Lounge Chairs Designed By Nino Zoncada (Collaborator of Gio Ponti), Manufactured By Cassina In 1971.

Items from SS STELLA SOLARIS (ex CAMBODGE, STELLA V)

Measurements: 29.5 inches tall x 26.5 inches wide x 25 inches deep
Metal Legs
Available Only In Lime Green Velvet/Velour
Extremely Limited Quantity
***PLEASE NOTE CRIMSON IS NOW SOLD OUT***
June 2006 Update: ONLY ONE GREEN CHAIR LEFT
Price: $350 USD plus shipping

The STELLA SOLARIS Lounge in its original colors. Peter Knego collection.

Giovanni (Nino) Zoncada was born in Venice in 1898 and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts (Venice). In 1923, he began working in the interior and furnishing department of the Cantieri Navale Triestino of Monfalcone, becoming one of its directors by the end of the following decade. He joined forces with the Milanese architect Gio Ponti in the late 1940s and they worked together on their first project, the refurbishing of the CONTE BIANCAMANO, followed shortly thereafter by the CONTE GRANDE. Gio Ponti, of course, is possibly the most celebrated Italian designer of the 20th Century, which speaks highly for Zoncada, who is not as well known outside of ship history, but whose work may be the most important of the era. Zoncada designed or contributed to almost every major transatlantic Italian liner of the 1950s and 1960s, including: GIULIO CESARE, AUGUSTUS, ANDREA DORIA, CRISTOFORO COLOMBO, LEONARDO DA VINCI, MICHELANGELO, and RAFFAELLO. In addition, he designed practically the entire Costa fleet from the ANNA C refit in 1948 (including the brilliant EUGENIO C of 1966) all the way through to the CARLA C (ex FLANDRE) in 1968. OCEANIC, AUSONIA, GRIPSHOLM, STELLA OCEANIS, and STELLA SOLARIS are but a few more outstanding ships to emerge from his studios. Zoncada died in 1988 and the STELLA SOLARIS was his final commission.

For more information on Zoncada, one cannot praise the efforts of Italian authors Maurizio Eliseo and Paolo Piccione enough for their brilliant book, TRANSATLANTICI, available on Tormena Press. Also, Paolo Piccione and Matteo Fochessatis CROCIERE NELL ARTE and ARTE IN VIAGGIO are two invaluable references.

The SOLARIS interiors in her latter days. From top to bottom: The Lounge, The Grill Bar, and The Starboard Gallery. Photos and copyright Peter Knego 2001.

Here are several views of both colors. The green chairs came from the Lounge and the starboard Gallery between the Pursers Office and the Dining Room. The red chairs were mainly from her Grill Bar at the port entrance to the Dining Room and some were in the aft Cocktail Bar. The upholstery is in quite good condition and most people who have purchased these chairs have not altered them, although an upholstery shampoo might be recommended to bring out the colors. The red chairs actually have a pattern of very small blue and gold spreckles in the upholstery. The metal legs are extremely stout and can be removed for more economic shipping.