Melchiorre Bega, three-seater sofa padded in down and upholstered in petrol blue velvet. Prod. FFB. Bologna, Italy, 1940’s.

Melchiorre Bega (1898-1976) was trained as an architect and later became a designer. He is known for his well-detailled functionalist, modern designs. Bega rejected the Art Deco style that prevailed during this time. He believed that many small elements would make a perfect whole, his style can therefore be seen as a graceful functionalism. For this reason, Bega worked with specialized craftsmen only. His style developed from the needs of human beings. In his early career he was specialized in the renovation of old buildings. From 1923 onwards, Bega designed and co-managed a production factory. During the beginning of the 1940s he was the editor of the famous Domus magazine. Later in life he was the architect of many grand projects such as the Axel Springer Building in Berlin and the Galfa Tower in Milan.