The Molteni Museum, north of Milan.
Photo: Jeff Burton
Italian Design House Molteni&C Celebrates 90th Anniversary with Cinematic Tome
The book captures the landmark ‘scenes’ that have formed the brand’s creative legacy along the way
Molteni Mondo: An Italian Design Story (Rizzoli). Photo: Jeff Burton
From humble origins as an artisan workshop to a global brand recognized for its eminently covetable furnishing. Molteni&C has evolved much like the protagonist of a Hollywood movie. For the past 90 years, this fascinating narrative has been driven by the Molteni family, starting with Angelo and Giuseppina Molteni, who founded the firm in 1934. “Our family has acted kind of like film directors for the past three generations to guide the development of the company,” says the couple’s granddaughter Giulia Molteni, who serves as head of marketing and communications for the Molteni Group.
So it’s only fitting to honor the brand’s 90th anniversary with a comprehensive volume, titled Molteni Mondo: An Italian Design Story (Rizzoli), which takes a cinematic approach to telling the tale of its meteoric rise. Opening with a foreword by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, the book captures the landmark “scenes” that have formed its creative legacy, including collaborations with luminaries such as current creative director Vincent Van Duysen, Patricia Urquiola, Foster + Partners, Ron Gilad, and, of course, Gio Ponti, whose archival works are exclusively reproduced by Molteni&C. “It’s a story about us but also about the history of Italian design,” says Giulia.
Members of the Molteni family and CEO Marco Piscitelli. Photo: Jeff Burton
Woven throughout are paeans to craftsmanship and sustainability, cornerstones of Molteni&C’s ethos, with a special section dedicated to the establishment of the Molteni Museum, which opened in 2015 and showcases its most iconic products and prototypes. “We decided to show every aspect of our consolidated and ever-evolving identity,” says Giulia. “It’s a story that recognizes people—and human talent—as our greatest asset.”
A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2024 Fall Issue under the headline, “Star Turn.” Subscribe to the magazine.
Cover: The Molteni Museum, north of Milan.
Photo: Jeff Burton
