Milanese designer and architect Achille Castiglioni sought to inject personality into all of his work, and found deep inspiration in everyday objects. A legend of Italian mid-century modernism, he created iconic, universally loved table lamps, chairs and other lighting and furniture with his likeminded brothers during the postwar years.
There was the Snoopy lamp, which brings to mind the unmistakable Peanuts character, while the shape of a common street lamp inspired the design behind the Arco floor lamp. Elsewhere, the Toio floor lamp — a provocative fixture in any living room — was made with automotive parts as well as run-of-the-mill recreational gear.
Castiglioni studied the classics at Liceo Classico Giuseppe Parini, art at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera and finally architecture and design at the Polytechnic University of Milan. After graduating in 1944, Castiglioni began working with his brothers Pier Giacomo and Livio at the studio they cofounded with classmate Luigi Caccia Dominioni.
Livio left to pursue lighting design and sound technology, leaving Achille and Pier Giacomo to continue to collaborate on various projects. One such design was the iconic Taraxacum hanging lamp for FLOS which featured a resin “cocoon” created with sprayed plastic polymers that protects its steel core and allows for the diffusion of light.
Castiglioni won Italy’s highest award for industrial design — the Compasso d’Oro — seven times, and the Museum of Modern Art was home to his first individual retrospective in the United States. Castiglioni later taught at the Polytechnic University of Turin and at Polytechnic in Milan.
Castiglioni’s designs remain timeless. Some of them can be found in Tokyo’s Living Design Center Ozone, the Triennale di Milano and the Hangaram Art Museum at the Seoul Arts Center.
Find vintage Achille Castiglioni lighting, seating, tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Zanotta Sella Seat in Pink Lacquered Steel Column with Cast-iron Base
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Sella Seat in Pink Lacquered Steel Column with Cast-iron Base by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni Black saddle of racing bicycle, pink lac...
Steel
Zanotta Servostop Partion System in Red Painted Steel Chain & Black Steel Rod
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Servostop Partion System in Red Painted Steel Chain with Black Steel Rod by Achille Castiglioni Base in black painted polypropylene. Black painted steel support rod with hoo...
Steel
$1,035
H 31.89 in W 16.74 in D 1.19 in
Chinese Export circa 1900 Gold Leaf Painted Fret Work Carved Wall Panel in Teak
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to this lovely circa 1900 hand carved and paint Chinese Export wall panel A very good looking and well-made piece, would suit any setting its ornately carved in s...
Teak
$325 / set
H 12 in Dm 3.5 in
Pair of Japanese Hinamatsuri Gold Lacquered Candleholders with Lotus Bobèches
Located in Yonkers, NY
A pair of Japanese vintage gold lacquered candleholders from the mid 20th century with lotus bobèches from a Hinamatsuri set. Created in Japan during the midcentury period, each of this pair of candleholders features a lotus shaped bobèche sitting above a simple shaft resting on a gadrooned base. Showcasing red undertones, this pair of gold lacquered candleholders, taken from a Hinamatsuri set (Hinamatsuri being a festival also called Girls...
Wood
Crystal Ball Sphere with Chinoiserie Base
Located in New York, NY
A crystal ball decorative sphere decorative object with Chinoiserie wood base, circa late-20th century. A great piece for a shelf, cocktail table, credenza, etc. Very good condition ...
Crystal
Snuff Bottles Reverse Painted Set 5 Birds
Located in Somis, CA
Our snuff bottles are 100% hand painted from within and topped with gemstone grade agate lids. The Chinese art of églomisé uses a very thin bamboo brush with a few strands of hair to...
Agate
Old Round Plate with Japanese Lacquer / Meiji-Taisho / Urushi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
A wooden vessel used from the Meiji era to the Taisho era. Probably a beech tree. It is made by hollowing out. It's very cool, isn't it? It is a lacquered tall foot round tray made ...
Beech, Lacquer
$600Sale Price|20% Off
H 7 in W 31 in D 17 in
Meiji Period Red and Black Painted Kimono Storage Box, Japan
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Japanese Kimono storage box, constructed of wood and bamboo, painted black with family crest painted in red on the sides. The top has wood slats, which ...
Wood
Vintage 1980s Postmodern Metal and Marble CD Rack Tower in Black
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Metal and Marble CD Rack Tower, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 Additional information: Materials: Marble, Metal Color: Black Item Type: Vintage, An...
Marble, Metal
$750 / item
H 19.5 in W 16 in D 16 in
Red Lacquered Bamboo Bird Cage with Handle and Hexagonal Base, Circa 1920-1940
Located in Yonkers, NY
A vintage red lacquered bamboo bird cage with handle and hexagonal base. This charming vintage bamboo bird cage, dating from circa 1920-1940,...
Bamboo, Wood
Red Lacquer Wedding Chest with Hand-Painted Décor, Qing Dynasty
Located in Yonkers, NY
An antique Chinese Qing Dynasty period dark red lacquer wooden wedding chest from the 19th century with unusual shape, hand-painted floral décor and brass hardware. Created in China ...
Wood
$795Sale Price|36% Off
H 3 in W 5.25 in D 0.25 in
Anglo-Indian Silver Belt Buckle with Red and Black Belts
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This is a highly ornate and decorative old Anglo-Indian silver belt buckle with red and black ribbon belts. It dates to the early 20th centu...
Silver
$9,500 / set
H 78.5 in W 54.5 in D 3 in
Thai Carved Door Panels, Red and Gold Painted Wood, Late 19th Century
Located in Queens, NY
2 PairS of Asian Thai style (19/20th Century) red and gold painted and carved door panels with dancing figures (PRICED PER Pair).
Gold Leaf
20th Century Japanese Artistic Jar in Hand Painted Porcelain
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Refined polychrome porcelain jar Japanese 1980s. Beautiful hand painted decoration. Ideal for decorating an Asian Style home. Brand at the base.
Porcelain