Lifestyle

Archiving Excellence: Molteni Group opens a new museum in Brianza, Italy

DEC 7, 2015 | By Aditi Sharma Maheshwari
Designed by Jasper Morrison, a British product and furniture designer, the Museum represents the brand’s history and years of innovation and research. The Molteni Archive is devoted to research, preservation and study of the group’s cultural heritage. The place houses 48 iconic products and original prototypes of the group’s companies: Molteni&C, Dada, Unifor and Citterio. Based in an old country house, within the Giussano complex, the museum analyses, catalogues and files historical documents.

A dynamic repository of research, a meeting ground for numerous local and international communities and a reflection on the collective heritage of the Italian luxury furniture brand, the Molteni Museum was inaugurated during the Expo Milano 2015 Business Culture Week in November.
Designed by Jasper Morrison, a British product and furniture designer, with graphics by Studio Cerri & Associati, it showcases important pieces that tell stories of the brand’s innovations and milestones –  48 iconic products and original prototypes of the Group’s companies Molteni&C, Dada, Unifor and Citterio are on display. Over 4,500 documents are collected here including photographic materials and video interviews. The documents will soon be digitised and made available online for scholars, researchers and European foundations devoted to design and architecture.
Based in an old country house, within the Giussano complex in the province of Monza in Brianza, this space is the result of the company’s long historical recognition, which was presented at the 80!Molteni exhibition 2015 – an event which showcased the 80 years of experience, quality and innovation of the group founded by Angelo and his wife Giuseppina Molteni. The exhibition gave rise to the Molteni Archive devoted to research, preservation and study of the group’s cultural heritage.
Three things you didn’t know about Molteni:
1. In 1934, Angelo and his wife Giuseppina set up a plant in Giussano, in the province of Monza in Brianza, Italy, where, with a small team of carpenters, they made functional pieces for a client who provided wood. Livelihood was straightforward, until World War II caused him to cease production and supply wheelbarrows to the army instead.
2. Angelo was part of the 14 member panel that founded Salone del Mobile in 1961
3. Angelo’s son is now the current President of the firm, Carlo Molteni’s three children also have key roles. Francesca has her own outfit; however, she helps with one-off projects like putting together the recent 80! Molteni exhibition at Galleria d’Arte Moderna in Milan. Julia handles marketing and communications, while Giovanni handles all technical and production related operations
Website: www.moltenimuseum.comAlso read: Set up a stylish yet productive home office