Driade.

Driade

Driade is an Italian edition house founded in 1968 in Piacenza (Emilia-Romagna) by Enrico Astori, his sister Antonia Astori and Adelaide Acerbi. Its catalogue combines two parallel directions: Antonia Astori's modular storage systems (Aforismi, Logico) that marked Italian office furniture from the 1970s through the 2000s, and collaborations with radical international designers (Philippe Starck, Enzo Mari, Tokujin Yoshioka, Konstantin Grcic, Borek Sipek, Naoto Fukasawa). LAPIERRE sources and restores Driade pieces for the Paris and European market.

Brand history

Driade was founded in 1968 in Piacenza by the Astoris and Adelaide Acerbi, with a clear editorial logic: position modern Italian furniture in the long term, free of fashion. Antonia Astori, trained in architecture in Milan, took over design direction and signed the first modular systems: Driade 30 (1968), Aforismi (1970s), Logico (1980s), Oikos. These systems combine multilayer lacquered panels, internal steel structures and customisable finishes. Their audience is mixed: architects, design studios, demanding private clients.

In parallel, Driade developed a strategy of international designer collaborations. Enzo Mari signed several 1980s-90s pieces for the house. Philippe Starck offered from the 1990s armchairs, chairs and tables in innovative materials: Lord Yo (injected polyamide chair), Aleph (aluminium armchair), Mister Bliss (lamp). Tokujin Yoshioka signed the Toy / Tokyo Pop collection (transparent moulded foam sofa). Konstantin Grcic, Borek Sipek (eclectic Czech designer of the 1990s) and Naoto Fukasawa expanded the catalogue. Driade Kosmo and Driade Atelier are two sub-brands operating respectively in outdoor furniture and tableware.

Manufacturing is centralised in Caorso, near Piacenza, in an integrated factory. The house remained family-run through the 2010s, then changed hands while preserving editorial autonomy. The current catalogue combines historical reissues (updated Aforismi) and new pieces.

Signature pieces we source

Aforismi (Antonia Astori). Modular storage and bookshelf system, designed in the 1970s. Multilayer lacquered panels, internal steel structure. Sought in white, grey, black or coloured lacquer.

Logico (Antonia Astori). Modular bookshelf system from the 1980s, more open than Aforismi. Sought for offices and home offices.

Lord Yo (Philippe Starck). Injected polyamide chair with oval back, 1990s-2000s. Sought in black, white or translucent.

Aleph (Starck). Contemporary Starck armchair for Driade.

Toy / Tokyo Pop (Tokujin Yoshioka). Sofa and armchair in transparent or coloured moulded foam, designed in 2002. Contemporary signature piece.

Enzo Mari pieces for Driade. Wood and steel furniture, 1980s-90s.

Konstantin Grcic pieces for Driade. Contemporary chairs and armchairs.

Authenticating an original

Three points support authentication of a Driade piece. Marking: Driade engraved, applied or sewn depending on model, sometimes with serial number and designer name. Materials: deep multilayer lacquer for Aforismi and Logico, quality injected polyamide for Lord Yo (notable weight, regular transparency), polished aluminium for Aleph. Archive consistency: Driade documents its production precisely; a marking inconsistent with the archives signals a copy. For Aforismi and Logico, verify all modules of a configuration share the same era and lacquer.

LAPIERRE process for this brand

The Driade protocol at LAPIERRE evaluates lacquer condition (Aforismi, Logico) and module consistency in a configuration. For Starck and Yoshioka pieces, injected materials and marking checks. Disassembly and reassembly of Aforismi and Logico systems are handled by our team. Pieces with severely degraded lacquer are directed to a specialist re-lacquer workshop respecting the original RAL.

Request a search

Looking for an Aforismi configuration coherent in size and colour, a Lord Yo Starck, a Toy Yoshioka or an Enzo Mari piece for Driade? Write to LAPIERRE with your brief: model, configuration, period, target condition. Our team activates its sourcing network in Italy and Europe.