Of his mid-century modern furniture designs, which marry minimalist simplicity with elegance and symmetry, Italian designer Giovanni Offredi once said: “Beauty should not be confused with appearance, since the latter is the superficial part of the form.”
Born in Milan, in 1927, Offredi did not pursue formal education as an architect, unlike many of his contemporaries in the first half of the 20th century. He also did not begin designing furniture until later in his career. His earliest known furnishings were commissioned by wealthy Milanese families in 1960.
It wasn’t until the late 1960s — when Offredi met Sergio Saporiti, owner of Italian furniture manufacturer and design shop Saporiti — that his furniture designs would become more prominent. In 1970, Offredi entered into a partnership with Saporiti, producing several innovative and modernistic furniture lines.
Among Offredi’s most notable pieces are the gently curving Wave chair, sofa and lounge chair, the Onda coffee table and the Paracarro dining room table, with its cylindrical concrete base, glass top and metal cross section. He also designed a series of credenzas and sideboards in lacquered wood, featuring a high gloss finish and bold colors.
Offredi enjoyed a successful collaboration with Saporiti throughout the 1970s. In 1984, he began a partnership with Italian cabinet and kitchen manufacturer Snaidero, designing modern kitchens. His final kitchen design, Kube, in 2006, featured streamlined forms, contrasting materials and colors and a recessed aluminum toe kick with a reflective mirror finish, which made the kitchen appear suspended above the ground. The kitchen won a Good Design Award from the Chicago Design Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design, in 2008. Offredi never had the opportunity to accept that prize — he died in 2007.
Although Offredi’s works are relatively obscure, they are sought out by in-the-know furniture collectors and enthusiasts worldwide.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Giovanni Offredi chairs, tables, case pieces and storage cabinets.
Credenza modello Lenox di Giovanni Offredi per Saporiti Italia
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Ghedi, IT
La Credenza Lenox progettata da Giovanni Offredi per Saporiti Italia negli anni ’70 rappresenta uno dei capolavori iconici del design italiano postmoderno e radicale. Realizzata con ...
Hardwood
Italy modern Glass and cast iron Consoles by Offredi for Saporiti, 1970s
By Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
Located in MIlano, IT
Italy modern glass and cast iron consoles by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia, 1970s Pair of consoles with semi-oval top in thick glass. The cast iron base is composed by an upp...
Metal
Dunbar Credenza
By Dunbar Furniture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This vintage modern Dunbar credenza features a lacquered hard wood base, spacious interior cabinets, and unique metal pulls. This beautiful Mid-Century piece is...
Wood
$7,000
H 29.53 in W 96.46 in D 19.69 in
Vittorio Introini “Pellicano” Sideboard for Saporiti, Italy, 1960s
By Vittorio Introini, Silvio Coppola
Located in amstelveen, NL
Italian modern “Pellicano” sideboard designed by Vittorio Introini for Saporiti, circa 1960s. This long, credenza features a beautifully proportioned architectural form, finished in...
Ash, Lacquer
$2,310 / set
H 15.75 in W 27.56 in D 27.56 in
Set of Two "Inlay" Night Stands by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti, Italy, 1980s
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Milan, IT
Set of two "Inlay" nightstands - chest of drawers by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti. Extremely capable deep drawers, burnished brass details and iridescent wood surfaces. Also availab...
Wood
$2,800Sale Price|31% Off
H 35.44 in W 58.27 in D 14.97 in
Midcentury Italian Mirror Console Table with Marble Top and Base
By Cantu
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
Significant lacquered parchment and marble console table made in Cantu, Italy in 1959. Cantú was for a long time a center for furniture production of importance designed by great des...
Marble
$1,164Sale Price|20% Off
H 31.5 in W 84.65 in D 17.72 in
Saporiti Minimal 1970 Sideboard in Solid Chestnut Drawers and Doors
By Saporiti
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Saporiti minimal 1970 sideboard in solid chestnut drawers and doors.
Chestnut
$2,917
H 98.04 in W 60.24 in D 25.2 in
Credenza Libreria Francese a Due Ante con Alzata a Vetrina 1870 Radica di Noce
Located in Milano, MI
Credenza Francese 1870 in Noce e Radica mobile antico a due corpi, con alzata a vetri, a due ante e due cassetti di epoca Luigi Filippo 1870 circa. Questa libreria francese a due cor...
Glass, Oak, Poplar, Walnut, Burl
CraftAssociates Credenza, Milo Baughman Credenza, Walnut
By Milo Baughman, Craft Associates
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
CraftAssociates Credenza, Milo Baughman Credenza, Walnut The Milo Baughman Walnut Sideboard for Craft Associates® Furniture is expertly crafted. This piece can be customized in size...
Wood, Walnut
Unavailable|$9,600
H 37.41 in W 96.46 in D 19.69 in
Italian "Pellicano" Sideboard by Vittorio Introini for Saporiti
By Vittorio Introini, Saporiti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian midcentury "Pellicano" wooden sideboard designed by Vittorio Introini for Saporiti / Made in Italy in 1960s Measures: length 96...
Wood
$26,836
H 49.61 in W 124.02 in D 17.33 in
credenza libreria Highboard "Archimede" di Fukuoh Hizori per Gavina 1961
By Gavina
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Credenza / Mobile Alto modello “Archimede” disegnato all'inizio degli anni 60 da Hirozi Fukuoh per Gavina. Realizzato nei primi anni sessanta con legni pregiati E' un sistema di 6 mo...
Wood
$13,766
H 66.93 in W 82.68 in D 18.9 in
Italy Mid-Century Sideboard Credenza by Paolo Buffa per Palazzi dell'Arte Cantù
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Italian Paolo Buffa credenza of the 1940s, in massive walnut and veneer rosewood chessboard. Shaped top mirror, black lacquered glass top, four doors with internal shelf, original gi...
Brass
Console Table Iron in Wood and Metal Feet
By Mambo Unlimited Ideas
Located in Lisbon, PT
Iron console is a high quality product by Mambo Unlimited Ideas, crafted in natural walnut veneer and brass feet. The console is divided by one shelf and in two drawers and allows ma...
Metal, Gold Plate
Mid-Century Modern Wall Unit by Saporiti, Italy, 1970s
By Saporiti
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Wall Unit by Saporiti, Italy, 1970s.
Wood
Sold
H 24.41 in W 98.43 in D 25.6 in
Sideboard Model "Birds-Eye" in Maple by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti, 1970s
By Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
Located in Hellouw, NL
Saporiti's darling Giovanni Offredi showed with this 1970s sideboard from the 'Birds-Eye' series that he remained true to his modernist view on design. As a great critic of the rise ...
Maple
Credenza by Giovanni Offredi for Tosi, Italy, 1970s
By Giovanni Offredi
Located in Hellouw, NL
Impressive and Unique Credenza by Giovanni Offredi for Tosi from the 'Antologia Series' from Italy, 1970s. This credenza has an Art Deco style, however is from a later period. The design has round shapes on the edges and beautifully detailed handles. The credenza is also very practical with four doors, multiple shelves, and four drawers. The top middle shelf has a tambour door. The credenza is in good condition and made of plywood and maple. The three small vertical shelves...
Maple, Plywood
Sideboard by G.Offredi for Saporiti
By Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
Located in Melbourne, VIC
Sideboard by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia. The Internal draws and cupboards are finished in bird’s eye maple and the exterior has been new...
Lacquer
Sideboard by G.Offredi for Saporiti
By Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
Located in Melbourne, VIC
Sideboard by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia. The internal draws and cupboards are finished in bird's-eye maple and the exterior has been new...
Lacquer
Sold
H 24.41 in W 98.43 in D 25.6 in
Saporiti 'Bird's Eye' Maple Sideboard by Giovanni Offredi, Italy, 1950s
By Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland
Gorgeous and large maple burl 'bird’s eye' wood sideboard. Coated in beautiful high-gloss acrylic varnish. This makes it almost come alive and together with the Birds Eye maple gives...
Metal
Radica Sideboard by Giovanni Offredi
By Giorgio Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Munich, DE
Beautiful sideboard designed by Giovanni Offredi and made by Saporiti, Italy 1975. Stunning “Radica” burl-wood coated in acrylic. Brass handles and legs.
Brass