Renowned Italian furniture designer Willy Rizzo is celebrated for having produced eye-catching, sensational showpieces that merged plush fabrics with wood, metal and glass. Influenced by European modernists and drawing on the spare forms and clean lines of the American mid-century modern style, Rizzo prized functionality and simplicity in his dazzling work.
Born in Naples, Rizzo never intended on designing furniture. Instead, he began pursuing photography at the age of 12. By the 1960s, he had become a notable photographer, having captured images of such celebrities as Marilyn Monroe, Fred Astaire and Spanish artist Salvador Dalí. His experience with furniture design came about inadvertently when he moved to Rome in 1966. There, Rizzo rented an apartment with his wife Elsa that he described as "practically uninhabitable." Dissatisfied with the Scandinavian furniture options on offer, Rizzo built sofas, coffee tables and other furniture to suit the space's strong modern vibe. When his friends saw what he had accomplished, they were enamored by his furniture creations and commissioned him to build similar items for them.
The demand for Rizzo’s furniture grew from there. He established a production facility and workshop in Tivoli, just outside of Rome, which grew to house over 150 employees. There, finding inspiration in the work of iconic architects including Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, he created more than 30 unique furniture designs. Over the years he opened boutiques around the world to showcase and sell his furniture.
Rizzo prided himself on seamlessly blending the contemporary with the classic. “It was about creating something new for a traditional setting,” he said of his work. From his sleek sideboards to his low-profile side tables, elegant chairs and entire living room sets, Rizzo's style sensibility is evident throughout every detail of his designs.
Rizzo sold his company in 1978 and returned to photography. However, the presence of his furniture resonated into the new century and is sure to impact interior décor enthusiasts into the next. Over the years, high-profile collectors of Rizzo’s work have included French actress Brigitte Bardot, Salvador Dalí and American musician Lenny Kravitz.
On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage Willy Rizzo tables, lighting, seating and storage pieces.
Original 3-door Sideboard with red laminate surface by Willy RIZZO, Sabot 1972
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Berlin, Berlin
Two-door sideboard designed by Willy Rizzo. Italy, Maria Sabot, 1972. Dark red laminate and chrome detailed sideboard designed by Willy Rizzo and produced by Mario Sabot. Two doors ...
Laminate
Burl elmwood and brass sideboard by Willy Rizzo, Ed.Mario Sabot 1970
By Willy Rizzo, Mario Sabot
Located in Renens, CH
Burlwood and brass sideboard by Willy Rizzo, Ed.Mario Sabot 1970 The gorgeous credenza has been designed by the famous Italian fashion photographer turned designer Willy Rizzo. Thi...
Brass
Willy Rizzo, Bar, Room Divider for Mario Sabot, 1970
By Willy Rizzo, Mario Sabot
Located in Saarbrücken, SL
Serving as both a bar and a room divider, this piece of furniture by Willy Rizzo structures the room without closing it off. It consists of three modules: The two leather-covered sto...
Steel, Chrome
$12,900 / set
H 30 in W 47.38 in D 18.75 in
Willy Rizzo Black Laminated Wood & Chrome Sideboard, Dresser, Cabinet Italy Pair
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century Modern Willy Rizzo pair of very heavy black laminated wood dresser, sideboard, cabinet with circle chrome pulls and elegant chrome corners. Fea...
Chrome
$35,000 / set
H 47.25 in W 47.25 in D 98.43 in
Exclusive and Very Rare Batch of 7 Pieces "Alveo" by Willy Rizzo for Mario Sabot
Located in Manzano, IT
We offer for sale an exceptional and rare coordinated lot of 7 excellent pieces of furniture from the famous "Alveo" series, conceived by the creative genius of Willy Rizzo and pro...
Wood
$4,900
H 30.32 in W 69.69 in D 18.9 in
1970s Storage Cabinet designed by Willy Rizzo, manufactured by Mario Sabot
By Willy Rizzo, Mario Sabot
Located in Milano, IT
A vintage piece of furniture designed and crafted in the 1970s, featuring drawers, hinged doors, and a central drop-down compartment. Made of black-lacquered wood with chrome-plated ...
Metal
$4,491
H 29.53 in W 47.25 in D 18.9 in
1970s "Alveo" sideboard cabinet in briarwood by Willy Rizzo for Mario sabot
By Willy Rizzo, Mario Sabot
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Iconic sideboard designed in the 760s by Willy Rizzo for Italian manufacturer Mario Sabot. The cabinet with the special burl veneer that gives it special charm and luxury lends itsel...
Wood
$2,566Sale Price|54% Off
H 29.53 in W 47.25 in D 18.51 in
1970s Willy Rizzo Wood and Brass Chest of Drawers
By Willy Rizzo
Located in IT
Chest of drawers attributed to Willy Rizzo. ten drawers, wood and brass details. Size of the piece: w 120 cm, h 75 cm , d 47 cm A video and better pictures will be available soon.
Brass
$5,250
H 29.93 in W 47.25 in D 18.51 in
Willy Rizzo Chest of Drawers in Poplar Burl and Brass, Italy, 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Roma, IT
Refined and extremely elegant large chest of drawers in magnificent poplar burl and solid polished brass. This outstanding piece was designed by Willy Rizzo and produced in Italy dur...
Brass
$4,853Sale Price|20% Off
H 74.81 in W 52.17 in D 20.67 in
Willy Rizzo Sequoia Burl Display Cabinet for Mario Sabot Hollywood Regency 1970s
By Mario Sabot, Willy Rizzo
Located in Conversano, IT
Elegant, bold, and timeless: this rare bar cabinet designed by Willy Rizzo is the perfect embodiment of his unmistakable style, suspended between rationalist functionalism and sophis...
Brass, Chrome
Mid-Century Italian Willy Rizzo/Mario Sabot Sideboard
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Vilnius, LT
Midcentury Italian sideboard by Willy Rizzo/Mario Sabot. Sideboard is finished with black glossy stained veneer surface decorated with ch...
Burl, Mirror
$7,730
H 74.81 in W 51.97 in D 20.48 in
Willy Rizzo Sequoia Burl and Black Lacquer Display Cabinet with Glass Doors 1970
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Almelo, NL
Willy Rizzo Sequoia Burl and Black Lacquer Display Cabinet with Glass Doors, 1970s Elegant, bold, and timeless—this rare Sequoia Burl Display Cabinet, designed by Willy Rizzo for Ma...
Burl
$2,613Sale Price|20% Off
H 31.5 in W 980.32 in D 19.69 in
Willy Rizzo Hollywood Regency Cream and Brass Sideboard for Mario Sabot 1970
By Mario Sabot, Willy Rizzo
Located in Conversano, IT
Overview Important sideboard designed by Willy Rizzo for Mario Sabot in the 1970s, a perfect emblem of the sophisticated and cinematic aesthetic that made Willy Rizzo one of the most...
Brass, Sheet Metal
$6,066Sale Price|20% Off
H 30.71 in W 70.87 in D 19.69 in
Chrome and Burl Wood Credenza in the Style of Willy Rizzo, Italy, 1970
Located in Rome, IT
Fine burl wood rare credenza in the style of Willy Rizzo. The chrome accents, along the clean lines of the piece, serve to emphasize the richness of the wood as well as lend a subtle...
Burl
Sold
H 29.73 in W 69.69 in D 18.71 in
Black "Alveo" Sideboard & Bar Cabinet by Willy Rizzo for Sabot, Italy, 1970s
By Willy Rizzo, Mario Sabot
Located in Roma, IT
Striking and iconic "Alveo" sideboard designed by Willy Rizzo and produced by Sabot in Italy during the 1970s. In fabulous condition and fully original. Crafted in black lacquered ...
Metal, Stainless Steel, Chrome
Original black 3-door Sideboard by Willy RIZZO, Sabot 1972
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Berlin, Berlin
Black three-door Sideboard designed by Willy Rizzo. Italy, Mario Sabot, 1972. Black laminate and chrome detailed sideboard, designed by Willy Rizzo and produced by Mario Sabot. Two ...
Laminate
Original 3-door Sideboard in red by Willy RIZZO, Sabot 1972
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Berlin, Berlin
Two-door sideboard designed by Willy Rizzo. Italy, Maria Sabot, 1972. Dark red laminate and chrome detailed sideboard designed by Willy Rizzo and produced by Mario Sabot. Two doors ...
Laminate
Willy Rizzo Black Credenza Sideboard for Mario Sabot, 1970s
By Mario Sabot, Willy Rizzo
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Sideboard credenza designed by Italian photographer and designer Willy Rizzo and manufactured by Mario Sabot with a wood frame covered in black laminate and steel details with two do...
Metal
Willy Rizzo Stalin Mid-Century Sideboard for Sabot 70's
By Mario Sabot, Willy Rizzo
Located in bari, IT
Sideboard in glossy brown lacquered wood with four doors with four drawers, steel handles with satin aluminum edges designer Willy Rizzo for Sabot Italia.
Aluminum, Steel
Sold
H 29.34 in W 69.69 in D 18.71 in
Italian Cream White and Brass Sideboard by Willy Rizzo for Mario Sabot, 1970
By Willy Rizzo, Mario Sabot
Located in Renens, CH
Very nice three-door sideboard by Willy Rizzo from the Alveo series edited by Mario Sabot Editions, Italy 1970. Made from laminated wood with glossy brass details and brass edges,...
Brass
Sideboard by Willy Rizzo, Sabot 1972
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Berlin, Berlin
Two-door sideboard designed by Willy Rizzo. Italy, Maria Sabot, 1972. Dark red laminate and chrome detailed sideboard designed by Willy Rizzo and produced by Mario Sabot. Two d...
Laminate
Willy Rizzo for Mario Sabot Black Sideboard, Italy, 1974
By Mario Sabot, Willy Rizzo
Located in Naples, IT
Sideboard in satin black lacquered wood with brass profiles and chromed metal handles by Willy Rizzo for Mario Sabot, Italy, 1972. An iconic piece by Willy Rizzo in excellent conditi...
Steel
Vintage Burl Wood Credenza by Willy Rizzo, 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Very rare burled walnut veneer credenza designed by luxury/glamour furniture designer Willy Rizzo. It features 4 doors and 5 central drawers. The credenza is made of high quali...
Brass
Willy Rizzo Sideboard for Maria Sabot, 1974
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Munich, DE
Elegant black sideboard and room divider made in black laminated wood and chromed steel edges and drawers pulls on front designed by Willy Rizzo for Mario Sabot in Italy in 1974. It ...
Steel
Sold
H 29.53 in W 69.3 in D 18.51 in
Willy Rizzo Italian Design Burl Birch Wood and Gilt Brass Cabinet, 1970s
By Willy Rizzo, Mario Sabot
Located in Firenze, IT
This rare and breathtaking Mid-Century Modern Italian design credenza in glamorous Hollywood Regency style is attributable to the famous photographer and designer Willy Rizzo for Mar...
Brass
Credenza by Willy Rizzo
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Melbourne, VIC
Impressive credenza designed by Willy Rizzo for Mario Sabot, Italy, 1972. Made entirely from black laminated wood, every part of this sideboard has been meticulously designed and fin...