Sessantuna by Gaetano Pesce for Cassina
Sessantuna is the design concept of renowned Italian artist and designer Gaetano Pesce. It’s an
idea that celebrates the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy, Gaetano Pesce
and Cassina join together once again in developing a new project. Rather than resulting in a
simple a piece of furniture, this represents a way of conceiving and producing design.
Sessantuna Table #36 designed by Gaetano Pesce for Cassina.
The SESSANTUNA project revisits the famous red, white and green Sansone table (no longer
in production) unveiled by Gaetano Pesce and Cassina in 1980. Every SESSANTUNA table
is produced with innovative resins, cast in the three colors of the Italian flag using a truly
cutting-edge production process. This allows for the optimization of the end result, reducing
the overall weight and obtaining the random and intriguing blends that make each table an
original work. Also of note are the table legs; these are independent and can be affixed to the
grooves under the surface and positioned according to taste.
Gaetano’s map of a unified Italy rendered by the tables he designed.
[Sessantuna is a] unique and singular work. Sixty-one icons that only resemble each other
and remain, in essence, totally different. Sixty-one tables representing the year 1861 in which
the Italian Unification was completed. One day, if we could place these together, side by side,
they would perfectly recreate the shape of the Italian peninsula, 25 by 20 meters, with its
irregular land and sea borders, its numerous islands and its inimitable profile: a poetic homage
to the native land of creativity and art.
Conceptual drawings for the Sessantuna collection.
SESSANTUNA is a work that is designed to tell the story of the Unification of Italy. All
of the tables, signed by Gaetano Pesce, are numbered. according to the sequence of events in
which each single territory became part of the new state. Each table has its own historical
relevance, including its islands, out of scale, which underline each as an equally important
contribution to the concept of unification.
Gaetano adding his personal mark to the table.
Top view of Table #36.
The sixty-one tables will be distributed across the world but will, conceptually, always remain
close to each other, celebrating the unity and the unification of Italy.
Sessantuna by Gaetano Pesce for Cassina
Photo Credits: Studio 12
