The name “Redevance” (Royalty) is fun and meaningful in French, which Ponti
practiced ever since he was young, and which, rather than referring to the
subject of the decoration, like in the previous fabrics “Estate mediterranea”,
“Armadio magico”, “Eclissi”, “Recinto” and others, seems to be dedicated
to his friend Luigi Grampa who accompanied him from the end of the war in
producing printed fabrics with the company Manifattura Jsa in Busto Arsizio*.
It is almost as though Ponti was joking and saying “Dear Grampa, here is a
design for you to do, with no fi gurative or geometric references to give it a
name, but with “Redevance” it is sure to bring you success!” 01
The fi rst and only proof we have of an offi cial presentation
of “Redevance”, alongside the test prints and designs held
by Jsa, is the bedspread used for the “La casa adatta” exhibit
designed by Ponti for Eurodomus 3 in Milan in 1970. 02 This was
Ponti’s proposal for a home with movable walls, furnished with
aff ordable, foldable furniture on wheels, called “Serie Apta”.
In the presentation, Ponti writes: “We do not have to adapt
to a generic home, but rather the home has to adapt to us…”
and again “ …to make the home the expression of our cultural
individuality in line with all the conditions of modern living, but
also fi nancial ones”.
01 Gio Ponti. Original project design for the
“Redevance” fabric 1970.
© Gio Ponti Archives / Salvatore Licitra
* Town outside of Milan
02 Gio Ponti “La Casa Adatta” Pavilion
at Eurodomus 3 - Milan.
© Gio Ponti Archives / Archivio storico
