Iconic Designs
Alky ChairBy Giancarlo Piretti
About the Design
In the 1960s, Giancarlo Piretti (b. 1940), who earned a degree in art education at the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna and taught interior design, began working with the Italian manufacturer Castelli, where he would go on to produce some of the most popular chairs in the world. In 1969, he debuted the Alky chair, a sculptural, modernized riff on a slipper chair that appears to float above the ground.
Unlike most chairs, the Alky doesn’t have a distinctive base and seat; rather the entire form appears as one continuous piece, originally upholstered in velvet and wool and set on narrow, aluminum feet.
Much of Piretti’s popularity in the United States can be attributed to Castelli’s exhibition “The Piretti Collection” at the 1988 iteration of the NeoCon design exposition in Chicago. There, his ergonomic office seating earned him a slew of awards and led to increased global attention.
Compared to Piretti’s widely revered folding chairs and wheeling desk chairs (the Plia, of which millions have sold, is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art; the DSC 106 is among Castelli’s best known), the Alky lounge chair — no longer in production — is by far the most sumptuous design. Yet, as much as its shapely silhouette has made it a favorite of interior designers in residential and commercial spaces alike, it is also rooted in comfort. Its foam-covered back and seat give soft resistance, and the Alky chair’s organic shape perfectly cradles the sitter — a true mark of the modernist dedication to human-centric design.
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Giancarlo Piretti Green "Alky" Italian Chairs by Anonima Castelli, Italy
By Anonima Castelli, Giancarlo Piretti
Located in Roma, IT
Fantastic Alky" chairs in a stunning vibrant green soft fabric. Designed by Giancarlo Piretti during the 1970s and produced by Anonima Castelli in Italy. Signed on the chrome feet.
...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Aluminum, Chrome
Giancarlo Piretti “Alky” Chair in Pierre Frey Fluffy Fabric, Artifort, 1970s
By Giancarlo Piretti, Artifort
Located in ŁÓDŹ, PL
A beautiful Giancarlo Piretti “Alky” chair, re-upholstered in high-quality Pierre Frey wool from Paris, France, offering excellent structural properties and a soft, luxurious feel fo...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Wool, Alpaca, Mohair
Giancarlo Piretti Alky Lounge Chairs in Green Fabric, Set of 2
By Giancarlo Piretti
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Giancarlo Piretti Alky Lounge Chairs in Green Fabric, 1970s
The "Alky" lounge chairs by Giancarlo Piretti are iconic modern design that seamlessly blends form, function and comfort....
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Giancarlo Piretti “Alky” Chair in New Velvet, Artifort, 1970s
By Giancarlo Piretti, Artifort
Located in London Road, Baldock, Hertfordshire
A single Giancarlo Piretti “Alky” chair newly upholstered in Designers Guild linen-colored cotton velvet.
Completed in Designers Guild 'Varese' velvet, which is a cotton velvet that...
Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Giancarlo Piretti ‘Alky’ Lounge Chairs in Mint Green Fabric
By Giancarlo Piretti
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giancarlo Piretti, 'Alky' lounge chairs, fabric, aluminum, Italy, 1970
The Alky lounge chair by Giancarlo Piretti is an iconic design that seamlessly blends form, function, and comf...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Giancarlo Piretti Alky Pair Lounge Chair in Brown Velvet for Castelli, Italy
By Giancarlo Piretti, Anonima Castelli
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Iconic pair Alky lounge chairs designed by Giancarlo Piretti in the sixties for Anonima Castelli, Italy. The shape of the chair is construct with foam printed direct on a metal frame...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Aluminum, Steel
Giancarlo Piretti Alky Lounge Chair in Autumn Velvet for Anonima Castelli, Italy
By Giancarlo Piretti, Anonima Castelli
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Iconic Alky lounge chair designed by Giancarlo Piretti in the sixties for Anonima Castelli, Italy. The shape of the chair is construct with foam printed direct on a metal frame with ...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Aluminum, Steel
Giancarlo Piretti Alky Lounge Chair in Sky Blue Velvet for Anonima Castelli
By Giancarlo Piretti, Anonima Castelli
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Iconic Alky lounge chair designed by Giancarlo Piretti in the sixties for Anonima Castelli, Italy. The shape of the chair is construct with foam printed direct on a metal frame with ...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Aluminum, Steel
Giancarlo Piretti Alky Lounge Chair in Stone Grey Bouclé Wool, Anonima Castelli
By Giancarlo Piretti, Anonima Castelli
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Iconic Alky lounge chair designed by Giancarlo Piretti in the sixties for Anonima Castelli, Italy. The shape of the chair is construct with foam printed direct on a metal frame with ...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Giancarlo Piretti Alky Lounge Chair in White Fabric for Anonima Castelli
By Giancarlo Piretti, Anonima Castelli
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Iconic Alky lounge chairs designed by Giancarlo Piretti in the sixties for Anonima Castelli, Italy. The shape of the chair is construct with foam printed direct on a metal frame with...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Giancarlo Piretti Alky Lounge Chair in White Bouclé Fabric for Anonima Castelli
By Giancarlo Piretti, Anonima Castelli
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Iconic Alky lounge chair designed by Giancarlo Piretti in the sixties for Anonima Castelli, Italy. The shape of the chair is construct with foam printed direct on a metal frame with ...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Alky chairs by Giancarlo Piretti for Anonima Castelli
By Giancarlo Piretti, Anonima Castelli
Located in Brussel, BE
Iconic pair of Alky chairs by Giancarlo Piretti for Anonima Castelli in their original green fabric. The price is for the pair. If you want...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Metal
Giancarlo Piretti, Original Plona Armchair for Anonima Castelli, 1970
By Giancarlo Piretti
Located in London, GB
Designed in 1970 by Giancarlo Piretti, Plona is a folding and stackable armchair. The solid tubular structure is in polished stainless aluminum alloy, with hinges in die-cast light a...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum, Chrome
Vintage Alky Chairs in Off-White Fabric by Giancarlo Piretti for Artifort, 1970s
By Giancarlo Piretti, Artifort
Located in ŁÓDŹ, PL
A pair of beautiful Giancarlo Piretti “Alky” chairs reupholstered in luxurious off-white wool-cotton blend fabric produced by a highly recognized textile manufacturer Chase Erwin fro...
Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Bouclé
Giancarlo Piretti Alky Lounge Chair in White Velvet for Anonima Castelli, Italy
By Giancarlo Piretti, Anonima Castelli
Located in Argelato, BO
Iconic Alky lounge chairs designed by Italian architect and designer Giancarlo Piretti in the sixties for Anonima Castelli. The shape of the chair is construct with foam printed dire...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Space Age Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Alky Chairs by Giancarlo Piretti for Artifort in Pierre Frey, 1970s, Set of 2
By Giancarlo Piretti, Artifort
Located in ŁÓDŹ, PL
A pair of beautiful Giancarlo Piretti "Alky" chairs reupholstered in a fluffy blend of wool, mohair and alpaca, produced by one of the world's most luxurious fabric manufacturers, Pi...
Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Wool, Alpaca, Mohair
Platone Folding Table by Giancarlo Piretti for Anonima Castelli, Italy, 70s
By Anonima Castelli, Giancarlo Piretti
Located in Lucija, SI
The Platone desk was designed to be presented as a set with the Plia chair. It is also held in the permanent collection of the MoMa in NYC.
Designed by one of the most popular Itali...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel, Chrome
Alky Chair by Giancarlo Piretti, in Pierre Frey YETI Wool - 1980s
By Giancarlo Piretti, Artifort
Located in Renens, CH
Beautifully restored “Alky” lounge chair produced by Artifort and designed by Giancarlo Piretti (also known for the Plia and Plona chairs).
The Alky chair was conceptualized in 1968...
Category
Vintage 1980s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Giancarlo Piretti Alky Lounge Chairs Pair in Bouclé Wool, Anonima Castelli
By Giancarlo Piretti, Anonima Castelli
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Iconic pair of Alky lounge chairs designed by Giancarlo Piretti in the sixties for Anonima Castelli, Italy. The shape of the chair is construct with foam printed direct on a metal fr...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Alky Chairs by Giancarlo Piretti for Anonima Castelli 1960s
By Giancarlo Piretti, Anonima Castelli
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Giancarlo Piretti known for his abundant creativity, has created numerous iconic designs, such as the "Alky" lounge chair for Anonima Castelli, in 1969. The unique design offers a bl...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Space Age Lounge Chairs
Materials
Velvet
Vintage Lounge Chairs by Giancarlo Piretti for Anonima Castelli, 1970s, Set of 2
By Giancarlo Piretti, Anonima Castelli
Located in Marinha Grande, PT
A wonderfully sitting set of vintage design lounge chairs, also known as "alky", a design Giancarlo piretti for Anonima Castelli.
Original fabric is very good condition, raspberry co...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric
Alky Chair, Dark Green Bouclé, 1980s
By Giancarlo Piretti, Artifort
Located in Renens, CH
Beautifully restored “Alky” lounge chair produced by Artifort and designed by Giancarlo Piretti (also known for the Plia and Plona chairs).
The Alky chair was conceptualized in 1968...
Category
Vintage 1980s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Alky Armchair by Giancarlo Piretti
By Giancarlo Piretti
Located in Toronto, ON
The Alky armchair, created by Giancarlo Piretti in the late 1960s, continues to captivate with its distinctive lounge chair design, which remains unparalleled even today. This multif...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Chairs
Materials
Wool, Bouclé
Giancarlo Piretti Iconic Alki Lounge Chair in Original Blue Upholstery Castelli
By Anonima Castelli, Giancarlo Piretti
Located in Santa Gertrudis, Baleares
Giancarlo Piretti Alky chairs in original blue upholstery, Italy, 1969
Giancarlo Piretti designed these Alky chairs for Castelli in 1969. Sculptural, fantastic modern design in the original blue fabric in very good vintage condition. Representative of the Italian 1970's glamorous design period. Castelli produced it in Italy. The soft elements of the chair are made of foam rubber and it has an aluminum frame. The item is in excellent condition. The "Alky" is known to be a multifunctional chair...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Giancarlo Piretti
'Alky' settee manufactured by Anonima Castelli, Italy
By Giancarlo Piretti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Really unique 'Alky' settee designed by Giancarlo Piretti and manufactured by Anonima Castelli, Italy.
Settee is in excellent condition and has been recently re-upholstered.
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Settees
Materials
Metal
Iconic Alky Chair by Giancarlo Piretti for Artifort done in off-white boucle
By Giancarlo Piretti
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find an Iconic Alky Chair in off-white boucle, designed by Giancarlo Piretti for Artifort. This multifunctional armchair perfectly combines comfort, design, ...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Steel
Exquisite Pair of Artifort Alky Chairs by Giancarlo Piretti
By Artifort, Giancarlo Piretti
Located in Voorburg, NL
These Sculptural Alky chairs are designed by Giancarlo Piretti in the ‘70s for Artifort. Piretti is renowned for his innovative and functional furniture designs, particularly in the realm of ergonomic seating. The Alky chair...
Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Italian modern Blue fabric Armchairs Alky by Piretti for Anonima Castelli, 1970s
By Giancarlo Piretti, Anonima Castelli
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Blue teddy fabric Armchairs Alky by Giancarlo Piretti for Anonima Castelli, 1970s
Pair of armchair mod. Alky in blue teddy fabric. The monocoque structure is provided ...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Aluminum
‘Arki’ Lounge Chair by Giancarlo Piretti for CASTELLI, Italy – 1970
By Giancarlo Piretti, Castelli
Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland
'ARKI' lounge chair by Giancarlo Piretti. The chair is in the manor of the Alky and the Groovy.
Designer: Giancarlo Piretti
Manufacturer: CASTELLI
Country: Italy
Model: Arki lounge ...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Alky Armchair by Giancarlo Piretti
By Giancarlo Piretti
Located in Toronto, ON
The Alky armchair, created by Giancarlo Piretti in the late 1960s, continues to captivate with its distinctive lounge chair design, which remains unparalleled even today. This multif...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Chairs
Materials
Wool
Italian Modern Teddy Fabric Alky Armchairs by G. Piretti, Anonima Castelli 1970s
By Anonima Castelli, Giancarlo Piretti
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern pair of white teddy fabric and metal details Alky armchairs by Giancarlo Piretti for Anonima Castelli, 1970s.
Pair of Alky model monocoque armchairs, fully upholstere...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Alky Chairs by Giancarlo Piretti, a pair
By Artifort, Giancarlo Piretti
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1970s in excellent vintage condition. Both have been fully reupholstered in mohair. There is minor corrosion on the chrome bases but no other notable condition issues
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Mohair
Pair of Iconic Alky Chairs designed by Giancarlo Piretti for Artifort
By Giancarlo Piretti, Artifort
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a pair of the Iconic Alky Chairs in pale green boucle, designed by Giancarlo Piretti for Artifort. This multifunctional armchair perfectly combines comf...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Steel
Pair of 'Alky' chairs
By Giancarlo Piretti, Artifort
Located in London, GB
A pair of Alky chairs by Giancarlo Piretti in excellent original condition.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Wool, Upholstery
Pair of Alky Armchairs by Giancarlo Piretti for Castelli, Italy, 1972
By Castelli, Giancarlo Piretti
Located in Roma, IT
Pair of Alky Armchairs by Giancarlo Piretti for Castelli.
Produced by Anonima Castelli in 1972.
Base in brushed steel, padding in foam rubber, cover...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Sofas
Materials
Steel
More Giancarlo Piretti Designs
Giancarlo Piretti Alky Chair
Average Price
$4,013
Number Available
35
Giancarlo Piretti Alky Chair
Materials
Fabric, Metal, Aluminum, Plastic
Styles
Mid Century Modern
In the 1960s, Giancarlo Piretti (b. 1940), who earned a degree in art education at the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna and taught interior design, began working with the Italian manufacturer Castelli, where he would go on to produce some of the most popular chairs in the world. In 1969, he debuted the Alky chair, a sculptural, modernized riff on a slipper chair that appears to float above the ground.
Unlike most chairs, the Alky doesn’t have a distinctive base and seat; rather the entire form...
Giancarlo Piretti Dsc 106
Average Price
$1,975
Number Available
15
Giancarlo Piretti Dsc 106
Materials
Metal, Fabric, Aluminum
Styles
Mid Century Modern