Minotti
About Minotti
Minotti was established in 1948 in the area north of Milan, conveniently servicing the wealthy businessmen who commuted between Milan and their vacation homes on Lake Como. This part of Italy thrived in the industrial surge of the post war years, and Minotti’s story of an artisanal workshop embracing modern technologies was not uncommon. Minotti caught the wave of this progress, albeit at a slow and steady pace which has characterised its approach ever since.
While rival firms such as Cassina were collaborating with design icons Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, and Charlotte Perriand for their I Maestri collection, Minotti was more low key. Local architect and designer Gigi Radice began creating signature furniture sets for Minotti and was commissioned to build a family home and factory. Radice’s legacy is reflected in the high prices at auction of these early furniture pieces and the descendant Minnoti family remain deeply attached to the home he designed.
In 1998, the sons of Alberto Minotti, now running the company, made the bold move of appointing experienced and renowned Milanese designer Rodolfo Dordoni as artistic director. It’s a relationship that continues until today. ‘Dordoni doesn’t just design products—he curates everything Minotti does. This holistic process has propelled the company to steady growth, challenging arguably better-known brands such as Kartell and Artemide.’ (Departures)
Minotti is not a brand that will ever be synonymous with experimental or short term whimsical products. Each piece is considered, contributing to a collection, and each collection furthers the vision of the brand. The company is now run by the children and grandchildren of the founder. The architectural and artistic collaboration have been long term, first with Radice and now with Dordoni. There is omnipresent consistency of style, attention to detail and reverence for quality and craftsmanship. These are all factors which make Minotti a brand to acquire and enjoy for generations. It is made to last and will never be out of style. That is the DNA of Minotti.
