***ITEM HAS BEEN SOLD***
El Patio Lounge Sofa/Love Seat
by Gustavo Pulitzer Finale

Items from MV VICTORIA I (ex DUNNOTTAR CASTLE, VICTORIA, THE VICTORIA, PRINCESA VICTORIA)

***ITEM HAS BEEN SOLD***
Rose Upholstery
Dark Wooden (Mahogany?) Legs
Measurements: 54 Inches Long by 26 Inches Deep by 31 Inches Tall
Price: USD $400 plus shipping

Top, the El Patio Lounge during VICTORIA's Incres Lines heyday.  Peter Knego collection. The sofa from two different angles. Photos and copyright Peter Knego 2005

Cassina manufactured most of the furniture found on the top Italian designed ships of the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s.  (This sofa is in the exact same style as the Pulitzer El Patio Lounge chairs offered under 1950s chairs.) This small sofa (or, if you prefer, large love seat) and the other original furniture from VICTORIA was made for Gustavo Pulitzer Finale in 1959. It is classic Italian with elegant, clean lines and that slightly protruding edge on the armrests. The legs appear to have been tampered with and would benefit from being removed and reattached by an expert who could return their original flared (outward at the bottom) look. The upholstery most likely dates from the mid-Chandris period of the early 1980s and is in reasonable condition, but needs cleaning.  A suggestion would be to recover this sofa in solid blue or crimson velvet to return it to its original look, if desired.

After Gio Ponti, Gustavo Pulitzer Finale's creations are possibly the most in demand from the golden era of Italian passenger ships (late 1930s through 1970). He was responsible for the stunning modern art deco interiors of the transatlantic superliner CONTE DI SAVOIA of 1932 as well as the much hailed and lamented Lloyd Triestino liner VICTORIA of 1931 and the Cosulich twins, OCEANIA and NEPTUNIA of 1932 and 1933. Finale was born in Trieste in 1887 and obtained his degree from the Polytechnic of Munich. He fled the fascists for America during the Second World War where he collaborated with famed architect Henry Dreyfuss. When he returned to Italy to help rebuild the national fleet, he was part of the modern movement along with Gio Ponti and Pulitzer's arch rival, Nino Zoncada. Pulitzer designed, decorated, and contributed to, among others, the CONTE BIANCAMANO, CONTE GRANDE, GIULIO CESARE, AUGUSTUS, CRISTOFORO COLOMBO, ANDREA DORIA, LEONARDO DA VINCI, MICHELANGELO, and RAFFAELLO. Other liners, including Incres Line's gorgeous VICTORIA, Caribbean Cruise Line's RIVIERA PRIMA, Solemare's ITALIA (his last ship) and most of the Costa Line fleet would also enjoy his prestigious appointments and sleek, modern stylings. He died in 1967. For more information on Pulitzer and all of the key Italian designers, the magnificent book TRANSATLANTICI by Maurizio Eliseo and Paolo Piccione (Tormena Press) is highly recommended.