An Italian ‘Model 620’ dining chair designed by Silvio Coppola for Bernini in 1976, balancing a disciplined walnut frame with the warmth and softness of leather.

The chair is built around four tapered legs that extend directly into the structure, giving the frame a continuous quality. The rear posts rise above the seat to support a simple leather backrest, finished with rounded wooden caps that soften the precise construction.

The seat introduces a more expressive element. Upholstered in warm cognac leather, it is divided into four gently raised sections that meet at a central leather-covered button. Piped seams emphasize the geometry, creating an interpretation of traditional tufting while giving the seat a generous, cushioned appearance. The same leather continues across the backrest, where its natural grain and neatly stitched edges are left visible.

Coppola’s design is especially compelling in the way it brings together contrasting qualities: the tailored leather against the clean wood structure, softness within a rectilinear frame, and decorative detailing without excess. Small signs of age remain visible across the wood and leather, lending the chair the patina of an original 1970s piece rather than obscuring its history.

The chair retains a date stamp of “1976” on the frame beneath the cushion, along with its original label noting the natural characteristics of genuine leather, important details that help establish its period and material authenticity.

A dining chair that rewards closer inspection, the Model 620 feels considered from every angle. Its sculptural legs, distinctive tufted leather seat, and beautifully resolved joinery make it as compelling on its own as it is gathered around a table.

Sold and priced individually.

About Silvio Coppola
Silvio Coppola (1920–1985) was an Italian architect and designer trained at the Politecnico di Milano, whose work bridged architecture, interiors, industrial design, and visual communication. He designed buildings in Baghdad, university housing in Zaire, and residential and hospitality projects across Italy, later serving as design architect for the European Economic Community’s Development Fund.

Coppola collaborated with leading firms such as Alessi, Cassina, Bayer, and Parmalat, and in 1967 co-founded the Exhibition Design research group with Bruno Munari and Giovanni Grignani. His work earned the Palme d’Or for advertising in 1962 and the Rizzoli Prize in 1966, and he taught design in Essen and Wuppertal. Today, his furniture and lighting designs are held in museums throughout Europe and America.