The story of Azucena begins in Milan in 1947 when a group of young Milanese architects decided to start producing their own furniture and fittings for their buildings.
Working with a mix of industrial and artisan suppliers to create a collection of modern, and at times highly experimental items, Azucena were one of the first "designer furniture" companies to emerge in Italy.
And arguably Europe.
However, whereas many of those companies who came after them have gone on to achieve global success and become standard examples of "Italian Design Culture", Azucena have largely remained a Milanese secret; and certainly a company that are off the radar of most Salone visitors.
Which is obviously ironic.
If not symbolic.
Especially when one compares the Azucena collection with many of the products being launched at Salone 2011.
Luigi Caccia Dominioni's 1959 Battibius, for example, is a delightfully light, bent iron armchair from 1959.
Or Catilina an equally elegantly simple steel and leather chair.
A further highlight for us is Dominioni's 1979 Lampada Poltrona - in effect a leather strap with an in-built, adjustable, brass lamp. And a switch.
The idea is that Lampada Poltrona can be placed over an a chair, side table or a pillow/cushion and so used as a mobile reading lamp. Genius.
Until now all Azucena products have been designed by just three men, all Azucena co-founders: Luigi Caccia Diminioni, Corrado Corradi Dell'Acqua and Ignazio Gardella.
A fact that was also slowly becoming one of their biggest problems... even designers and architects get older.
And so Azucena have started a co-operation with a new designer: Konstatin Grcic.
From our perspective a potentially very good decision when one compares the existing collection with Konstantin Grcic's interpretation of reduced, minimal design.
The first fruit of the co-operation was presented in Milan during Fuorisalone 2011.
An elegantly simple anodized aluminium divider/screen, Entre-Deux has been designed to reflect both the tradition of Azucena as well as the existing collection.
It's meant to be reserved, respectful almost, and for us it is a wonderful introductory piece. Further pieces are in development.
If they are as good as they in theory should be, they will be more than worthy of the name Azucena.
And should ensure that in the future a few more Salone visitors make the trip to Via della Passione.
A fact that is naturally also deeply ironic and symbolic ...
More information on Azucena can be found at www.azucena.it
