The Torbecchia series was designed by Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova and dates to approximately 1964.
The name Torbecchia refers to the locality of Torbecchia, near Pistoia, which was closely connected to Michelucci's biography. The project therefore has a particularly strong relationship with the local territory and with the Tuscan tradition of craftsmanship and construction.
The concept is especially interesting: Michelucci takes seemingly traditional elements — walnut, woven rush, the bench, chairs, and trestle-style legs — and transforms them into an extremely refined and modern furniture system.
The Dining Set
The most characteristic configuration consists of:
one table
four chairs
one bench
The table is generally made of walnut, with a rectangular top and a particularly robust structure. The chairs feature a wooden frame with woven rush seats. The bench essentially follows the construction of the table, but on a lower scale.
Table: 184 × 80 × 68–73 cm
Chairs: 52 × 48 × 74–75 cm
Bench: 184 × 40 × 40cm
It is also worth noting that several examples are signed "G. Michelucci" on the wooden structure, an important detail when verifying the authenticity of an individual piece.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the Torbecchia series is the relationship it establishes between tradition and modernity.
Michelucci does not attempt to create a “futuristic” table. Instead, its language is almost domestic and rural: solid wood, woven rush, the bench, and an apparently simple construction. Yet the proportions and geometry are highly controlled and rigorous.
The result occupies a fascinating position between:
Tuscan craftsmanship modern design architecture.
The legs and structural elements have an almost architectural presence. The table is not simply a tabletop supported by four legs; rather, it is conceived as a small structure, with particular attention paid to the way its load-bearing elements intersect and relate to one another.
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SILVER Seller in Padova, Italy
