Desalto Italian Designer Furniture
Desalto creates contemporary Italian furniture in which technological innovation, skilled craftsmanship and architectural form achieve a precise balance. Rooted in the metalworking heritage of Italy’s Brianza region, the company is known for sculptural dining tables, refined seating, modular upholstered furniture and versatile pieces for residential, workplace and hospitality interiors.
Available through Scott + Cooner, Desalto furniture includes celebrated designs such as the Clay and Element tables, Koki seating and Helsinki collection. Each piece reflects the brand’s ability to transform technical complexity into a visually clear, functional and enduring object.
Italian Design Rooted in Brianza
Desalto’s story began with the Orsenigo family’s metalworking workshop, established in 1963. The family developed specialized knowledge of metal fabrication and furniture production within Brianza, the region near Milan internationally associated with Italian design and manufacturing.
In 1990, four Orsenigo brothers created Desalto as a contemporary furniture brand centered on experimentation, technical research and collaboration with designers. This foundation gave the company an unusual combination of industrial expertise and openness to new creative ideas.
Today, Desalto continues to explore the limits of materials while maintaining an entirely Made in Italy production process. The result is furniture that feels refined and effortless despite the sophisticated engineering required to produce it.
Metal, Technology and Material Experimentation
Metal is at the heart of Desalto’s identity. Steel and aluminum are cut, formed, welded and finished with a level of precision developed through decades of specialized production.
The company’s expertise extends beyond construction to painting, galvanic treatments and surface development. These processes allow Desalto to create slender structural elements, rich metallic finishes and complex forms with dependable long-term performance.
Metal is frequently combined with glass, wood, marble, ceramic, leather, fabric and hand-applied material finishes. These contrasts introduce warmth and texture while emphasizing the clarity of each design.
Clay Table by Marc Krusin
Designed by Marc Krusin in 2015, the Clay table has become one of Desalto’s defining products. Its sculptural form is created through the meeting of two essential volumes: a thin tabletop balanced above a conical base at a remarkably small point of contact.
This composition gives Clay an appearance of lightness while maintaining a powerful architectural presence. Its proportions are bold but harmonious, allowing the table to become a focal point without overwhelming the surrounding interior.
Clay has received international recognition including an Iconic Design Award, a Good Design Award and a Red Dot Award for Product Design. The family has expanded to include different shapes, dimensions and materials, as well as Clay Bistrot, Mini Clay, Micro Clay, Maxi Clay and outdoor versions.
Clay Wood and an Expanding Design Icon
The Clay collection continues to evolve through new scales and material interpretations. Clay Wood covers the tabletop and conical base in carefully applied wooden strips, adding tactile warmth while preserving the design’s sculptural geometry.
Natural grain follows the curves of the base, creating subtle variation from one table to another. The result brings craftsmanship and material richness to a form closely associated with Desalto’s technical expertise.
Maxi Clay extends the original concept to generous dimensions suited to substantial dining rooms, boardrooms and hospitality environments. Smaller Clay tables introduce the same recognizable balance into living areas, lounges and bedrooms.
Element Table by Tokujin Yoshioka
Designed by Tokujin Yoshioka in 2013, Element explores balance through an apparently gravity-defying structure. An angled central support appears suspended between the horizontal tabletop and base, creating a composition that feels both stable and improbable.
The design is a significant engineering achievement and a clear expression of Desalto’s metalworking expertise. Its rigorous geometry gives the table the presence of an architectural sculpture, while carefully developed construction allows it to remain fully functional.
The Element concept also extends to coffee tables and consoles. Each version preserves the tension of the inclined support, adapting the same visual language to different scales and uses.
Contemporary Dining and Occasional Tables
Tables remain central to the Desalto collection. Designs range from expressive sculptural forms to quiet, adaptable systems for dining, meeting and working.
Helsinki is recognized for its minimal frame, visual lightness and broad range of configurations. Fixed and extending versions support residential dining as well as office and contract applications. Its restrained structure allows different top materials and finishes to define the character of each version.
Other collections—including MM8, HEB, Cast, Mac, Skin, Tender and Zinco—offer different approaches to proportion, structure and material. Dining tables are complemented by coffee tables, side tables and consoles designed to carry Desalto’s architectural language throughout the interior.
Koki Chairs and Stools
Created by Pocci + Dondoli, the Koki chair brings together ergonomic form, durability and a clear contemporary silhouette. Its self-supporting polyurethane shell contains an internal steel structure, producing a chair that feels visually fluid while remaining strong and stable.
The collection includes chairs and stools for dining areas, kitchens, meeting rooms, restaurants and hospitality spaces. A coordinated palette of finishes allows the shell and legs to create a unified monochromatic appearance.
Koki Wire translates the design into an airy steel-rod structure. Chairs, stools, lounge seating and a two-seat sofa are available in versions suited to indoor and outdoor use, with selected models offering leather, upholstered or woven seating.
Upholstered Furniture and Softer Forms
Desalto has expanded its material language through modular sofas, lounge chairs and upholstered seating. These collections introduce softness and comfort while maintaining the geometric clarity associated with the brand.
Systems such as Sum use modular elements to create seating arrangements of different sizes and functions. Individual bases can operate as poufs or be combined with backs, arms and corner elements to produce larger compositions.
This flexibility makes Desalto upholstery suitable for modern living rooms, executive lounges, hospitality settings and collaborative spaces where seating must respond to changing requirements.
Collaborations with International Designers
Desalto works with established and emerging designers who share its interest in material research, function and clear form. Marc Krusin’s Clay collection and Tokujin Yoshioka’s Element family demonstrate how an ambitious concept can be realized through close collaboration between designer and manufacturer.
The company has also worked with Pocci + Dondoli, Francesco Rota, Marco Acerbis, Arik Levy, Gordon Guillaumier, Piergiorgio Cazzaniga, Shin Azumi and other international talents.
Since 2022, Francesco Rota has served as artistic director, guiding the collection through a continued dialogue between industrial precision, craftsmanship and a more expansive contemporary vision.
Made in Italy Production
The Desalto production chain is managed within the company’s facility in Cantù, near Como. In-house metalworking, painting and galvanic departments help maintain quality, traceability and control throughout the manufacturing process.
Specialized craftspeople combine manual skill with advanced machinery to translate challenging designs into reliable furniture. Each phase—from material selection and structural development to surface treatment and final assembly—is closely monitored.
This integration supports both visual refinement and durability, making the collection suitable for demanding residential and contract projects.
Furniture for Indoor and Outdoor Spaces
The Desalto catalog includes tables, seating and occasional furniture developed specifically for outdoor use. Weather-conscious materials and finishes allow key designs such as Clay and Koki Wire to extend onto terraces, patios and hospitality settings.
Indoor and outdoor versions share the same clear design language, helping create continuity between interior architecture and open-air spaces. The collection can therefore support complete residential, restaurant, hotel and workplace environments.
Scott + Cooner can assist homeowners, architects and interior designers with product selection, dimensions, materials, finishes and project specifications.
Discover Desalto at Scott + Cooner
Explore Desalto Italian tables, chairs, modular seating and contemporary furniture at Scott + Cooner. Our experienced team can help you choose the appropriate design, size and finish for your residential or commercial interior.
Contact Scott + Cooner for Desalto pricing, product specifications, finish samples and personalized project assistance.