The History

The Chiavari chair is an exceptional invention that we owe to the great genius Giuseppe Gaetano Descalzi, a very skilled cabinetmaker from Chiavari. In 1807, Descalzi brought his famous creation to life only to become soon after an important part of minor arts history.

The story goes that, in order to put the quality of his creation to the test, Descalzi wanted to throw the chair out of his window. It seems that the chair, weighing less than one kilogram, bounced off the road below without breaking, proving the integrity of its extraordinary properties.

As such, thanks to its unique qualities, the Chiavari chair became popular very quickly in all the most important royal courts of Europe, being praised by important historic figures, from Napoleon III to Francis I of the Two Sicilies and, more recently, to its famous appearance at the White House attending the historic meeting between Reagan and Gorbachev a few years ago.

The Classic Campanino is the symbol of Chiavari chair tradition. This one, although it has some variations, is the same one created two centuries ago by Giuseppe Gaetano Descalzi, who was nicknamed ‘Campanino’ from which the chair takes its name. It perfectly merges form and function.

Form and function are blended in this chair and it’s light, elegant aesthetic is a direct consequence of its structure. Every detail contributes to the chairs sturdiness and endurance. The result is extraordinary lightness - physically (the chair is as light as a feather) but also in its aesthetic.

One of the most distinguishing features of the Chiavari chair is this cane system, which is still weaved by hand directly onto the chair frame. Thin strands of Viennese cane are threaded into a weft and warp pattern. This forms a real fabric that also contributes to the sturdiness and strength of the frame.

Available Polishings

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Playful multicolor combinations arose when Designer Davide Conti from Chiavari presented the idea of the Chivariana Supercolor to represent a union between tradition and innovation. This is a traditional chair, but rediscovered with a newfound guise to freshen up the classic object of Chiavari tradition.

The chair is offered with or without armrests, in counter height seat models and also, with high back options too.

Elegant, sturdy, yet lightweight, Levaggi chairs are assembled to stand the test of time, representing true masterpieces of art and engineering.

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