One of the most enigmatic and polarizing figures to emerge in Italian design, Aldo Tura is an outlier in the world of mid-century furniture. The designer’s glamorous bar carts, coffee tables, cabinets and more resist categorization and draw inspiration from Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Baroque, Surrealist and modernist styles.
Tura moved through distinct phases in his career in terms of aesthetics, influences and finishes, rendering his life’s work exciting and diverse. Despite these phases, he held a singular devotion to one material: lacquered goatskin. Tura established a furniture production house in 1939 in Lombardy, and some of his early work focused on tables, decorative lamps and more. He later expanded to bar furnishings like rolling carts, cabinets and complementary barware accessories like ice buckets and cocktail shakers. The eccentric, gleaming and luxe surface of lacquered goatskin was a constant, along with eggshell, parchment and leather.
By the 1950s, Tura had begun to use hand-painted figural panels on the surface of cabinets, serveware (such as carafes) and other pieces. He even replicated famous works by artists like Monet and Bruegel the Elder and art from the Middle Ages, sometimes playfully embedding the paintings on cabinets shaped like oversize books. Even though he had a favored color palette of rich chocolate browns and deep emeralds, his style remained consistently hard to define.
Tura was unlike most of his Italian contemporaries but held a similar reverence for the nation’s traditional craftsmanship and artisanal techniques. He never followed the growing trend of mass-produced, industrial furniture and stuck to creating small, meticulously handcrafted collections. This principled choice means that today, a Tura piece is a rare and highly coveted collectible. The Tura firm continues to operate in Brianza, promoting Italian craftsmanship and the eclectic materials embraced by their namesake designer.
Find authentic vintage Aldo Tura furniture today on 1stDibs.
Aldo Tura Carved Pear Wood Lidded Box with Bronze Crab, 1940
By Aldo Tura
Located in Conversano, IT
Overview A rare early lidded box by Aldo Tura, made in Italy in the 1940s. Hand-carved from solid pear wood, featuring a softly undulating, sculptural surface and a warm amber patina...
Bronze
1960s Goatskin and Brass Dish with Lid by Aldo Tura
By Aldo Tura
Located in London, London
Covered dish Goatskin body Brass lid By Aldo Tura Wooden dish 1960s Italy
Brass
Pair of Aldo Tura Vintage Goatskin Bowls/ Vide-Poches
By Aldo Tura
Located in North Miami, FL
This lovely pair of rich brown goatskin clad small bowls in two geometric designs by Aldo Tura, Italy. THIS ITEM IS LOCATED AND WILL SHIP FROM OUR EAST HAMPTON, NY SHOWROOM. Square...
Metal
$280Sale Price|20% Off
Aldo Tura Carved Walnut Bowl for Macabo, Mid-Century Modern, Italy
By Aldo Tura, Macabo
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Aldo Tura for Macabo walnut basket centrepiece hand carved wood and brass, Italy, 1950s.
Wood
1960s Aldo Tura Carved Wood Bowl and Nutcracker Macabo Italy
By Macabo, Aldo Tura
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s Aldo Tura Sculptural Wood Bowl with Stainless Steel Nutcracker Macabo ITALY Bowl has a center stem with hook to place nutcracker. 8.5H x 6.63 in diameter Maker Stamped Macabo ...
Stainless Steel
Italian Handmade Maple Leaf Shaped Centerpiece, Aldo Tura for Macabo, 1950s
By Aldo Tura, Macabo
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful midcentury handmade birchwood maple leaf-shaped centrepiece. This beautiful piece is signed by Macabo on the back and it was probably designed by Aldo Tura in the 1950s in ...
Wood, Birch
Wood Box Bowl by Aldo Tura for Macabo Italy 1950s Art Deco
By Macabo, Aldo Tura
Located in Rome, IT
Decorative wooden box with metal handle in the shape of acorns by the Italian designer Aldo Tura for Macabo Cusano Milanino. Made in Italy, circa 1950. On the bottom the original s...
Metal
Aldo Tura Model 1225D Goatskin Parchment Ice Bucket / Thermos, Italy, 1970
By Aldo Tura
Located in Conversano, IT
Overview An elegant ice bucket / insulated thermos by Aldo Tura, made in Italy in 1970, model 1225, covered in lacquered goatskin parchment and adorned with a hand-painted green clas...
Parchment
$320Sale Price|20% Off
Aldo Tura Hand-Crafted Bowl, Wood, Mid-Century Modern, Italy, 1950s
By Aldo Tura
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Aldo Tura hand crafted bowl.
Wood
$525Sale Price|25% Off
Aldo Tura Bowls and Thermos Bottle Italian Made for Cusano
By Aldo Tura
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Aldo Tura bowl and thermos bottle Bowl dimensions: 16 H cm 20 D cm Bottle dimension : 32 H cm 16 D cm.
Aluminum
19th Century Large Pantry Box with Lid
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century pantry box with lid in good condition. Found in New England in good condition.
Wood
Aldo Tura Green Goatskin Chrome Box
By Aldo Tura
Located in Munich, DE
Elegant cigar box in lacquered goatskin. This box was executed, circa 1960 in light green parchment with chrome parts. Very good vintage condition. Along with artists like Piero Forn...
Goatskin
1960s Jorgen Mogensen Dish with a Light Glaze
By Royal Copenhagen, Jørgen Mogensen
Located in Knebel, DK
Dish in a light glaze with bird motifs made by Jørgen Mogensen for Royal Copenhagen in the 1960´s. Stamped with production number 21388, Jørgen Mogensens signature, Royal Copenhagen...
Stoneware
$561
H 2.17 in W 15.36 in D 9.65 in
Mid-Century Modern Blue Crab Brass Trinket Box, Korea, 1960s Design
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Blue crab brass trinket box, 1960s Vintage - Decoration - Home Decor Measures : 39x24.5cm H:5.5cm Material : Brass A 1960s blue crab trinket box, recognizable by its paddle-like hin...
Brass
$320 / set
H 2.37 in W 4.73 in D 5.52 in
Set of Three Cast Brass Textured Bowls with Bronze Patina, Vide-poches
By Alguacil & Perkoff Ltd.
Located in London, London
Handmade cast brass bowls with a patina finish. Each of those original and elegant bowls are handmade individually. Cast using very traditional techniques. Slight variations in polished finishes, patterns and sizes are characteristics of such original handmade creations. These characteristics enhance the beauty of the product and make each piece unique. Brass Bowl with Legs: H 6 cm x W 12 cm x D 14 cm / H 2.37 in x W 4.73 in x D 5.52 in Brass Shallow Bowl: H 4.5 cm x W 11 cm x D 10 cm / H 1.78 in x W 4.34 in x D 3.94 in Small Brass Bowl...
Brass
Aldo Londi Bitossi Safety Pin Bowl, Ceramic, Blue & Gold, Italy, 1960s
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in New York, NY
Aldo Londi Bitossi Safety Pin Bowl, Ceramic, Blue & Gold, Italy, 1960s. Medium scale hand thrown footed bowl glazed in "Rimini blue" and featuring Londi's Safety Pin decor on bot...
Pottery, Ceramic
$812
H 1.97 in W 7.88 in D 7.88 in
Midcentury Box in Red Goatskin and Chrome Attributed to Aldo Tura Italy, 1960s
By Aldo Tura
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury beautiful squared box in red goatskin, wood and chrome details attributed to the Italian designer Aldo Tura. Made in Italy in the 1960s.
Metal, Steel, Chrome
$3,497
H 13.39 in W 3.19 in D 3.08 in
Sculptural Goatskin Pepper Mill Blue Cat by Aldo Tura for Macabo, Italy 1960s
By Macabo, Aldo Tura
Located in München, BY
Exceptional, sculptural pepper mill by Aldo Tura for Macabo, Italy, 1960s. Hand-painted, expressive blue cat on goatskin. A rare, fine collector's item. Stamped Macabo on the base. ...
Metal
David Auld Carved Korina Wood Small Bowl, 1960s hand carved
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Sculptural Organic Modern carved wooden bowl features a rounded form resembling a leaf, influenced by Mid Century Modern and Minimalist Styles, with soft, flowing outlines and tactil...
Fruitwood
Aldo Tura Sculpture, Red, Cream, Geometric, Lacquered Goatskin, Signed
By Aldo Tura
Located in New York, NY
Aldo Tura geometric sculpture, lacquered goatskin, red, cream, signed. Small to medium scale two-piece wood table sculpture covered in lacquered goatskin ...
Goatskin
Mid-Century Modern Hand Carved Wood Fruits and Bowl
Located in Barcelona, ES
Set of 10 hand carved wooden fruits with bowl. High level of craftsmanship, executed in a handful of different hardwoods.
Hardwood
Aldo Tura Parchment Jewelry Box
By Aldo Tura
Located in New York, NY
Jewelry box in lacquered parchment and wood by Aldo Tura. Italy, circa 1960s.
Parchment Paper
Aldo Tura Square Resin Ashtray with Brass Well
By Aldo Tura
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Square resin ashtray with a deep round brass well by Aldo Tura, c.1960s, Italy. The ashtray features a bluish marbled resin body with center brass well. This piece can be used for it...
Brass
Large Aldo Tura Goatskin and Brass Bowl or Vide Poche, Italy 1960's
By Aldo Tura
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Large Aldo Tura Goatskin and Brass Bowl or Vide Poche, Italy 1960's Lacquered beige-colored goatskin wrapped wooden bowl, vide poche or catch-all with brass insert. Designed by Al...
Brass
Aldo Tura Green Parchment and Brass Ashtray Catchall, Italy, 1960s
By Aldo Tura
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Aldo Tura green goatskin ashtray from Italy in the 1960s. Green goatskin over wood with removable brass tray. Paper label on underside. In good vintage condition with minor surface a...
Brass
Aldo Tura Wood & Brass Vide Poche, Italy, C.1960s
By Aldo Tura
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Just in this exquisite example ofI Italian mid-century design by the well known designer Aldo Tura, C1960s This Vide Poche or catch all is made of a wood base with lacquered goatsk...
Brass
Aldo Tura Carved Walnut Wood & Brass Bowl for Macabo, Italy, c.1970
By Macabo, Aldo Tura
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Aldo Tura Carved Walnut Wood & Brass Bowl for Macabo, Italy, c.1970. This piece is signed with the makers mark to the bottom.
Brass
Sold
H 4.34 in W 19.3 in D 5.52 in
20th Century Italian Carved Wood Tray By Aldo Tura For Macabo c.1960
By Macabo, Aldo Tura
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
An Aldo Tura wood tray crafted for Macabo, Cusano Milanino, made in Italy around the 1960s. This exquisite piece reflects the distinctive style of Aldo Tura, a renowned Italian desig...
Wood
Rare & Important Vintage Aldo Tura Goatskin Vide Poche/ Bowl
By Aldo Tura
Located in North Miami, FL
This lovely goatskin clad square vide-poche/ bowl by Aldo Tura retains its original label to verso. Gold toned metal dish is removeable for cleaning. THIS ITEM IS LOCATED AND WILL ...
Metal
1970's Vintage Lacquered Goat Skin Magazine Rack by Aldo Tura
By Aldo Tura
Located in London, GB
A beautiful and rare paper rack designed by Aldo Tura and made in Italy in the 1970’s. It is made from lacquered goat skin parchment, sitting on solid brass feet. The inside is li...
Goatskin
Mid Century Ice Bucket by Aldo Tura, 1960s
By Aldo Tura
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Mid century ice bucket by Aldo tura made from goatskin and brass handle. Intresting piece with a great look. Good, original conditio...
Brass
Sold
H 8 in W 9.5 in D 8 in
Mid-Century Macabo Cusano Aldo Tura Sculptural Wooden Bowl with Brass Handles
By Aldo Tura
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This Mid-Century Modern sculptural carved and polished handled bowl or basket is signed Macabo Casano and done by Aldo Tura of Italy in approximately 1970. The bowl component is done...
Brass
Aldo Tura for Macabo Wooden Tray, Italy 1970s
By Macabo, Aldo Tura
Located in Naples, IT
Beautiful wooden serving tray by the designer Aldo Tura for the Macabo Milano Design company and bears the Cappelli label.
Wood
Aldo Tura Catch It All Dish Mid-Century Modern Italy, 1950s
By Aldo Tura
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration: Aldo Tura catch it all dish Mid-Century Modern, Italy in goatskin and brass from Italy, 1950s Dimensions: 9 1/4" in diameter x 3 1/4" height Original u...
Brass