02/08/2026
Designed by Gianfranco Frattini and produced by the master cabinetmaker Pierluigi Ghianda from 1974 onward, the Kyoto table is an exceptionally rare work. The opportunity to present a pair is particularly noteworthy.
Conceived following a formative journey to Japan, where Frattini and Ghianda visited the traditional woodworking ateliers of Kyoto, the table embodies a remarkable dialogue between Japanese craftsmanship and Italian design culture. The experience left a profound impression on both men, inspiring Frattini to develop an innovative construction system that became the defining feature of the design.
Rather than relying on ornament, the Kyoto table celebrates construction itself. Its intricately interlocking lattice top is entirely dependent on precision joinery, transforming the structural logic of the piece into its primary aesthetic language. Every joint is executed with exceptional precision, demonstrating an intimate understanding of the material and an uncompromising commitment to craftsmanship.
The table's most ingenious feature lies in its movable legs. Rather than occupying fixed positions, the legs can be relocated within the lattice structure.
The collaboration between Gianfranco Frattini and Pierluigi Ghianda was founded on a shared respect for wood as both a technical and expressive material. Often celebrated as the "poet of wood," Ghianda possessed an extraordinary command of traditional cabinetmaking techniques, while Frattini consistently sought to integrate technical innovation into elegant, timeless forms. Their partnership resulted in furniture of exceptional quality, in which design and craftsmanship are inseparable.
Today, the Kyoto coffee table is regarded as one of Frattini's most important works and has been acquired into the permanent collection of the Triennale Design Museum in Milan.
