Early Cassina Leggera 646 chairs by Gio Ponti, Italy 1952

Rare early edition of the iconic 646 Leggera chairs, designed by Gio Ponti and produced by Cassina, Italy, circa 1952.
These authentic first-series examples feature the original handwoven giunco (natural rush) seats — a material used briefly in Cassina’s earliest production before the introduction of the paper cord weave that became standard in later versions.
Crafted in solid ash wood with a black nitrocellulose lacquer finish, the chairs display the unmistakable lightness and refined geometry that made Ponti’s Leggera a milestone in 20th-century design. Each chair weighs 3.7 kg, showcasing Cassina’s mastery of structure and proportion long before the evolution into the Superleggera of 1957.
All details confirm early production:
– original rush seat with consistent patina
– hand-joined mortise-and-tenon frame
– early screw-mounted rubber feet
– untouched black lacquer with natural age and depth
The chairs remain in excellent original condition with beautiful wear and character consistent with age. They are an exceptional find for collectors seeking the purest expression of Ponti’s design philosophy — lightness, clarity and Italian craftsmanship.