The (re)birth of an icon

The “Medea” chair, an iconic piece of Italian design from the 1950s, is making a comeback thanks to an ambitious and creative project

Medea by Fratelli Tagliabue

Design, like fashion, does not always follow a linear path. From time to time, there are discoveries that surpass expectations and change tastes. This is the case of a chair that was one of the most influential pieces of design in the 1950s: the Medea, designed by Vittorio Nobili (born in Milan in 1917, died in 2000) for the Lombard cabinetmakers Fratelli Tagliabue, is by far the most famous piece of his work and was awarded an Honorable Mention at the Compasso d’Oro in 1956.

Its futuristic but ergonomic shape, without corners, a curved wooden strip with a hole in the middle, resting on four slender metal legs, debuted in the pages of Domus in April 1955 and immediately became a manifesto of style. And of success: the model was patented and versions with armrests and upholstery were born. Today, this object that marked its time is being reborn thanks to a special operation orchestrated by Alessandro Borgni and Chicco Como, founders of the Milan-based creative agency Beyond The Line, together with Luigi and Andrea Tagliabue of Medea 1905. The original molds, found in Medea’s warehouses, were reused under the artistic direction of Dimorestudio, which came up with a series of variations.

The idea behind SediaMedea is to give birth to an freestanding brand, a bearer of innovative ideas, with a catalogue that will grow over time, starting a path of renewal of its overall image and paving the way for other declinations in the world of furniture that will be introduced throughout the year.

In fact, this first presentation will be followed by an expansion of the SediaMedea collection that will see the involvement of international designers to create a line of furniture declined on different elements. The aim is to enter into an ecosystem where economy, society, ideas and people can embrace different worlds such as hospitality, publishing and art.