer the comfort he wanted that he punched it. When the backrest broke and buckled, the idea for the now legendary Maralunga design was born, which won the prestigious Compasso D'oro award in 1979 for its unique combination of comfort and style. But the furniture's creativity was not only in its design, but also in its blend of craftsmanship and technology. Built into the backrest is an innovative but simple function that allows it to be folded up and down.

Nordiska Galleriet introduces Cassina

Nordiska Galleriet introduced Cassina to the Scandinavian audience already in the 1960s. The furniture company was founded in 1927 and has since been recognised worldwide for its production of exclusive designer furniture and its innovative collaborations with some of the leading designers and architects of our time. In the mid-1960s, it began producing furniture designed by the pioneers of modernist design, Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand, and in 1964 Cassina became the sole manufacturer to produce all of Le Corbusier's works. Today, they are also the only manufacturers of Charlotte Perriand's designs.

The 1960s was an eventful decade that saw developments and breakthroughs in Italian design. It was also when designer Vico Magistretti joined the furniture company. After winning the Gran Premio at the 1949 Milan Triennial, a long career of creation and accolades followed. Today, Magistretti's designs can be seen in permanent exhibitions at some of the world's greatest design museums, with several solo exhibitions dedicated to him.

Maralunga 40 Nordiska Galleriet Exclusive Edition

Cassina

The combination of high-end and sustainability

Celebrating more than 90 years since its inception, Cassina remains a leading voice and benchmark for quality and design furniture globally. The Maralunga sofa is today a bestseller that has been admired for its ultimate blend of high quality design and comfort since its launch in 1974. When Nordiska Galleriet now releases a new limited edition of a metallic upholstered Maralunga, we have had the opportunity to give new life to an already existing material, making it both high-end and more durable.

Maralunga 40 Nordiska Galleriet Limited Edition will be released on 2 September in only five copies globally and is sold exclusively at Nordiska Galleriet, online and in stores.