Incollect Magazine - Issue 8

Incollect Magazine 19 all in the family Eclectic Collecting Made Portuondo One of the World’s Most Closely Watched Design Dealers by Benjamin Genocchio Portuondo is operated by brothers Hugo and Diego Portuondo with gallery spaces located in London, New York, and Madrid. The brothers talked with Incollect about the design trade and their lifelong passion for design and decorative arts. What does your gallery specialize in? Our preferred era in European and American design spans from the 1940s to the 1970s. While we consistently feature pieces by designers such as Max Ingrand, Jacques Adnet, Angelo Lelli, and Gio Ponti, amongst others, our approach involves ‘eclectic collecting’ rather than aligning with the traditional role of design dealers. We strive to acquire rare pieces that resonate with us personally and that we would proudly display in our homes. How did you get into the design, art, and antiques business? We come from a long lineage of antique dealers, both our father and uncle embarked in the 1960s on their journeys as dealers of 17th and 18th-century antiques. Our great-grandparents established Gaston & Daniela in 1875, a fabric company that remains a global leader in fabric design and production to this day. So growing up, we were both steeped in the world of antiques by our father, who took us on buying trips across Europe. Some of our fondest memories trace back to playing in the corridors of antique fairs. As adults, we continued to work alongside him, participating in fairs and honing our skills in spotting unique objects and furniture. After a decade of pursuing individual paths — myself in the realm of private art dealing and Diego as an art photographer — we made the decision to join forces as business partners, determined to continue our family’s legacy. You have a gallery space in the New York Design Center; what made you decide on that location? The New York Design Center is a prestigious address renowned among interior designers and collectors nationwide. This strategic location enables us to showcase our items in proximity to our New York-based clients, fostering convenience and accessibility. With a dedicated and adept sales team managing the gallery, we benefit from established relationships with clients. This gives us a strong presence in New York. Brothers Hugo (right) and Diego (left) Portuondo continue a four-generation family tradition of design- centric businesses with their galleries in New York, London, and Madrid. Selections shown in this article are available on Incollect.com and The Gallery at 200 LEX at the New York Design Center