Ghost chair

Description

🪞 Introduction — The Transparent Icon of Italian Design

The Ghost Lounge Chair by FIAM Italia, designed in 1987 by Cini Boeri and Tomu Katayanagi, is more than a chair — it’s a vision made tangible. Crafted from a single sheet of 12 mm curved glass, the Ghost defies gravity, merging technology, art, and elegance in one seamless gesture. Its invisible presence transforms any interior into a work of art.

⚙️ Product Features

• Monolithic structure in 12 mm-thick curved glass

• Load capacity: 130 kg

• Dimensions: 95 × 75 x 62 cm

• Handcrafted in Italy by FIAM’s master glass artisans

• Available in transparent or extra-clear glass finishes

• Suitable for private interiors, galleries, or hospitality spaces

💬 A masterpiece of transparency — where light becomes structure.

👩‍🎨 The Visionary Designers: Cini Boeri & Tomu Katayanagi

Cini Boeri (1924–2020) was one of Italy’s most influential modernist architects and designers, celebrated for her human-centered approach and fluid minimalism. Her work combined poetic simplicity with groundbreaking experimentation — especially in glass and modular forms.

Tomu Katayanagi, a Japanese designer and collaborator, brought precision and sensitivity to the Ghost’s creation, helping realize Boeri’s daring vision of a chair made entirely of glass — a feat thought impossible at the time.

Together, they shaped an object that transcends time, blending Italian ingenuity and Japanese refinement.

Cini Boeri (1924–2020) was an influential Italian designer and architect whose work helped define the global identity of contemporary Italian design. Born in Milan, Boeri became internationally recognised for her innovative use of glass, sculptural forms, and her ability to combine artistic expression with everyday functionality.

The architect and designer Maria Cristina Mariani Dameno whose stage name was Cini Boeri, is widely regarded as one of the trailblazing women who shaped Italian design and architecture. Paola Antonelli praised her as a “formidable architect and designer” and a true embodiment of Milanese elegance and creative energy.

Her designs are celebrated across Europe, North America, and Asia, making her one of the most respected names in 20th-century design.

Boeri’s philosophy centred around comfort, transparency, and human-centric living. This vision is perfectly embodied in her world-famous Ghost Chair, created for FIAM Italia — a groundbreaking piece crafted from a single sheet of curved glass. This achievement placed Boeri at the forefront of Italian industrial craftsmanship and solidified her reputation in design capitals such as Milan, Paris, London, New York, and Tokyo.

Her collaborations with leading Italian manufacturers helped spread modern Italian aesthetics around the world, making her designs sought after by interior designers, collectors, and luxury furniture enthusiasts in regions like Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. Today, Cini Boeri’s furniture is associated with elegance, innovation, and timeless architectural clarity — qualities that continue to attract homeowners, architects, and design lovers searching for authentic Italian craftsmanship.

Whether featured in luxury villas, boutique hotels, or contemporary city apartments, Boeri’s creations remain a symbol of refined taste and iconic Italian design heritage.

Ghost chair in ELLE DECORATION CHINA

🏭 FIAM Italia — Masters of Curved Glass

Founded in 1973 by Vittorio Livi, FIAM Italia revolutionized the art of glass furniture. The company became the first in the world to produce furniture entirely in curved glass, combining design and technology at an artisanal level.

Through decades of innovation, FIAM has collaborated with legends like Philippe Starck, Daniel Libeskind, and Enzo Mari — but it was the Ghost Chair that became their global symbol of mastery.

Each Ghost chair is meticulously crafted in FIAM’s Italian workshops, using high-temperature glass bending techniques that transform a rigid sheet into a fluid, ergonomic sculpture.

🌟 The Ghost in Pop Culture: Celebrities, Brands, and Icons

The Ghost Chair has become a favorite of international brands and celebrities. Its ethereal silhouette has graced Adidas, Victoria Beckham, and Olivia Wilde campaigns, symbolizing modern sophistication and fearless design.

From film sets to glossy magazine covers, the Ghost continues to embody innovation and style — a true design star.

Even Victoria Beckham couldn’t resist the allure of the Ghost chair. In 2021, a model appeared in a photoshoot seated in Ghost while wearing a denim suit — a relaxed yet refined look perfectly complemented by the chair’s transparent design. Ghost’s glass structure subtly highlights the outfit, adapting effortlessly to a style that is casual, unfussy, and still undeniably elegant.

Naturally, fashion and design often intersect, leading to frequent collaborations and creative crossovers — including Bottega Veneta’s 2021 campaign, where the Ghost chair once again played a prominent supporting role.

Vanity Fair also recently featured the Ghost armchair on its special “behind the camera” cover dedicated to Olivia Wilde. The acclaimed American actress, filmmaker, and producer chose to appear seated on the Ghost’s glass structure, using the chair’s striking transparency to frame her personal behind-the-scenes narrative.

The 2021 Adidas campaign also spotlighted the Ghost chair, setting the new ZX line against a vibrant, colourful backdrop inspired by Ghost’s fluid curves. But the connection between the cutting-edge ZX 2K Boost sneakers and the Ghost armchair goes far deeper than aesthetics. Despite belonging to completely different worlds — high-tech sportswear and luxury design — the two share a common ethos: pushing boundaries, elevating performance, and pursuing creativity that breaks conventions. After all, who would have imagined that an armchair could be crafted entirely from glass? Ghost defies assumptions and expands what we perceive as possible, just as Adidas does with its forward-thinking sneaker technology. Bringing the ZX 2K and the Ghost chair together in the same shots reinforces a powerful message: limits exist only to be challenged — and surpassed.

🏆 Awards and Distinctions

In 2022, the Ghost Armchair received the prestigious Compasso d’Oro Award from the ADI Design Museum — the highest honor in the world of design.

Compasso d’Oro prestigious design prize for GHOST armchair Cini Boeri and Tomu Katayanagi for Fiam Italia 1987

Its distinctive curves echo those of the award itself, a poetic recognition of its influence and craftsmanship.

👉 A timeless icon celebrated by critics, collectors, and museums worldwide.

🖼️ Exhibitions & Museum Collections

The Ghost Chair is part of the Permanent Collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and featured in leading design museums across the world.

It stands as a symbol of how design can be both functional and ethereal — an object of pure poetry, suspended between art and engineering.

Here are some prestigious locations and museums where you can find the Ghost chair:

Italy Triennale di Milano Milan Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna Rome	France Musée des Arts Decoratifs Paris Fonds National D’Art Contemporain Paris	Germany Die Neue Samlung Staatliches Museum fur agewandte Kunst Munich Vitra Design Museum Weil am Rhein
Canada Musée des Arts Decoratifs Montreal	Usa Denver Art Museum Denver Palm Springs Art Museum Palm Springs – CA Corning Museum of Glass, Corning New York	Iconic sailing ship Amerigo Vespucci & travelling exhibition “Italia Geniale“

💫 Why You’ll Love It

• Own a design legend recognized globally

• Add visual lightness and timeless elegance to any interior

• Crafted by FIAM Italia, pioneers of curved glass furniture

• A collector’s piece that appreciates in value and prestige

✨ Bring transparency, innovation, and Italian artistry into your home — the Ghost Chair awaits you.

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