furniture design and pastry-making unite with these bignè-inspired scented wooden poufs

Samuele Montorfano and Iginio Massari bring the bignè to life

Designer Samuele Montorfano has teamed up with Master Pastry Chef Iginio Massari to fuse the art of furniture design and pastry making to bring the Bignè to life as a minimalist yet playful seat. For furniture brand RIVA 1920, ‘IGINIO MASSARI’s Bignè’ introduces a set of round wooden poufs inspired by the iconic Italian delicacy, sculpting its lower soft dough body from cedar, and topping it with cream in the form of colored upholstered seats. Creating a sensory experience that can visually fit into any interior design style, the duo has made use of scented Lebanon cedar wood so that its users can enjoy a fragrant spot to rest. The project was unveiled at Milan Design Week 2023‘s Salone del Mobile.

IGINIO MASSARI’s Bignè comes in three color variations | all images courtesy of Samuele Montorfano

a celebration of italian craftsmanship and culture

Emblemizing the Italian craftsmanship vision: ‘Let’s make room for Sweetness’, and celebrating the region’s craftsmanship and culture, the ‘IGINIO MASSARI’s Bignè’ pouf unites sculptural form and functionality. Each furniture object is crafted by RIVA 1920 from a single block of cedar wood of Lebanon into a round, organic shape to evoke Massari’s iconic Bignè cream puff. Further, the seat is made comfortable by the presence of a cushion in soft fabric. Injecting a muted sense of whimsy to the pouf, this cushioned top is available in three colors: green, white, and brown to allude to different flavors of cream.

a fusion of the art of furniture design and pastry making

round wooden poufs inspired by the iconic Italian delicacy

the base is sculpted by cedar of Lebanon and topped with a ‘vanilla cream’ upholstered seat

concept sketch by Samuele Montorfano

IGINIO MASSARI’s Bignè showcased at Milan Design Week 2023

project info:

name: IGINIO MASSARI Bignè
designer: Samuele Montorfano

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom