Bearing witness to the company’s innovative vision, Mercury is back on the international stage with its lines that are as elegant as ever, even at age 60.
The original armchair and sofa models were designed in 1961 by the famous sculptor from Bologna Rito Valla, and were presented at the first edition of the Salone del Mobile di Milano by IPE (the company founded just two years earlier by the brothers Pompeo and Vittorio Cavalli).
The young company made a name for itself on the market for its forcefully experimental approach, for example by applying polyethers, shaped on light metal reticular structures, to replace kapok, horsehair, springs, elastic belting and nails in the production of upholstered furniture. The company was able to use engineering and this new construction method to adapt to soft forms, such as those of Mercury.
Reissued today with updated polyethers, Mercury returns to the market in a limited edition. Due to its special identity, shaped by the brilliance of an artist, it is available on the 1stDibs platform.
“Visionnaire’s products, – explains Art Director Eleonore Cavalli, granddaughter of IPE’s founders, – combine craftsmanship and exclusivity, becoming one-off or very limited-run collector’s items. In recent years, our brand has become increasingly focused on experimenting with the relationship between art and design and on offering desirable products. Reissuing a legendary model designed by Professor Rito Valla seemed a natural step to us, fully in line with the brand’s creative direction. The partnership with 1stDibs allows us to be part of the leading marketplace for collectible, luxury furniture.”
