Sergio Mazza (Milan, Italy, 1931)
Milanese designer and publisher, Mazza studied architecture in Lausanne. After graduating in 1954, he opened his own studio. In 1960, he co-founded Artemide with engineer and designer Ernesto Gismondi. Their goal was to produce timeless and technically innovative products. Mazza designed the company’s first successful product, the Alfa Lamp (1959), which incorporated natural and manmade elements of glass, marble, and metal.
Other notable designs include the Delta Lamp (1963), Mida Armchair (1966), Bacco Bar (1967) and the stacking Toga Chair (1968), which is made from one continuous piece of fibreglass and was first shown at the International Furniture Exhibition in Milan in 1969.
In 1961, Mazza split from Gismondi, and along with architect Giuliana Gramigna opened their Milan-based label Studio Smc. Together they designed furniture and other products for Arflex, Artemide, Cinova, Formica, Krupp, Poltrona Frau, Quattrifolio, Saporiti, and Valenti. From 1966 until 1988, Mazza was the co-director of Ottagono, a magazine which played a significant role in supporting contemporary Italian design culture. In 1967, Mazza began designing for the Italian industrial company Olivari.
Over the course of his illustrious career, Mazza received many honors and awards including a silver medal for his Appartamento Italiano at Milan’s 10th Triennale exhibition in 1954, and a Compasso d’Oro for the Delta Lamp in 1960. A model of his Toga Chair is housed in the V&A Museum in London.
