Anyone recognize this chair??  

My friend always finds the good stuff, he was in San Francisco visiting some friends when a lady was putting this on the curb. She said she was cleaning out the house and she original got this from Italy. My friend wanted to put it out at the yard sale I said let me research it first. The chair is in great shape but where the back wood piece are pressed together is separating in a few spots, probable do to the wood shrinking because of the climate difference. He wanted to fill the cracks in and again I told him wait to I find out what it is. So can anyone advice me on it and if its a good idea to fill the separation? Thanks