CARLA SOZZANI
Why the Italian editor, gallerist and businesswoman collects Danish design
‘When I set up my first apartment in 1973, I bought bright red Series 7 chairs. And when I later lived in London, I collected Arne Jacobsen's entire Cylinder Line. Everything - from the teapot to the ice cooler to the coffee pot; they didn't even exist in Milan at the time. Then I started to put the Egg chair everywhere. It is the perfect chair in my eyes; nothing can compete with this design.’
Carla Sozzani is well known as the founder of 10 Corso Como, the Milanese concept store – possibly the world’s first ‘concept store’ – which she founded in 1991. She is also a gallerist and editor, having worked with the likes of Bruce Weber and Herb Ritts and collaborated with Azzedine Alaia and Rei Kawakubo. She has put on exhibitions with Annie Leibovitz, Helmut Newton, David La Chappelle and Steven Meisel in her own gallery and at the Maison Européenne de la Photoraphie in Paris, among other locations.
What many don’t know is that Sozzani is also a long-time admirer and collector of Danish design.
Her fascination with Arne Jacobsen’s work began in the 70s and that fascination has carried on for nearly 50 years. Today Arne Jacobsen chairs can be found at 10 Corso Como, Sozzani’s studio, and in her home.
‘Harmony is the secret of any environment, and it only develops over time. For me it is like this: I can add more and more Eggs, Swans, Drops or Series 7 to my interiors, while at the same time they appear as if they were there for the first time or always. You see?’
The organic shape of Arne Jacobsen designs captivates Sozzani, who describes the Series 7 chair as ‘sensual’. The design, she explains, is so organic that it is almost like a human form. You can dress it up in any colour, and it takes on a new attitude.
Sozzani pulls out her iPhone to share photos of pieces from her personal collection, and a rare, vintage Jacobsen design that she is hunting for these days.
Note: Carla Sozzani has collaborated with Fritz Hansen on a new palette of 16 colours for iconic Arne Jacobsen designs, released in 2020.
Carla Sozzani is well known as the founder of 10 Corso Como, the Milanese concept store – possibly the world’s first ‘concept store’ – which she founded in 1991. She is also a gallerist and editor, having worked with the likes of Bruce Weber and Herb Ritts and collaborated with Azzedine Alaia and Rei Kawakubo. She has put on exhibitions with Annie Leibovitz, Helmut Newton, David La Chappelle and Steven Meisel in her own gallery and at the Maison Européenne de la Photoraphie in Paris, among other locations.
What many don’t know is that Sozzani is also a long-time admirer and collector of Danish design.
Her fascination with Arne Jacobsen’s work began in the 70s and that fascination has carried on for nearly 50 years. Today Arne Jacobsen chairs can be found at 10 Corso Como, Sozzani’s studio, and in her home.
‘Harmony is the secret of any environment, and it only develops over time. For me it is like this: I can add more and more Eggs, Swans, Drops or Series 7 to my interiors, while at the same time they appear as if they were there for the first time or always. You see?’
The organic shape of Arne Jacobsen designs captivates Sozzani, who describes the Series 7 chair as ‘sensual’. The design, she explains, is so organic that it is almost like a human form. You can dress it up in any colour, and it takes on a new attitude.
Sozzani pulls out her iPhone to share photos of pieces from her personal collection, and a rare, vintage Jacobsen design that she is hunting for these days.
Note: Carla Sozzani has collaborated with Fritz Hansen on a new palette of 16 colours for iconic Arne Jacobsen designs, released in 2020.
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