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 and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni 'Rampa' Multifunctional Station
By Achille Castiglioni, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Multifunctional station on wheels designed by Achille Castiglioni and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni in 1965. Rampa, a multifunctional station on wheels from 1965, was inspired by the traditional florist’s display stands...
Wood
Achille Castiglioni and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni 'Rampa' by Karakter
By Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Multifunctional station on wheels designed by Achille Castiglioni and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni in 1965. Rampa, a multifunctional station on wheels from 1965, was inspired by the tr...
Wood
Achille Castiglioni and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni 'Rampa' Multifunctional Station
By Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Multifunctional station on wheels designed by Achille Castiglioni and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni in 1965. Rampa, a multifunctional station on wheels from 1965, was inspired by the traditional florist’s display stands...
Wood
Achille Castiglioni and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni 'Rampa' Multifunctional Station
By Achille Castiglioni, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Multifunctional station on wheels designed by Achille Castiglioni and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni in 1965. Rampa, a multifunctional station on wheels from 1965, was inspired by the ...
Wood
Achille Castiglioni and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni 'Rampa' Multifunctional Station
By Achille Castiglioni, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Multifunctional station on wheels designed by Achille Castiglioni and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni in 1965. Rampa, a multifunctional station on wheels from 1965, was inspired by the tr...
Wood
Achille Castiglioni and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni 'Rampa' Multifunctional Station
By Achille Castiglioni, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Multifunctional station on wheels designed by Achille Castiglioni and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni in 1965. Rampa, a multifunctional station on wheels from 1965, was inspired by the traditional florist’s display stands...
Wood
Achille Castiglioni and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni 'Rampa' Multifunctional Station
By Achille Castiglioni, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Multifunctional station on wheels designed by Achille Castiglioni and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni in 1965. Rampa, a multifunctional station on wheels from 1965, was inspired by the traditional florist’s display stands...
Wood
$55,699
H 76.78 in W 43.31 in D 21.66 in
Modern Penedo Quartz Display Cabinet, Handmade in Poerugal by Greenapple
By GF Modern, Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Mid-Century Modern Penedo Quartz Display Cabinet, Handmade in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple The Penedo quartz display cabinet captures the enduring beauty of nature’s landscapes,...
Onyx, Carrara Marble, Granite, Brass
$555
H 53.5 in W 26 in D 14 in
Vernis Martin French Curio Cabinet Bronze Mounts and Hand Painted Panels
By Vernis Martin
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Distressed paint but structurally sound and tight, Vernis Martin vitrine with hand painted panels, bronze mounts and curved glass. Has working lockset & key. Three glass shelves all ...
Bronze
Interesting Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze and Lacquer Vitrine Cabinet
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Fine Late 19th Century Transitional Style Gilt Bronze and Lacquer Vitrine Cabinet The large gilt bronze and all glass single door vitrine above a fine two door lacquered cabinet ...
Bronze
Pair Campaign Style Curio Display Cabinets by Henredon
By Henredon
Located in Dallas, TX
We are very pleased to offer a great pair of gorgeous, sleek and minimalist display cabinets made by the famous Henredon furniture makers, made in the USA. Part of Henredon’s early 1...
Brass
$11,023
H 38.19 in W 34.26 in D 17.33 in
Striking Pair of Midcentury Style Brass and Colored Murano Glass Cabinet, 2020
Located in Rome, IT
He and she pair of very fine handmade Cabinet by a master artisan. Brass frame with handmade and handcut cobalt blue and white opaline Murano glass ra...
Wood, Glass
$7,200
H 81 in W 59.75 in D 18 in
Barbara Barry for Henredon Vitrine Cabinet with Glass Doors and Shelves
By Barbara Barry, Henredon
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Barbara Barry for Henredon wooden bow front vitrine cabinet from the late 20th century with oval motifs, glass doors and glass shelves. Designed by Barbara Barry for Henredon during the later years of the 20th century, this wooden cabinet features a thin curving cornice sitting above two bow-front glass doors, adorned with thin oval motifs and fitted with a single brass pull. These doors open to reveal four glass in wooden frames inner shelves offering convenient display opportunities. The ensemble is raised on four short tapered feet. The décor on the side shows great restraint as it is left bare and the back is simply planked. With its clean lines and modern design, this Barbary Barry for Henredon vintage vitrine...
Glass, Wood
Pair of Burl Wood, Brass and Glass Showcase Curio Cabinets
By Tomlinson
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of china vitrine cabinets by Tomlinson are an excellent example of their timeless quality and design. This rectangular top cabinet features two doors with glass panels and brass...
Brass
$14,550 / set
H 84 in W 36 in D 16 in
Pair Modern Black Lacquered & Brass Curio Display Cabinets by Mastercraft
By Mastercraft
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of modern Mastercraft black lacquered, brass and glass display cabinets or vitrines. These beautiful cabinets feature a burnished brass over a black lacquered frame, three adjus...
Brass
Antique French Louis XV Walnut and Glass Vitrine Cabinet, Circa 1880
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Louis XV walnut and glass vitrine cabinet, Circa 1880.
Walnut
$5,996Sale Price / set|25% Off
H 77.5 in W 32 in D 15.25 in
Vintage Display Cases Vitrines by American of Martinsville, Set of 3
By American of Martinsville
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below. Shipping Quote Information The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and handle all the shipping details. However, if you let us know what 1st Dibs is quoting you and give us your zip code, we can sometimes ship it for less and get it to you faster. For a shipping quote, click on "ASK THE SELLER" under the purchase button and provide your zip code. Offering one of our recent Palm Beach estate fine furniture acquisitions of a Set of 3 vintage display cases...
Brass
$12,500 / set
H 82.25 in W 30 in D 18 in
Pair of Henredon Black Lacquered and Brass Display Cabinets/Vitrines
By Henredon
Located in Dallas, TX
Exceptional pair of tall 1970s black lacquer and brass vitrines by Henredon. Featuring clean lacquered frames with brass trim on the doors. The cabinets feature beveled glass sides a...
Brass
Pair of Luxurious Illuminated Étagères by Henredon
By Henredon
Located in Dallas, TX
An exceptional pair of tall illuminated vitrines by Henredon, gracefully combines traditional forms with modern design elements. Good design, meticulous tailoring and superior constr...
Brass