Dining Chairs by Carlo Bartoli for Matteo Grassi, 1980s, Set of 6

In 1880 in the Brianza region of Italy, the Grassi family began crafting saddles, bridles, reins, and other leather equipment for horses. Following World War II, the Grassis joined the rapid industrialization under way in northern Italy and expanded their production to include a wide range of leather goods, especially items for both the home and public interiors. By the late 1970s, Matteo Grassi had built an international reputation for distinctive, finely made leather furniture, from chairs and sofas, to tables and beds. One of the most successful among the brand’s early original designs was Tito Agnoli’s Korium Armchair (1979).

Over the years, Matteo Grassi has worked with an impressive roster of designers, such as Carlo Bartoli, Piero Lissoni, Alessandro Mendini, Franco Poli, Eoos, Luigi Massoni, Jean Nouvel, Matteo Nunziati, Mauro Lipparini, and Rodolfo Dordoni. The brand—associated with high quality materials and generously sleek forms—is well represented in airports and executive offices around the world.

After more than a century of production, Matteo Grassi has recently gone out of business.