Renzo Mongiardino

Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé collection, Villa Mabrouka, Tanger ;

Pierre bergé - D'une demeure l'autre, Sotheby's, Paris, 29-31 October 2018, lot 701 : coming from villa Mabrouka in Tanger ;

Acquired from the above by the present owner

Renzo Mongiardino is considered one of the greatest Italian decorators of the 20th century. Born in Genoa, he studied architecture in Milan under Gio Ponti and began his career in the 1950s, initially focusing on interior design before gaining fame for his work in theatre and film sets. The influence of theatre is central to his approach: his interiors are true inhabitable stage sets, blending dramatic atmosphere, trompe-l’oeil, patinas, false perspectives, and architectural illusions. He frequently used trompe-l’oeil materials (gilded cardboard, painted boards, faux marbles, etc.), often in collaboration with expert artisans such as Lila de Nobili and the Bonacina workshops.

Renzo Mongiardino worked for a prestigious clientele, including the Agnelli, Onassis, Thyssen-Bornemisza, Rothschild, Safra, Versace, and Radziwill families, as well as Princess Firyal and Valentino Garavani.

The Bonacina company, founded in 1889 in Brianza, Lombardy, by Giovanni Bonacina, is a family-run Italian business specializing in the artisanal production of furniture made from rattan, giunco, and midollino. Vittorio Bonacina, Giovanni’s son, carried forward the family tradition, collaborating with major Mid-Century Modern designers such as Franco Albini, Gio Ponti, Franca Helg, Renzo Mongiardino, and Gae Aulenti. Under his direction, Bonacina launched iconic pieces such as the Margherita and Gala chairs by Albini (1951), which are held in the collections of the MoMA and the Vitra Design Museum, and have received numerous awards including the Gold Medal at the Milan Triennale.

Today, collaborations continue with contemporary designers like Peter Marino, Jacques Grange, and Daniel Romualdez, embracing a sustainable approach to high-end craftsmanship.