Mantilla Sofa Set - Kazuhide Takahama - Simon Gavina

Mantilla Sofa Set by Kazuhide Takahama for Simon Gavina, Italy, 1960s
Removable Green Chenille Upholstery on Sculpted Padded Core

Designed in the 1960s for Simon Gavina, the Mantilla is one of Kazuhide Takahama’s most refined seating designs. A Japanese born designer active in Italy, Takahama combined restraint and softness in a way that feels both architectural and intimate. The Mantilla reduces seating to a pure low volume over which the textile simply drapes, almost like a garment.

This set consists of a rare 1 seat lounge chair and the matching 2 seat sofa, both authentic vintage Simon Gavina editions, not later reissues. The internal structure, proportions and construction correspond with early production.

The green chenille upholstery enhances the nonchalant character of the design. Its soft directional pile creates a subtle play of light, shifting between deeper and lighter tones depending on the angle. The natural drape and gentle folds give both pieces a relaxed yet sculptural presence.

A rare and early vintage Mantilla set that perfectly expresses Takahama’s balance between softness, textile movement and essential modernist form.

Technical details
• Designer: Kazuhide Takahama
• Manufacturer: Simon Gavina, Italy
• Period: 1960s
• Materials: Green chenille removable upholstery, padded core
• Condition: Very good vintage condition, minor signs of age consistent with use