Gufram

{{Infobox company

| name = Gufram

| logo = Logo Gufram.svg

| type = Privately held company|

| industry = Designer furniture

| founded = 1966

| founder = Fratelli Gugliermetto

| location_city = Barolo, (Cuneo)

| location_country = Italy

| location = Via XXV Aprile 22, 12060

| key_people =

| products =

| num_employees =

| parent = Italian Radical Design Group

| owner =

| homepage = {{URL|https://gufram.it/en/}}

| footnotes =

}}

Gufram is an Italian furniture manufacturer known for avant-garde, conceptual, witty, and Pop-art influenced designs; the unconventional use of industrial materials; collaborations with well known architects and designers; and the contribution its products made to the aesthetics of the 1960s Radical period of Italian design.

File:' 71 - ITALY - Pratone Triennale Design Museum 2011 - Strum - Gufram.JPG, Milan (2011)]]

History

File:Sofá Bocca, Studio 65.jpg

Gufram was founded in 1966 by furniture manufacturer Gugliermetto Fratelli Mobile (Grosso, Torino) as a brand and creative lab for the company to experiment with modern furniture production.{{Cite web |title=Gufram – produttore di arredo (1952) – Aziende – designindex |url=http://www.designindex.it/aziende/design/gufram.html |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=www.designindex.it |language=it}}{{Cite web |title=Gufram, Barolo, Italy |url=http://collectiononline.design-museum.de/#/en/person/5173 |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=Vitra Design Museum}}{{efn|group=|The Vitra Design museum site states that "the company changed its name to Gufram in 1966". [Nb: Gufram is a portmanteau composed of the first letters of each word in the company's previous name: Gugliermetto Fratelli Mobile.]|name=en1}}

Influenced by the early 1960s' avant-garde artistic culture in Torino and the radical architectural experimentation of the period, the Gugliermetto brothers began to explore new forms and new materials to use in the production of design projects. Adapting materials such as polyurethane foam, which was widely used as a packing insulant in the transportation industry, allowed Gufram to manufacture entirely new and radical furniture typologies.{{cn|date=June 2023}}

At the initiative of creative director {{ill|Giuseppe Raimondi (designer)|lt=Giuseppe Raimondi|it}}, who joined the company in 1966,{{Cite web |last=Piccinini |first=Patrizia |date=2023-02-01 |title=Arredamento anni Settanta, un mito tra rock e design |url=https://www.ad-italia.it/article/arredamento-anni-settanta-icone-rock-design-bebeitalia-zanotta/ |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=Architectural Digest Italia |language=it-IT}}{{efn|group=|Some references state that Raimondi joined Gufram (or its precursor) in 1965. Better source(s) needed.|name=en2}} Gufram began collaborations with emerging artists of the time such as Ugo Nespolo and Piero Gilardi of the Arte Povera movement; architects Studio 65,{{Cite web |title=STUDIO 65 |url=https://www.gufram.it/en/designer-14-studio-65 |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=www.gufram.it}} Guido Drocco and Franco Mello,{{Cite web |title=GUIDO DROCCO FRANCO MELLO |url=https://www.gufram.it/en/designer-13-guido-drocco-franco-mello |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=www.gufram.it}} {{ill|Giorgio Ceretti|it}}, {{ill|Pietro Derossi|it}} and Riccardo Rosso ({{ill|Gruppo Strum|de}});{{Cite web |title=GIORGIO CERETTI PIETRO DEROSSI RICCARDO ROSSO |url=https://www.gufram.it/en/designer-17-giorgio-ceretti-piero-derossi-riccardo-rosso |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=www.gufram.it}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Gruppo STRUM – MuseoTorino |url=https://www.museotorino.it/view/s/e131a12bab184b57bf1618c2a06ecfa2 |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=MuseoTorino |language=it}} and the mathematician and theoretical physicist Tullio Regge, who "transformed a mathematical quartic function into a volume with intentionally ergonomic characteristics" for the design of his Detecma seat.{{Cite web |title=Detecma, seat, design by Tullio Regge – Gufram |url=https://www.gufram.it/en/prodotto-22-detecma |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=www.gufram.it}}

In 1968 Gufram presented its new products at the XIV Triennale in Milan under the name of Multipli {{gloss|multiples}},{{efn|group=|Industrially reproduced art objects in limited edition.|name=en3}} which were well received by the public and press.{{CN|date=June 2024}} This critical success encouraged the company to further explore their philosophy and production methods.{{CN|date=June 2024}} International recognition came in 1972 with an exhibition dedicated to Italian design entitled Italy: The New Domestic landscape, curated by Emilio Ambasz and staged at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York, where they were first exposed,{{cite web |title=Italy: new domestic landscape (Press Release) |url=http://www.moma.org/docs/press_archives/4800/releases/MOMA_1972_0029_26.pdf?2010 |accessdate=23 April 2012 |work=The Museum of Modern Art}} and subsequently acquired for the museum's permanent collection.{{cite web|title=MOMA Collection|url=http://www.moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=1370|work=Sassi by Piero Gilardi|publisher=The Museum of Modern Art, New York|accessdate=23 April 2012}}{{cite web|title=MOMA Collection|url=http://www.moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=105572|work=Torneraj armchair by Ceretti, Derossi, Rosso|publisher=The Museum Of Modern Art, New York}} From that moment on, Gufram products officially made it into the history of design and were introduced to the collections of recognized European and American museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art{{cite book|last=Miller R.|first=Craig|title=Modern Design in the Metropolitan Museum of Art 1890–1990|year=1990|publisher=The Metropolitan Museum of Art|location=New York}} of New York, the Vitra Design Museum, the Triennale of Milan, the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Art Museum of Denver in the USA.

Gufram began manufacturing furniture for public spaces in 1978. The original Turin based company was acquired by the Poltrona Frau Group in 2004 and subsequently moved its headquarters to Tolentino. In 2012 the company was purchased by Sandra Vazza and her son Charley and has been based in Barolo, Piedmont since. (Through a company called Italian Radical Design Group, the same family also owns Memphis and Meritalia.{{Cite web |last=Celeste |first=Sofia |date=2024-12-19 |title=Italian Radical Design Group Appoints CEO for Memphis, Gufram and Meritalia |url=https://wwd.com/home-design/furniture/italian-radical-design-group-appoints-new-ceo-1236772816/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=WWD |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Meritalia · Design Miami |url=https://designmiami.com/galleries/meritalia#about |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=designmiami.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |date=16 March 2023 |title=Meritalia in the ranks of Italian Radical Design |url=https://ifdm.design/2023/03/16/meritalia-in-the-ranks-of-italian-radical-design/ |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=IFDM}}{{Cite web |last=Zeitoun |first=Lea |date=2023-09-15 |title=unpacking meritalia's comeback with charley vezza, CEO of italian radical design group |url=https://www.designboom.com/design/unpacking-meritalia-comeback-charley-vezza-ceo-italian-radical-design-group-interview-relaunch-campaign-09-15-2023/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=designboom {{!}} architecture & design magazine |language=en}}) Gufram still produces furniture designed in the 1960s and 1970s in limited and special editions,{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-04-01 |title=Andy Warhol incontra il Cactus di Gufram |url=https://www.ad-italia.it/article/andy-warhol-incontra-il-cactus-di-gufram/ |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=Architectural Digest Italia |language=it-IT}} as well as more recent pieces by artists and designers such as {{ill|Marion Baruch|fr}}, Valerio Berruti, Snarkitecture, Studio Job, Ross Lovegrove, Michael Young, MSCHF, and Alessandro Mendini.{{Cite web |title=Products |url=https://www.gufram.it/en/index.php#prodotto |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=Gufram}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-06 |title=MSCHF reveals the "bloodied foam innards" of Gufram Pratone chair |url=https://www.dezeen.com/2024/09/06/mschf-industry-plants-gufram-pratone-new-york-exhibit/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Dezeen |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Tianna |date=2024-10-19 |title=Gufram’s red-brick punching bag is a total knockout |url=https://www.wallpaper.com/design-interiors/studio-job-and-gufram-punch-a-wall-punching-bag |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Wallpaper}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2017-05-29 |title=Michael Young Has Designed A New Chair Inspired By 1970s Disco Decor |url=https://www.contemporist.com/chair-inspired-by-1970s-disco-decor/ |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=Contemporist}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-03-16 |title=Meritalia in the ranks of Italian Radical Design |url=https://ifdm.design/2023/03/16/meritalia-in-the-ranks-of-italian-radical-design/ |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=IFDM |language=en-US}}

Products

File:DIVANO RUMBLE, 1967.jpg

File:Capitello, Studio65.jpg

The Gufram catalogue consists of a number of designs, some of which are limited edition pieces (Multipli).{{efn|group=|Industrially reproduced art objects in limited edition.|name=en3}} The main products are:

Alvar (1966), chaise-longue by Giuseppe Raimondi
Attica (1972), by Studio 65 (collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York) (in production){{cite web |title=The Collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art |url=http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/210014493 |accessdate=23 April 2012 |work=Capitello armchair by Studio 65 |publisher=The Metropolitan Art Museum, New York}}
BiancoCactus (2007), coat stand by Guido Drocco and Franco Mello (in production)
Bocca (1970), sofa by Studio 65 inspired by the portrait of Mae West painted by Salvador Dalí (in production){{Cite web |date=2020-06-23 |title=50enni in perfetta forma |url=https://www.repubblica.it/design/2020/06/23/news/50enni_in_perfetta_forma-259921571/ |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=la Repubblica |language=it}}
Cactus (1972), coat stand by Guido Drocco and Franco Mello (collection of the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York){{Cite web |last=Annicchiarico |first=Silvana |date=21 April 2022 |title=Why Gufram Cactus, now 50 years old, is revolutionary |url=https://www.domusweb.it/en/design/2022/04/21/why-gufram-cactus-now-50-years-old-is-revolutionary.html |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=Domus |language=en-gb}}
Capitello (1972), by Studio 65 (collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York) (in production)
Dejeuner Sur L'Arbre (2004), table by Gianni Arnaudo (in production)
Dark Lady and Pink Lady (2008), sofa by Studio 65 (in production)
Detecma (1968), armchair by Tullio Regge (collection of Triennale Design Museum in Milan){{cite web |title=Triennale Design Museum |url=http://www.triennaledesignmuseum.it/collezioni/oggettis/details/116/page:1/sort:Miecollezioni2.id/direction:?p=4 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218141712/http://www.triennaledesignmuseum.it/collezioni/oggettis/details/116/page:1/sort:Miecollezioni2.id/direction:?p=4 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 18, 2013 |accessdate=26 April 2012 |work=Dectecma, armchair by Tullio Regge |publisher=Triennale di Milano }}
Massolo (1974), table by Piero Gilardi (in production)
Margherita (1967), table and chair by Giuseppe Raimondi and Ugo Nespolo
Metacactus (2012), coat stand by Guido Drocco and Franco Mello (in production)
Pavèpiuma (1967), carpet by Piero Gilardi
Pratone (1971), seat by Giorgio Ceretti, Pietro Derossi and Riccardo Rosso (part of the 100 Masterpiece of Design in the Collection of Vitra Design Museum) (in production){{cite web |title=The Collection of Vitra Design Museum |url=http://www.design-museum.de/de/sammlung/100-masterpieces/detailseiten/pratone-gruppo-strum.html |accessdate=16 May 2012 |work=Pratone chaise longue |publisher=Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein (Germany)}}{{Cite web |title=“Può sedersi su quel sacco”: 21 arredi che hanno cambiato le regole del gioco |url=https://www.domusweb.it/it/design/gallery/2021/05/31/pu%C3%B2-sedersi-su-quel-sacco-20-1-game-changers-del-design-domestico.html |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=Domus |language=it}}
Puffo (1970), seat by Giorgio Ceretti, Pietro Derossi and Riccardo Rosso (in production)
Punch a Wall (2017), punching bag by Studio Job (originally a limited edition, subsequently in production since 2024){{Cite web |last=Morby |first=Alice |date=14 June 2017 |title=Studio Job designs limited-edition furniture for Gufram's new collectible range |url=https://www.dezeen.com/2017/06/14/studio-job-designs-limited-edition-furniture-gufram-new-collectible-range-design-miami-basel/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Dezeen}}
RossoCactus and NeroCactus (2010), coat stand Guido Drocco and Franco Mello (in production)
Roxanne (2017), armchair by Michael Young (in production){{Cite web |title=Roxanne, armchair, design by Michael Young – Gufram |url=https://www.gufram.it/en/prodotto-20-roxanne |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=www.gufram.it}}{{Cite web |last=Narea |first=Isabel |date=2017-09-17 |title=gufram and michael young pay homage to the 1970s with the 'roxanne' arm chair |url=https://www.designboom.com/design/gufram-michael-young-roxanne-london-09-17-2017/ |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=designboom {{!}} architecture & design magazine |language=en}}
Rumble (1967), divan by {{ill|Gianni Pettena|it}} (later produced by {{Ill|Poltronova|it}}){{Cite web |title=Rumble, Gianni Pettena′s sofa of possibilities |url=https://www.domusweb.it/en/design/gallery/2023/03/07/rumble-sofa-by-gianni-pettena-today-centro-studi-poltronova.html |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Domus magazine |language=en-gb}}
Sassi (1968), seating system by Piero Gilardi (collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York){{cite web|title=The Collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art|url=http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/210005154?rpp=20&pg=1&ft=*&who=Gufram&pos=2|work=Sassi seating group by Piero Gilardi|publisher=The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York}}{{cite web|title=The Collection of Museum of Modern Art|url=http://www.moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=1370|work=Sassi seating system|publisher=The Museum of Modern Art, New York}}
Siedi-tee (2004), seat by Laura Fubini, Francesco Mansueto, Marco Verrando (in production)
Torneraj (1968), armchair by Giorgio Ceretti, {{ill|Pietro Derossi|it}} and Riccardo Rosso (collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York){{cite web|title=The Collection of Museum of Modern Art|url=http://www.moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=105572|work=Torneraj armchair|publisher=The Museum of Modern Art, New York}}