Saghi Armchairs by Kazuhide Takahama for Simon, 1970s, Set of 2

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Designed by Kazuhide Takahama and produced by Simon International, the “Saghi” armchairs are one of the finest examples of the … Read more Designed by Kazuhide Takahama and produced by Simon International, the “Saghi” armchairs are one of the finest examples of the meeting between Japanese rigor and the Italian vision of design.
A rare synthesis of formal minimalism and material sensitivity, which earned this model entry into the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York — one of the most important consecrations in the world of international design.
Made in the 1970s, these seats represent a radical declaration of sobriety and balance.
The chromed steel structure outlines an essential and suspended volume, while the seat and backrest, slightly sinuous, are covered in the original medium-pile bouclé fabric in honey beige, composed of a blend of linen, cotton and viscose, of which the original paper label is still present, attesting to its full originality.
The continuous line between the seat and backrest creates a soft and ergonomic profile, with a unique and recognizable gesture.
The armchairs are in original vintage condition, with a solid structure and chrome plating in good condition, except for slight localized oxidation points.
The upholstery shows small signs of aging, including some spot stains, but overall it maintains homogeneity and authentic charm.
Ideal for those looking for certified original vintage pieces, perfectly preserved.
Kazuhide Takahama, a Japanese architect who settled in Italy, collaborated with key figures of Italian design such as Dino Gavina and Carlo Scarpa. His works are now recognized internationally, and this armchair — in particular — is preserved and exhibited at the MoMA in New York, a testimony to his cultural impact and his radical and refined vision.

Product Name: Pair of Saghi armchairs by Kazuhide Takahama for Simon – 1970s
Designer: Kazuhide Takahama
Year of Design: 1970s
Style: Japanese minimalism with Italian influence, radical modernism
Main Materials: Chromed steel, original bouclé fabric in linen, cotton and viscose
Distinctive Design: Continuous profile between seat and back, suspended steel structure, original upholstery with period label, essential and recognisable formal gesture
Dimensions: Width 75cm | Depth 65cm | Height 68cm
Comfort: Ergonomic seat with soft and contoured backrest that guarantees support and comfort despite its extreme linearity
Typical Use: Seating for residential environments, architecture studios or galleries
Design Icon: Part of the permanent collection of the MoMA in New York; emblematic example of Takahama's work and the cultural contamination between East and West
Versatility: Ideal for sophisticated environments and design collections, less suitable for high-traffic or intensive use contexts
Current Design Condition: Original vintage condition with solid structure, chrome plating in good condition with minimal localized oxidation; fabric with some punctual signs of aging but authentic charm preserved
Additional Notes: Please note that this item is in excellent vintage condition. There may be slight signs of aging, which do not affect its functionality. We invite you to consider these characteristics before purchasing.

Kazuhide Takahama (1930–2010) was a key figure in the design scene of the second half of the twentieth century, capable of blending with rare coherence the formal purity of Japan with the experimentation of Italian modernism. Born in Nobeoka, Japan, he trained as an architect in Tokyo, but the turning point in his career came in 1957, when he participated in the Milan Triennale. On this occasion he met Dino Gavina, a visionary entrepreneur and patron, who invited him to move to Italy. Takahama accepted and settled in Bologna, immediately becoming an authoritative and discreet voice in the nascent Italian design.
His style is immediately recognizable: rigorous, silent, essential. Each of his projects reflects an almost meditative vision of space and objects, where nothing is superfluous and each element contributes to the overall balance. In contrast to the dominant decorative taste of those years, Takahama brought a new idea of ​​modernity, sober and deeply cultured, which is expressed both in furniture and in interior architecture.
He collaborated steadily with Gavina and later with Simon International, but also with companies such as Knoll and Cassina, helping to define a radical but refined aesthetic. His creations, including the “Saghi” armchairs and the “Naeko” modular system, are today considered true design classics, exhibited in the permanent collections of institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
Kazuhide Takahama has left a profound legacy, made up of objects that speak a universal language, suspended between discipline and poetry, between East and West. His furnishings do not follow fashions, but embody an idea of ​​timeless beauty, still capable of moving today for its purity and design intelligence.

Founded in 1968 by Dino Gavina, Simon International is not just a design brand, but a radical cultural project. Born as a reaction to the growing homogenization of the market, Simon represents Gavina's most cultured and experimental vision: an idea of ​​design as a universal language, capable of uniting art, architecture and philosophy. After the pioneering experience with Gavina Spa (later acquired by Knoll), Dino Gavina created Simon together with Maria Simoncini, continuing his mission: to publish "necessary" objects, profound, bearers of thought.
The Simon catalogue features figures who embody the complexity and strength of this vision: Kazuhide Takahama, Carlo Scarpa, Man Ray, Marcel Breuer, Ettore Sottsass. Each project is a declaration of independence from commercial design: architectural systems, symbolic furnishings, cultured quotes and precious materials intertwine in a continuous research on living and the meaning of the object.
Simon is the home of intellectual design, of measured formal gesture, of timeless elegance. The pieces designed for this publisher are rare, sophisticated, full of meaning. It is no coincidence that many are now kept in the permanent collections of the world's major museums, from MoMA to the Centre Pompidou.
In 2013 the brand was acquired by Cassina, which relaunched part of the collection through the "SimonCollezione" series, preserving its identity and historical value. But the original nucleus remains a unique and unrepeatable example of how design can be critical thought, poetic act and political vision.
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