Ricardo Fasanello
Born in Sao Paulo in 1930, Ricardo Fasanello started showing talent very early, designing and building his own sailboat at the young age of 14. By 18, he was building lofts using his own design. Young beau, chasing excitement and speed, he almost lost his life after violently crashing his Porsche Spyder 550 on his way from São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro.
After meeting his soon to be wife -Countess Olivia Tarnowska-, Ricardo slowed down and moved to a bohemian neighborhood in Rio. There, he spent his days between his exotic pets and his life passion, building race cars.
ESFERA ARMCHAIR - Y COLLECTION
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We are excited to introduce the Y’ Collection, a limited-edition series of Ricardo Fasanello’s 60’s Line, commemorating the 30th anniversary of his passing. This collection is a tribute from his children and grandchildren to Fasanello’s legacy, celebrating the innovative spirit and profound connection to Brazilian culture that marks the last of the Brazilian modernist masters.
The word Y’ comes from Tupi-Guarani -an indigenous language-family of South America- and it means “water” or “river,” echoing the vital importance of rivers in Brazilian culture, the life-giving waterways that are the veins of Brazil. The “Y’ Collection” draws its theme from these Brazilian rivers, incorporating their essence into every aspect of the design. The forms and curves designed by Ricardo Fasanello flow, and the natural materials chosen for the collection bring out the organic nudge. Each chair in the “Y’ Collection” features a unique structure crafted by embedding sand from Brazilian rivers into resin, which gives each piece a unique sandy color and texture. This sand is sustainably sourced, being repurposed from material removed during the construction of dams, and the usual fiberglass that provides structure is substituted with coconut fiber.
For the upholstering, we used Arapaima Gigas leather, the world’s largest freshwater fish straight from the Amazon Basin. This majestic fish, often referred to as the “Pirarucu” – meaning “red fish” in the Tupi language – can reach up to 3 meters in length and is characterized by its distinctive armor-like scales that adorn the crown of each final piece. For this collection, we partnered up with the Brazilian company Nova Kaeru, which plays a crucial role in the efforts that brought the pirarucu back from the brink of extinction. Today, only indigenous and local riverside populations are allowed to fish the pirarucu, following strict guidelines that limit the catch to a specific number of fish per year and only when they reach a certain size. This practice is known as the sustainable management of pirarucu, and it’s process not only helps maintain the pirarucu population but also supports the local communities, promoting biodiversity protection, combating illegal fishing, and empowering the Amazonian local communities.
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The final touch to complete the piece, is Ricardo Fasanello’s traditional RF logo, exceptionally crafted in Brazilian yellow 18 Karat gold, carefully embedded into the sand structure.
The “Y’ Collection” is more than just a series of armchairs; it is a celebration of Brazilian heritage, a commitment to sustainable design, and a tribute to Ricardo Fasanello’s enduring impact on the world of furniture design. By bringing together traditional materials and modern sustainability practices, we honor both the natural beauty and cultural richness of Brazil.
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Each piece is genuinely produced at the atelier and identified with Proof of Authenticity, guaranteeing the origin of each item that has been part of the history of Brazilian design for over 50 years. Furthermore, the Atelier is ready to serve customers who want to preserve their piece of furniture original, providing maintenance to carry out minor repairs or even a complete overhaul.