Magister sofa by Flexform: a timeless Icon

28/02/2019

When Antonio Citterio and Paolo Nava designed the Magister sofa for Flexform back in 1982, perhaps they did not imagine that they had in fact created a product destined to become an icon.

Indeed, probably the sofa's actual name, which in a strictly etymological sense means "the greatest", "the most expert", already had in itself the seeds of an incredible success story, soon to become one of the symbols of the Flexform collection.

Born out of a desire to create a sofa in sharp contrast with the "Family Sofas" model (a range of sofas and armchairs with classic and traditional forms covered in soft white canvas), Magister soon became the starting point that ushered novelty and change into the furniture scene.

Its covers and appearance marked a clean break from the sofa creations made up to that point, heralding an era of stylistic contemporaneity, where traditional forms were re-appraised in favor of crisper and more essential lines.

While it was first presented with a smooth fabric cover, the Magister sofa was further enhanced by the upholstered leather version, where the particular tufted workmanship became its distinguishing feature.

The classic buttons traditionally present in the tufted model are replaced by a more modern double eyelet, which adds a touch of originality and modernity to the seat cushions and the backrest.

Completing its exclusive look, the sofa is raised off the floor by round legs in satin-finish brushed metal; it also features a perforated metal shelf behind the back. The latter allows Magister to become a practical single bed, thanks to an ingenious patented mechanism that is very simple to use.

Since 1982 the Magister sofa continues to be one of the items that best embody the company's vocation to make furniture pieces that transcend time and trends, a perfect synthesis of form and functionality.

In a bid to show off this feature to the general public, Flexform has made a short film, "The Making of Magister sofa", which summarizes in a few but decisive scenes, the complex design and construction work behind this timeless icon. An all-round tribute to an iconic piece, a part of the catalogue for over thirty years.