The History Of Bonacina
1889
Giovanni Bonacina started his business in 1889 in Lurago d’Erba, located in a hilly, fertile part of the area north of Milan known as Brianza.
Giovanni Bonacina started his business in 1889 in Lurago d’Erba, located in a hilly, fertile part of the area north of Milan known as Brianza, combining two traditional crafts practiced in the area, basketry and furniture making, using the local materials reed and cane, with rattan from Southeast Asia. His hard work and experience produced excellent results, and his efforts were rewarded with awards in international expositions and numerous important commissions.
The collections that identified both companies through the years will continue to be the core business of Bonacina1889 s.r.l. while keeping researching and innovating.
His son Vittorio carried on and built upon what his father had passed down, taking the company yet another step forward. With an eye on the revolution in design and art that was taking place in the 1950’s, and a new era in the company’s future design, made possible by the winning combination of production experience the visionary collaboration with talented designers, and a shared willingness to push the materials and shapes into new expressive forms. Bonacina1889 distinguished itself again and again.
1980
With the assurance of the success of the past two generations he found himself in the unique position of taking the company towards the future by re-proposing selected historic pieces in updated ways and by continuing to work with important designers in innovative ways.
Meanwhile, Mario Bonacina, Vittorio’s son, was growing as a designer and as an inspired heir to the family’s company name. With the assurance of the success of the past two generations he found himself in the unique position of taking the company towards the future by re-proposing selected historic pieces in updated ways and by continuing to work with important designers in innovative ways. In step with the times, he emphasized the ecological sustainability of the materials used while carrying on the highly creative and refined work for which the company is known.
About twenty years ago Antonia Proserpio, Mario’s wife, brought her skills, style and grace to the mix and established her invaluable place in the thriving company. The commitment to excellence means the best materials and skilled, experienced craftsmanship. In design you have to start out with a deep knowledge of your raw materials: Rattan embodies strength, vitality and fluidity. It is an ecologically sustainable, natural and renewable resource.
2015
Vittorio Bonacina by acquiring the brand Pierantonio Bonacina brings together two historical entities of the design world and creates Bonacina1889 s.r.l.
The collections that identified both companies through the years will continue to be the core business of Bonacina1889 s.r.l. while keeping researching and innovating.