Vintage Highback ALTA Chair by Paolo Piva for Wittmann

About This Piece

Vintage Design

Show description

Designer	Paolo Piva
Manufacturer	Wittmann
Design Period	1980 to 1989
Country of Manufacture	Austria
Attribution Marks	Labeled by maker
Style	Design Classics, Italian Modern, Hand-Crafted
Detailed Condition	Very Good — This vintage item has no defects, but it may show slight traces of use.
Restoration and Damage Details	Patina consistent with age and use
Product Code	KK-308892
Materials	Cotton, Leather
Color	Beige, brown, coral, salmon
Width	75 cm 75 cm
Depth	70 cm 70 cm
Height	108 cm 108 cm
Seat Height	45 cm
Weight Range	Standard — Between 40kg and 80kg

Shipping & Delivery

Shipping Method	Front Door Delivery - 4 to 6 weeks
Ships from	Germany
Returns	Returns accepted within 14 days of delivery, except for Made-to-order items

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 Designer

Paolo Piva

Born in Adria near Venice in 1950, Paolo Piva is one of the most prominent Italian architect-designers of the late 20th century. Over the course of his career, he has created seating, casegoods, kitchens, and more for major European design brands while making a significant contribution to the field of architecture in Venice and Vienna.

Piva studied architecture and visual arts at the IUAV (Istituto Universitario di Architettura di Venezia) under Carlo Scarpa. His thesis, Social Housing in Vienna from 1918 to 1934, is the first indication of Piva’s interest in the Austrian capital, a fascination that continued throughout his life. In 1975, Piva worked for Venice's Institute of History & Architecture (Istituto di storia e architettura di Venetia), assisting in the curation of an important exhibition on the same subject as his thesis, architecture in Vienna during the socialist period, in collaboration with the Viennese Academy of Applied Arts (Akademie Der Angewandten Kunst). This exhibition lead to Red Vienna, a similar exhibition in Rome in 1980.

From the 1970s onward, Piva collaborated with various manufacturers, including B&B Italia, Burelli Cucine, Dada, de Sede, Fama, Giovannetti, Lumenform, Mobel Italia, Poliform, Team 7, Thonet, and Wittmann. His most collectible design is the Alanda Table for B&B Italia, a minimal, geometric coffee table featuring a glass surface over inverted, metal pyramids. Produced in small numbers, the elegant Alanda has been the subject of many copies and reproductions; the unmarked models are notoriously difficult to authenticate. The leather Arca Sofa for B&B Italia (1985) and the Aura Chair for Wittmann (1983)—recipient of the Upholstered Furniture Design Award in 1993—are among his most famous seating collections. Recent designs include the Athos Table (2012), Andy Sofa (2013), and Area Table (2013) in production by B&B Italia.

Paolo Piva’s architectural and interior design portfolio includes the Kuwait Embassy in Qatar (1980), the renovation of Palazzo Remer in Venice (1986), and the design of several retail outlets and offices. Piva maintained an office in both Venice and Vienna and held a professorship in Design at the Hochschule für Angewandte Kunst in Vienna since 1988. He passed away in 2017.