Bonacina DNA

From 1889

Giovanni Bonacina started his business in 1889 in Lurago d’Erba, located in a hilly, fertile part of the area north of Milan known as Brianza, combining two traditional crafts practiced in the area, basketry and furniture making, using the local materials reed and cane, with rattan from Southeast Asia. His hard work and experience produced excellent results, and his efforts were rewarded with awards in international expositions and numerous important commissions.

His son Vittorio carried on and built upon what his father had passed down, taking the company yet another step forward. With an eye on the revolution in design and art that was taking place in the 1950’s, and a new era in the company’s future design, made possible by the winning combination of production experience the visionary collaboration with talented designers, and a shared willingness to push the materials and shapes into new expressive forms. Bonacina1889 distinguished itself again and again.

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Photogallery

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Special place

A special place in museums for "Palla", "Margherita" and "Gala": M.O.M.A. from New York, The Museum of Art in Philadelphia, The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal, The Vitra Design Museum in Weil Am Rhein and "Museo del Design alla Triennale" in Milan.

A partial list of recent clients include: The White House, Washington DC, USA - designer Michael Smith; Palazzo Margherita; Francis Ford Coppola family, Bernalda, Basilicata, Italy; Hotel Caruso, Ravello, Italy; Le Sirenuse, Positano, Italy; Hotel La Mirande, Avignon, France; Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli, Gargnano, Italy; Casinò Royal, Melbourne, Australia; Ristorante Giacomo Arengario, Museo del Novecento, Milano, Italy.

Meanwhile, Mario Bonacina, Vittorio’s son, was growing as a designer and as an inspired heir to the family’s company name. With the assurance of the success of the past two generations he found himself in the unique position of taking the company towards the future by re-proposing selected historic pieces in updated ways and by continuing to work with important designers in innovative ways. In step with the times, he emphasized the ecological sustainability of the materials used while carrying on the highly creative and refined work for which the company is known.

About twenty years ago Antonia Proserpio, Mario’s wife, brought her skills, style and grace to the mix and established her invaluable place in the thriving company. The commitment to excellence means the best materials and skilled, experienced craftsmanship. In design you have to start out with a deep knowledge of your raw materials: Rattan embodies strength, vitality and fluidity. It is an ecologically sustainable, natural and renewable resource.

Discover our history

Elia Bonacina

As result of growing up in a family business and having enhanced his creative sensibility by studying interior design, Elia Bonacina takes his place in the company in 2012 designing ERIS©. Starting from a strong company and brand that is, as a matter of fact, leader in the design of rattan furniture, Elia decides not to settle, but to make a difference rather than passively enjoy his family success. Thanks to his sense of the international financial world he takes action as soon as he can by planning the acquisition of the Pierantonio Bonacina Brand, which was in turn created by another branch of the Bonacina’family. At the end the combination of passion and skills, is the very core of this family company which remains timeless when confronted to the passing of styles, fashion and the generational turnover.

New horizons

The company remains faithful to the natural raw materials that mostly defined its culture while consolidating the know-how regarding the outdoor world, inherited from the recent acquisition.Now as then, each piece is hand-crafted by specialized artisans who carefully and finely curve rattan canes, weave and bind rattan core and synthetic materials - such as Bopifil, Polypeel, Polycore and Rolon - giving birth to architects and designers projects, carrying out an international divulgative process.

A green factory

The company remains faithful to the natural raw materials that mostly defined its culture. Now as then, each piece is hand-crafted by specialized artisans who carefully and finely curve rattan canes, weave and bind rattan core giving birth to architects and designers projects, carrying out an international divulgative process.