A modern Renaissance man, Italian designer Carlo di Carli wove his personal philosophy into his furniture creations. He believed that furniture should suit human movement and the surrounding environment, and each piece was made not only with an eye to form but also for everyday practicality. In today’s interiors, vintage di Carli furniture captures the extraordinary essence of Italian mid-century modernism.
Carlo di Carli was born in Milan in 1910. He studied at the Polytechnic University of Milan and developed an interest in design, architecture, writing and philosophy. After graduating in 1934, he worked under revered Italian architect and designer Gio Ponti. Shortly afterward, di Carli opened a studio with furniture maker Renato Angeli. In 1940, he began a relationship with the Milan Triennial design and art museum, where he eventually joined the board of directors.
Most of di Carli's furniture and architectural works came to fruition between the 1940s and 1970s. His architectural projects included the Church of Saint Ildefonso and the Via dei Giardini 7 building in Milan. However, di Carli is best known for his chair and table designs.
What sets di Carli’s chairs and other seating apart from those of other designers is that they are made to be lived in. As a result, his comfortable, functional and inviting designs earned the attention of leading Italian furniture companies like Cassina, Singer & Sons, Tecno and GUBI, and he played a significant role in 20th-century Italian furniture design.
In 1954, di Carli was awarded the Compasso d’Oro for his Cassina Model 683 chair. In 1957, he also won a Grand Prix at the Milan Triennial exhibition for a chair he designed for Tecno. Still committed to his academic pursuits, di Carli served as dean of the architecture faculty at the Polytechnic University of Milan from 1963 to 1968. He continued teaching until 1986 and continued writing until his death in 1999. His most important writings were published in a book titled Architettura, Spazio Primario.
Find vintage Carlo di Carli armchairs, dining chairs and coffee tables on 1stDibs.
$18,500 / set
Rare Pair of Carlo de Carli Lounge Chairs
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Rare pair of Carlo de Carli lounge chairs.
Brass
Carlo di Carli Side Chair
By Carlo di Carli
Located in San Francisco, CA
Carlo di Carli design side chair made out of cherrywood and newly refinished and upholstered in Navy velvet.
Carlo de Carli Boomerang Chair
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Sacile, PN
Beautiful boomerang chair by Carlo de Carli.
Brass, Iron
Poltrona Tria Lounge Chair in Rattan by Carlo de Carli for GUBI
By Gubi, Carlo di Carli
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Poltrona Tria Lounge Chair in Rattan by Carlo de Carli for GUBI Seamlessly merging the inherent beauty and charm of natural rattan with meticulous ergonomic precision, the Poltrona ...
Upholstery, Rattan
$8,984 / set
H 31.89 in W 25.2 in D 29.93 in
Carlo de Carli Model 806 Chairs, Produced by Cassina, Italy, 1950s
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
Carlo de Carli Model 806 armchairs, produced by Cassina, Italy, 1950s. Oak legs with dark grey (with a hint of brown) 100% mohair fabric. Fast shipping worldwide.
Fabric, Oak
$6,500 / set
H 20 in W 49 in D 18 in
Pair of 1950s Italian Curved Benches in the Manner of Carlo Di Carli
By Carlo di Carli
Located in New York, NY
This striking pair of benches captures an elegant balance between modern Italian design and handcrafted artistry. Each piece features a sculptural solid wood base with beautifully ar...
Upholstery, Walnut
Rare Carlo De Carli Sofa
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Munich, DE
Made by Cassina.
Fabric
$29,000 / set
H 32.5 in W 30 in D 30 in
Carlo De Carli, Rare Lounge Chairs, Brass, Bouclé, Singer & Sons, America, 1950s
By Carlo di Carli, M. Singer & Sons
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of white bouclé and brass lounge chairs designed by Carlo De Carli and produced by Singer & Sons, America, 1950s. Seat Height (inches): 16" Arm Height (inches): 22.5" All i...
Brass
$4,475 / set
H 33.86 in W 33.86 in D 35.44 in
Lounge chair in pink velvet and chrome, Carlo de Carli for Cinova
By Carlo di Carli
Located in amstelveen, NL
Carlo De Carli for Cinova, lounge chair model '915' with ottoman, metal, chrome, fabric, Italy, 1969. Tubular armchair with ottoman designed by Carlo De Carli in 1969, manufactured ...
Metal, Chrome
$7,000 / set
H 31.5 in W 24 in D 30 in
Italian Modern Carlo de Carli Lounge Chair and Ottoman in Walnut and Leather
By Carlo di Carli, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Brooklyn, NY
1950s Italian walnut lounge chair and ottoman designed by Carlo de Carli for M. Singer & Sons. Features a highly sculpted, ladder-back fra...
Metal
Carlo de Carli for M. Singer & Sons Lounge, Refinished / Mohair
By Carlo di Carli, M. Singer & Sons
Located in St. Louis, MO
Carlo de Carli for M. Singer & Sons lounge chair circa 1950s completely restored with medium espresso finish. Upholstered in gray mohair with new foam. Classic Mid-Century Modern Ita...
Mohair, Walnut
$2,906
H 38.59 in W 18.12 in D 16.93 in
1930s Art Deco Italian Side Chair by Borsani, Atelier di Varedo New Upholstered
By Atelier Borsani Varedo, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Vigonza, Padua
1930s Art Deco Italian robust side chair in ebonized mahogany and mahogany veneered the back, new upholstered with light blue cotton fabric. Original spring seat; upholstered and wax...
Mahogany
Rare Pair of Side Chairs by Carlo Bugatti
By Carlo Bugatti
Located in Montreal, QC
Rare pair of side chair by Carlo Bugatti made of ebonized wood, upholstered with parchment and inlaid with pewter details and mounted with hammered copper decorations. Italy: circ...
Walnut
Carlo di Carli Sculptural Side Chair for Singer & Sons, 1950s
Located in Coronado, CA
Carlo di Carli rare sculptural side chair in walnut with upholstered seat and back, manufactured by Singer & Sons in 1950s. This early example is quite possibly the nicest one ou...
Wool, Walnut
Pair of Upholstered Chairs by Carlo de Carli
By Carlo di Carli
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Upholstered chairs by Carlo de Carli. Bleached oak frames with upholstered seats and backs. Produced by Cassina, model 162. Priced as a pair.
Upholstery, Oak
Sold
H 36.62 in W 25.2 in D 35.04 in
Pair of Carlo de Carli Mid-Century Modern Italian Velvet Armchairs, 1960s
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Puglia, Puglia
This pair of armchairs designed by the famous Italian architect Carlo de Carli, have been restored and reupholstered in velvet like the original. About: At Christie's "Furniture Desi...
Velvet, Walnut
Dining Chairs by Carlo de Carli
By Carlo di Carli
Located in San Francisco, CA
A set of four dining side chairs model #693 in walnut with burgundy leather upholstery for Cassina. Italy, circa 1950s.
Upholstery, Walnut
Carlo di Carli Chairs
By Carlo di Carli
Located in San Francisco, CA
Pair of Carlo di Carli side chairs, Italy 1950s. Perfectly refinished and newly upholstered in a navy velvet.
Set of 14 Chairs by Carlo de Carli
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Sculptural chairs designed by Carlo de Carli in 1954. Model n. 585. The same chairs were in Hotel Parco dei Pricipi in Rome where De Carli worked with Gio Ponti. Beige velvet uphol...
Carlo de Carli and Gio Ponti Chair for Cassina, 1954
By Gio Ponti, Cassina, Carlo di Carli
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Rare side chair from the Parco dei Principi, Roma. Designed by Carlo de Carli and Gio Ponti for Cassina, Italy, 1954. This chair has a black lacquered walnut frame and still has its ...
Faux Leather, Walnut
Dining Chairs By Carlo di Carli
By Carlo di Carli, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A sculptural and elegant set of armless dining chairs in warm light walnut having an exposed frame with tapered legs and new upholstery.
Walnut, Upholstery
Set of Six Carlo di Carli 1950's Dining Chairs
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Beautiful set of six Carlo di Carli 1950's italian dining chairs re-upholstered in semola colored calf leather
Rosewood
Pair of Mid Century Armchairs by Carlo de Carli
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Astoria, NY
A pair of vintage armchairs with wood frames and floral printed upholstery by noted designer Carlo di Carli. They are in good vintage condition with age appropriate wear; upholst...
Wood, Textile