Iconic Platone Writing Desk by Giancarlo Piretti for Anonima Castelli, 1970s

About This Piece

Vintage Design

Step into the future with the space age design desk Platone, a masterpiece of 70s avant-garde furniture conceived by Giancarlo Piretti for Anonima Castelli. Designed in the 1970s, this innovative piece is not just a functional desk but a celebrated work of art, proudly part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.

The Platone desk is a stunning example of Space Age furniture design, featuring a sleek and modern aesthetic that was ahead of its time. Its frame is constructed from polished, tubular chrome steel, providing a sturdy yet visually lightweight structure. The joints are made from precision-cast aluminum alloy, demonstrating Piretti’s commitment to combining strength with elegance.

The desk surface is crafted from rigid beige polyurethane, offering a durable workspace that complements the minimalist frame. This material choice reflects the period’s fascination with new, high-tech materials that could achieve both form and function.

One of Platone’s standout features is its foldability, allowing for convenient storage and versatility in usage—a hallmark of Piretti’s innovative approach to design. Whether as a statement piece in a contemporary home office or a collectible for design aficionados, the Platone desk seamlessly blends practicality with artistic merit.

Despite its age, this vintage piece is in excellent condition. The chrome steel frame remains shiny and clean, showing only minor oxidation visible upon close inspection. The beige surface is intact and well-maintained, with some scratches and small stains mostly confined to the underside, adding to its authentic vintage charm without detracting from its overall aesthetic appeal.

The Platone desk is a piece of design history. Perfect for enthusiasts of Space Age aesthetics and collectors of iconic mid-century modern pieces, this desk will elevate any interior with its timeless style and innovative spirit.

item. writing desk
designer. Giancarlo Piretti
maker. Ananima Castelli
model. Platone
period. 1970s
country. Italy
material. chrome steel, aluminum alloy joints, rigid beige polyurethane
color. beige, chromed silver
dimensions (cm). 82 x 64 x 69.5 H
condition. excellent condition. The chrome steel frame remains shiny and clean, showing only minor oxidation visible upon close inspection. The beige surface is intact and well-maintained, with some scratches and small stains mostly confined to the underside.

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Creator	Giancarlo Piretti
Manufacturer	Castelli / Anonima Castelli
Design Period	1970 to 1979
Production Period	1970 to 1979
Country of Manufacture	Italy
Identifying Marks	This piece has an attribution mark
Style	Mid-Century, Minimalist
Detailed Condition	Excellent — This vintage/antique piece is in near original condition. It may show minimal traces of use and/or have slight restorations.
Product Code	YSC-1941922
Materials	Aluminum, Steel, Polyurethane
Color	Beige, silver
Width	82 cm 82 cm
Depth	64 cm 64 cm
Height	70 cm 69.5 cm

Shipping & Delivery

Ships from	Italy
Returns	Returns accepted within fourteen days of delivery, except for Made-to-order items

Sustainability

Carbon Neutral	For every purchase made, Pamono offsets 100% of estimated carbon emissions from global shipping.
Vintage	Choosing vintage and antique furniture reduces your carbon footprint by cutting down on waste and reduces demand for new materials and extends the life of the products we use.

Delivery Options

Front Door Delivery: (Included in Every Order)	A skilled driver will unload the item(s) from the delivery truck and bring it to your building’s doorstep. You will be responsible for further transport beyond that point. We recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand; alternatively, you may upgrade to In-Home Delivery (see below). The delivery partner will email and/or call you at least one day in advance to arrange a delivery time. A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection. Item will be left in its packaging after delivery. A signature will be required upon delivery.
In-Home Delivery: (For in-home delivery service, additional fees apply. Please get in touch)	A skilled driver or a team of two will bring your item(s) inside your home and place it in the immediate entryway. For unusually large or heavy items, we recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand, as we cannot send more than 2 drivers. The delivery partner will email and/or call you one day in advance to arrange a delivery time. A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection. Item will be left in its packaging after delivery. A signature will be required upon delivery.

Front Door Delivery:
(Included in Every Order)

A skilled driver will unload the item(s) from the delivery truck and bring it to your building’s doorstep. You will be responsible for further transport beyond that point. We recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand; alternatively, you may upgrade to In-Home Delivery (see below).
The delivery partner will email and/or call you at least one day in advance to arrange a delivery time.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

In-Home Delivery:
(For in-home delivery service, additional fees apply. Please get in touch)

A skilled driver or a team of two will bring your item(s) inside your home and place it in the immediate entryway. For unusually large or heavy items, we recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand, as we cannot send more than 2 drivers.
The delivery partner will email and/or call you one day in advance to arrange a delivery time.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

*Important Note

Please examine every order upon delivery. In the event that there are visible signs of damage or missing or incorrect pieces, please indicate the problem on the Delivery Note and contact us within 48 hours of delivery. A signed delivery receipt without notations of missing, damaged, or incorrect item(s) represents your acceptance of the complete order in perfect condition.

About the Maker

Castelli / Anonima Castelli

Italian design company Castelli began dates from 1877 when Ettore Castelli founded a small workshop in Bologna. In 1939, the firm was renamed Anonima Castelli and began producing modern office furniture for which the brand is best known on the vintage market. It is recognized as one of the foremost manufacturers of Italian design of the 20th century and as the producer of the iconic Plia Chair.

In the 1960s, Giancarlo Piretti (born in Bologna in 1940) joined Castelli as an interior designer. During his twelve years at Castelli, Piretti obtained numerous industrial patents and designed many now iconic models, primarily in seating design. Piretti was instrumental in establishing Castelli’s international reputation, being the creator of the brand’s most successful and well known designs. Undoubtedly a design classic, Piretti’s plastic folding Plia Chair (1968) was exhibited at the Fiera del Mobile fair in Milan in 1967. The chair, which has sold over four million units since 1969, won the BIO 5 award at the Ljubljana Biennial in 1971, Germany’s Gute Form prize in 1973 and can be found in permanent collections of museums in Austria, Czech Republic, Slovenia, and the United States.

Piretti’s most famous designs for Castelli include the DCS 106 Stacking Chair (1965), Plona Lounge Chair (1969), Alky Chair (c. 1970), Plantone Folding Desk (1970), Plano (1971, Gold Medal IBD), Planto Coat Rack (1972), and the modular System 61 Sofa (1973)

In the late-1970s, Piretti worked with Argentinian architect-designer Emilio Ambasz (b. 1943), and the pair created the two ergonomic seating systems Vertebra (1979, winner of the Smau Industrial Design Award) and Dorsal (1981) for Castelli.

Although Castelli’s legacy is often defined by its partnership with Piretti, the brand has produced work by many other talented designers including Claudio Bellini, Rodolfo Bonetto, Michele De Lucchi, Hans Ell, Doriana and Massimiliano Fuksas, Gino Gamberini, Nilo Gioacchini, Enzo Mari, Charles Pollock, F.A. Porsche, Mario Ruiz, and Richard Sapper. Important designs include Sapper’s Nine to Five Desk (1986, winner of a Compasso d’Oro); Pollock’s Penelope Chair (1982); Porsche’s Executive Office Series (1989); and Ruiz’ K22 Program (2005).

Castelli received four Compasso d’Oro Awards between 1981 and 1991.

In 1992, Castelli became part of the Haworth Group. Today, Castelli specializes in producing environmentally friendly and sustainable products.