Pier Luigi Colli (Turin, Italy, 1895-1968)
Italian artist and designer. He studied at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and returned to Italy in the 1920s to lead the Colli family furniture business in Turin. The company started in 1850 and was famous for its fine carpets, fabrics and lighting. Their designs played a part in the development of the Liberty movement of the early 20th century. Most of Pier Luigi’s pieces are representing the Parisian Art Deco period style. He often used very combined materials such as iron, brass, glass and wood. The Colli company also worked with architects and designers like Gio Ponti and Carlo Mollino. They worked on furnishing projects like the great hall of the University of Turin and the Turin branch of the Bank of Italy. When Pier Luigi died in 1968, his daughter Claudia succeeded him until the company closed in the 1980s, making the furniture highly sought after.