90s Paolo Piva DS-107 leather sofa for deSede

Born in Adria near Venice in 1950, Paolo Piva is one of the most prominent Italian architect-designers of the late 20th century. Over the course of his career, he has created seating, casegoods, kitchens, and more for major European design brands while making a significant contribution to the field of architecture in Venice and Vienna. Piva studied architecture and visual arts at the IUAV (Istituto Universitario di Architettura di Venezia) under Carlo Scarpa. His thesis, Social Housing in Vienna from 1918 to 1934, is the first indication of Piva’s interest in the Austrian capital, a fascination that continued throughout his life. In 1975, Piva worked for Venice’s Institute of History & Architecture (Istituto di storia e architettura di Venetia), assisting in the curation of an important exhibition on the same subject as his thesis, architecture in Vienna during the socialist period, in collaboration with the Viennese Academy of Applied Arts (Akademie Der Angewandten Kunst). This exhibition lead to Red Vienna, a similar exhibition in Rome in 1980. From the 1970s onward, Piva collaborated with various manufacturers, including B&B Italia, Burelli Cucine, Dada, de Sede, Fama, Giovannetti, Lumenform, Mobel Italia, Poliform, Team 7, Thonet, and Wittmann. Piva maintained an office in both Venice and Vienna and held a professorship in Design at the Hochschule für Angewandte Kunst in Vienna since 1988. He passed away in 2017. Like many luxury leather goods brands, furniture-manufacturing company de Sede started out as a saddle-making atelier. Based in Klingnau—located in northern Switzerland near the German border—the company traces its high-end furniture production back to 1965, when the original family-run business incorporated and began to collaborate with international designers on the creation of handmade, premium-leather-clad chairs, lounges, and sofas. Over the years, de Sede’s product offering has expanded to include tables, beds, and more. Generous proportions balanced by sleek silhouettes characterize de Sede furniture. The top quality craftsmanship means each piece has been built to last. The DS-107 is a postmodern design sofa. The concept Piva used is deceptively simple. Visual contrast form a harmonious whole, emphasizing the classic theme of the model. Upholstery is build up on a rubber belted metal construction , combined with foam covered seating, back and wide armrest showed in beautiful thick leather.

This sofa is in good condition consistent with age and use.