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.
Achille Castiglioni & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni 'Libreria Pensile' by Karakter
By Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Shelve designed by Achille Castiglioni and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni in 1957. Originally designed in 1957, perfected over the years, and produced by Bernini in 1966. Seeking to pa...
Wood
$6,455 / item
Achille Castiglioni 'Lungangolo' Wood Shelving Unit
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Shelving unit designed by Achille Castiglioni in 1991. Castiglioni is said to ponder a lot on lost space. Empty inches and square meters that could be filled with beautiful design—but for some reason just never were. Due to this thinking he did many designs intended specifically for the corners of the home. Lungangolo is one of those. Lungangolo is a multi-use piece of furniture originally produced by Bernini. The frame is made of four slender pillars with square cross-sec-tions in between to support the square shelves...
Wood
Achille Castiglioni and Giancarlo Pozzi 'Trio' Corner Furniture by Karakter
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Corner Furniture designed by Achille Castiglioni and Giancarlo Pozzi in 1988. Castiglioni is said to ponder a lot on lost space. Empty inches and square meters that could be fill...
Wood
Achille Castiglioni and Giancarlo Pozzi 'Trio' Corner Furniture by Karakter
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Corner Furniture designed by Achille Castiglioni and Giancarlo Pozzi in 1988. Castiglioni is said to ponder a lot on lost space. Empty inches and square meters that could be fill...
Wood
Achille Castiglioni & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni 'Libreria Pensile' for Karakter
By Achille Castiglioni, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Berlin, DE
Shelf designed by Achille Castiglioni and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni in 1957. Available in black lacquered ash or matte lacquered oak.
Wood
Zanotta Joy Rotating 5 Shelf Unit in Burgundy Medium Density Fiberboard
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Joy Rotating 5 Shelf Unit in Burgundy Medium Density Fiberboard by Achille Castiglioni Uprights and shelves in medium density fiberboard, finish...
Steel
$6,455 / item
Achille Castiglioni 'Lungangolo' Wood Shelving Unit
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Shelving unit designed by Achille Castiglioni in 1991. Castiglioni is said to ponder a lot on lost space. Empty inches and square meters that could be filled with beautiful desig...
Wood
Achille Castiglioni & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni 'Libreria Pensile' for Karakter
By Achille Castiglioni, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Shelve designed by Achille Castiglioni and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni in 1957. Originally designed in 1957, perfected over the years, and produced by Bernini in 1966. Seeking to par...
Wood
$6,455 / item
Achille Castiglioni 'Lungangolo' Wood Shelving Unit
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Shelving unit designed by Achille Castiglioni in 1991. Castiglioni is said to ponder a lot on lost space. Empty inches and square meters that could be filled with beautiful design—but for some reason just never were. Due to this thinking he did many designs intended specifically for the corners of the home. Lungangolo is one of those. Lungangolo is a multi-use piece of furniture originally produced by Bernini. The frame is made of four slender pillars with square cross-sec-tions in between to support the square shelves...
Wood
Achille Castiglioni 'Lungangolo' Shelving Unit by Karakter
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Berlin, DE
Castiglioni is said to ponder a lot on lost space. Empty inches and square meters that could be filled with beautiful design—but for some reason just never were. Due to this thinking...
Wood
Achille Castiglioni 'Lungangolo' Wood Shelving Unit by Karakter
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Shelving unit designed by Achille Castiglioni in 1991. Castiglioni is said to ponder a lot on lost space. Empty inches and square meters that could be filled with beautiful desig...
Wood
Achille Castiglioni 'Lungangolo' Wood Shelving Unit by Karakter
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Shelving unit designed by Achille Castiglioni in 1991. Castiglioni is said to ponder a lot on lost space. Empty inches and square meters that could be filled with beautiful design—but for some reason just never were. Due to this thinking he did many designs intended specifically for the corners of the home. Lungangolo is one of those. Lungangolo is a multi-use piece of furniture originally produced by Bernini. The frame is made of four slender pillars with square cross-sec-tions in between to support the square shelves...
Wood
Achille Castiglioni & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni 'Libreria Pensile' for Karakter
By Achille Castiglioni, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Shelve designed by Achille Castiglioni and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni in 1957. Originally designed in 1957, perfected over the years, and produced by Bernini in 1966. Seeking to pa...
Wood
Zanotta Joy Rotating 7 Shelf Unit in Black Medium Density Fiberboard
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Joy Rotating 7 Shelf Unit in Black Medium Density Fiberboard by Achille Castiglioni Uprights and shelves in medium density fiberboard, finished wi...
Steel
$2,963Sale Price|24% Off
H 52.5 in W 25.5 in D 12 in
Vintage Open Neoclassical Maple Built in Corner Shelving Cabinet Salvage
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
High end vintage corner cabinet built along the neoclassical style with fluted edges. Excellent for a built in project. Ideal for books and disp...
Maple
$3,400
H 67 in W 18 in D 18 in
Shelving Unit or Bookcase, Modern Chrome Shelving, C 1960, Midcentury Design
Located in New York, NY
A fantastic square, chrome shelving unit from the 1960's. Finished all around. Can be floating in a room for decorative objects. Glass shelves ar...
Chrome
Amuneal's Collector's 1 Bay Shelving Unit
By Amuneal
Located in New York, NY
This single bay version of Amuneal’s Collector’s shelving unit features solid machined brass fittings and posts in a warm brass finish. The unit mou...
Brass
$7,529 / item
H 48.82 in Dm 15.75 in
Mini MYDNA 4 Tier, Standing Shelf, Shelving Unit in Red by Joel Escalona
By Joel Escalona
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
MYDNA is a chic and contemporary storage system inspired by the DNA concept: both by its sophisticated double helix shape, and by the metaphorical statement that everything you place...
Plywood
Heavily Textured Swedish Pine Shelving Unit
Located in London, GB
Simple well executed design, constructed almost entirely using wooden dowels and pegs (rather than nails). Reminiscent of the works of Axel Einar Hijorth & the textured finishes of ...
Pine
Post Modern Oak Bookshelf Shelving Unit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Original Vintage Condition This postmodern oak shelving unit from the 1980s offers a striking blend of display, storage, and functional versatility. The open architectura...
Oak
Monster Shelving Unit
Located in New York, NY
The installation by the Madrid collective Casa Antillon called "The Monster" comprises a 4-tier shelving unit, boasting the studio’s signature wriggly edges and wobbly forms. The uni...
Birch, Plywood, Paint
$3,800
H 82.5 in W 110.5 in D 19 in
Mid Century Danish Modern Freestanding Shelf Unit in Teak c. 1950's
By William Watting, Poul Cadovius
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional Mid Century Danish Modern freestanding shelf unit attributed to William Watting for Fristo, made in Denmark circa 1950's. The shelf unit features 14 rectangular shelves w...
Teak
Fine Bamboo & Black Lacquer Corner Stands
Located in Greenwich, CT
A refined and elegant bamboo corner stand, four black lacquer shelves with rounded front, lattice fret work railing. First two photos shown two st...
Bamboo, Lacquer
Emporium Shelving Unit
Located in Pound Ridge, NY
Charming emporium shop fitting, free-standing shelving unit or bookcase, with five graduated U-shaped wood shelves. Unique shape, fantastic original fini...
Wood
$2,326
H 68.51 in W 39.38 in D 21.66 in
Mid Century Modern danish corner cabinet teak By Dyrlund , 1960s
By Dyrlund
Located in Gaggenau, DE
Mid Century Modern danish corner cabinet teak By Dyrlund , 1960s Design year: 1960s Danish Design Dimensions: 55 D x 100 W x 174 H cm with re...
Teak
$2,723
H 64 in W 30 in D 21 in
Heals, Attributed an Anglo-Japanese Aesthetic Movement Butterfly Corner Cabinet
By Ambrose Heal
Located in London, GB
Heals, attributed. An Anglo-Japanese aesthetic movement corner cabinet with shaped uprights and open fretwork with butterfly motifs, an open mirror bac...
Wood
Sold
H 78.75 in W 13 in D 35.44 in
“Beta” Bookcase by Achille Castiglioni for BBB Bonacina, Italy, 1970
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Madrid, ES
The Beta modular bookcase was designed by Achille Castiglioni for BBB Bonacina in Italy, circa 1970. This shelving system reflects Castiglioni’s functional yet playful approach to de...
Wood
BBB Bonacina Eta Shelving by Achille Castiglioni & Paolo Ferrari
By Achille Castiglioni, Paolo Ferrari
Located in Rochester, England
The BBB Bonacina Eta Shelving, designed by Achille Castiglioni and Paolo Ferrari in the 1970s, is a quintessential piece of mid-century modern design. This shelving unit exemplifies ...
Steel