Designed and created entirely in Italy, Calligaris furniture craft a selection of contemporary chairs, dining tables and cabinetry using high-quality materials. Specialists in working with ceramics, woods and polycarbonate, Calligaris take pride in their fluid and artistically designed furniture. Each piece is made with a balanced awareness of form and functionality, with the intention of simplifying the complexities of daily life.
Calligaris Furniture
One Chair to Change the World
The Calligaris story begins humbly in Manzano, Udine, in the north eastern province of Italy. Founded in 1923 by the man from which the brand takes its name, Antonio Calligaris, the business began simply with a single chair. Little did Antonio know that this chair – named Marocca – would become a pivotal furnishing of the business, setting the precedent for an area of Italy that would later become known as ‘The Chair District’. And this legacy still lives on until this day. In fact, if you should be lucky enough to find yourself visiting Manzano, you will be greeted by one of the world’s biggest chairs. The landmark was built in 1995 and sits at approximately 20 metres high!
Sustainable Materials
Following the growing popularity of Calligaris chairs, Antonio set up a workshop. Here, skilled craftsmen and women crafted the chairs by hand. Wood for the frames was collected from the surrounding mountains, whilst local straw was used to cane the seats. This desire for sustainably sourced materials remains very much at the heart of the business today. Many of their polycarbonate and polypropylene chairs are recyclable, whilst all hardwoods are accredited to certified British standards, meaning they are sourced only from well-managed, economical woodlands.
A Family-Born Business
Three Generations of the Calligaris Name
During the 1950s, the business moved into its second-generation. Antonio passed the management role onto his son, Romeo, who took the lead in developing the brand during the post-war period. Then in the 1960s, Calligaris saw significant modernisation to meet the requirements of the ever-changing world. Walter and Alessandro, the third-generation of the Calligaris family, invested in an automatic machine that could apply cane to a chair in less than 2 minutes. This advancement revolutionised the business. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Chairs & Dining Tables for the Modern World
In 1986, Alessandro became the sole president of the business, moving from chair creation to complete furnishing solutions. Tables, sofas, home accessories and more were added to the Calligaris furniture collection, whilst a diverse range of chairs remained a fundamental selling point for the business. As of 2018, Calligaris celebrated their 95th anniversary, their furniture catalogue containing more than 800 products sold in 100 countries across the globe.
Designer Italian Furniture
Durable Ceramic Surfaces
Today, Calligaris furniture encompasses an up to date and contemporary aesthetic. Combining artisan quality with flexible design, their furniture pieces thrive on creativity and innovation. Experts in working with ceramic, Calligaris provide a selection of dining tables, sideboards and cabinetry that pair both functionality and beauty. The ceramic is made by coupling varying shades of porcelain tile to tempered glass. This creates a stunning and masterful surface that is practical for everyday living – it is easy to clean, very hygienic and resistant to abrasion, heat, scratches and stains.
Tables in Motion
When it comes to extension, Calligaris remain just as effortless. Their dining tables often feature innovative extension systems, which the company like to refer to as ‘tables in motion’. These simplistic yet specialist mechanisms offer a stylish means of extending dining tables that are perfectly executed by the Calligaris design team to provide easy and uncomplicated transformations. This experimentation with design parallels their other furniture products, the business showing a creativity for form, flair and vibrancy.
Connubia Calligaris
Taking its name from the Latin ‘conubium’ meaning marriage or bond, Connubia is a strand of Calligaris that explores the essentials of its manufacturing methods. A brand in itself, Calligaris Connubia spotlights chairs and dining tables, reflecting the cohesion of originality between product and brand. This aspect of the business offers a selection of stylish, contemporary furniture pieces that aim to gather all individuals at the table for unique moments of daily life.