80s Paolo Parigi ‘flap’ folding chair for Heron Parigi set/4

Paolo Parigi was born in 1936 in Borgo San Lorenzo (Florence) into a family of iron craftsmen.
Since childhood he has shown an uncommon aptitude for drawing and manual activities.
In 1955 he graduated in agricultural sciences at the Salesian Institute in his country. In 1956 he enrolled in the first course for poster and advertising graphic designers at the “Scuola Leonetto Cappiello” in Florence. In the same year he graduated and then opened his own graphic studio in Florence.

In 1964 Paolo designed and built for himself a drafting table. This product, which will later be called “heron”, is a table with a central leg, with lifting and tilting tablet and It has some of the features that will remain in later works: essential and unconventional aesthetics, innovative mechanism, constructive solidity. The drawing board immediately stands out from the products on the market and it convinces Parigi family to present the new product at the Milan trade fair in 1965.
This is how the story of HERON PARIGI begins, of which Paolo will remain the only designer until his death in January 2012.

Numerous projects realized some of which are present in collections of international museums and others shown in industrial design exhibitions have received important awards.

Paolo designed the Flap chair in 1986 and won the IP design award 1986. Parigi is also winner of the Compasso d’Oro.
Although Flap chairs are very minimalist, they are extremely comfortable. The seat and the adjustable backrest are made of rubber.
The seat is made of a solid aluminum casting. The tube is coated in black lacquer. This set of 4 identical Flap chairs are from the 1980s, brandmarked and in good condition consistent with age and use.