Illustration of the Swimming Pool at the Hotel Royal Continental in Naples, designed by Gio Ponti.
As the summer sun settles into its August glow, we're taking a detour through the Phillips Design archive to revisit some of the standout works that radiate with the season’s leisurely spirit. Some were made with materials suited to patios, gardens, and open-air rooms. Others bring the summer inside, through golden hues, airy forms, and playful silhouettes that feel made for long days in light-filled spaces.
Of course, the spirit of summer exudes wanderlust as much as it does relaxation, so follow the lead of Gio Ponti’s above-pictured design for the Hotel Royal Continental on the Neapolitan coast and join us on a journey through the season and around the world. From rattan to enamel, rock crystals to sunshine motifs, discover pieces that offer a dose of seasonal optimism and might just have you reaching for your passport.
Living en plein air
There’s perhaps no better place to start than with French and Italian designers’ approach to outdoor living and solar motifs. Given their countries’ close proximity to some of the most iconic seaside locales, they know a thing or two about a lifestyle in tune with nature.
Gio Ponti, Pair of rare lounge chairs, circa 1937. Sold in 2020 in London for £103,320.
These mint green lounge chairs by Gio Ponti exude the elegance of relaxed Italian summer living. With their sculptural frames and cheerful hue, they feel made for sun-drenched terraces or poolside patios.
Joseph-André Motte, Lounge chair, circa 1949. Sold in London in 2022 for £10,080.
Motte’s rattan chair is ideal for comfortable summer settings. Its construction combines mid-century rigour with breezy materiality, making it effortlessly modern.
Walter Baggio and Maria de Vivo, Garden bench, circa 1959. Sold in London in 2020 for £13,750.
Crafted for the outdoors, this striking Italian bench suits gardens, courtyards, or shaded verandas. Its clean lines and practical finish make it a timeless companion for open-air living.
Capturing the sun in a mirror, lamp, or rug
Line Vautrin, 'Soleil torsadé' mirror, 1960. Sold in London in 2024 for £120,650.
This iconic sunburst mirror by Line Vautrin is a literal embodiment of sunshine in sculptural form. Its radiant bronze rays capture the golden warmth of summer and the enduring desirability of French mid-century craft.
Jean-Michel Frank, Unique table lamp, circa 1929. Sold in London in 2022 for £403,200.
Carved from luminous rock crystal, this rare lamp casts a naturally radiant glow reminiscent of sunlit stone. Frank’s restrained luxury meets nature’s brilliance — perfect for light-filled summer interiors.
Ettore Sottsass, Jr., 'Sun Carpet' rug, 1996. Sold in 2020 in London for £8,820.
Sottsass’s carpet rug brings a jolt of summer to any interior with its abstract sun motif and saturated orange palette. It’s a bold yet joyful expression of postmodern design, grounded in warmth and graphic clarity.
Summer’s colours
According to Gio Ponti‘s “Mediterranean Law,” everything by the sea must be colourful. But this concept stretches far beyond the Italian coast, as seen in designers from Austria, Turkey, and Japan.
Alev Ebüzziya Siesbye, Large bowl, 1987. Sold in 2023 in London for £20,320.
This luminous, hand-thrown ceramic bowl glows with the depth and clarity of a summer sea. Its vibrant turquoise glaze conjures images of coastal horizons and cool, minimalist interiors.
Lucie Rie, Footed bowl, circa 1968. Sold in 2024 in New York for $16,510.
With its vibrant yellow glaze and refined, thrown form, this bowl radiates warmth. Lucie Rie’s work always feels timeless, but this piece especially glows with summery optimism.
Yoichi Ohira, Vase, from the "Laguna" series, 1999. Sold in New York in 2024 for $17,780.
Ohira’s vase ripples with aquatic tones — blue, green, and translucent like tide pools or ocean depths. It’s a perfect object for evoking summer through form, craft, and colour.
Out of office: Design for leisure and relaxation
Gio Ponti and Paolo De Poli, Unique low table, circa 1955. Sold in London in 2022 for £163,800.
This low table’s bright enamel tiles recall the blue geometry of the iconic Hotel Royal swimming pool in San Remo, offering a vivid splash of summer nostalgia. It's a unique example of Italian mid-century design that marries functionality with seasonal colour play.
Marc Newson, 'Nickel Surfboard', 2006. Sold in London in 2006 for £68,750.
A real, functional surfboard reimagined by Marc Newson, this object bridges art, sport, and seasonal lifestyle. Its streamlined form and glossy finish evoke wave-chasing adventure and contemporary coastal cool.
Jean Royère, Pair of canopy lounge chairs, circa 1956. Sold in New York in 2014 for $50,000.
Royère’s exuberant lounge chair, complete with a parasol-like canopy, turns seating into the perfect summer-day fantasy. Evocative of shaded garden retreats or Mediterranean resorts, it’s playful and luxurious at the same time.
Recommended Reading
Casa Fornaroli: Close to Ponti’s Heart >
Jean Royère: A Harmonious Blend of Whimsy and Elegance >