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.
Rare Jens Quistgaard Rosewood Peppermills for Dansk
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Rare Danish rosewood and sterling silver Peppermills by renowned Danish designer Jens Quistgaard for Dansk. In beautiful condition. These are highly collectible, both have the metal...
Sterling Silver
Aldo Tura Sliver Plated Wine Server with Goatskin Handle
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A sliver plated wine server with goatskin handle designed by Aldo Tura A wonderful elegant way to serve champagne or wine!
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Large Red Boho Coconut Shell Obelisk Sculpture by Maitland Smith
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Located in Palm Springs, CA
1970’s Red coconut shell with aged brass feet obelisk sculpture by Maitland Smith. Constructed of wood covered with tessellated stained red coconut shell and cleared lacquered with ...
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This rare sculptural table lamp is designed by Studio Reggiani circa 1960s. Adjustable hight and light direction. Made in Italy
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1960s Astonishing cocktail shaker in red parchment. Made in Italy. This astonishing vintage cocktail shaker beautifully captures the glamour and sophisticated craftsmanship of mid-c...
Metal
French Mid-Century Olive Wood Pepper Mill with Brass Finial, 1950s
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
A refined example of french mid-century tableware, this pepper mill is crafted from beautifully turned olive wood, showcasing the species’ distinctive, expressive grain. Its elegant,...
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Aldo Tura, Italian Mid-Century Modern, Carafe, Brass, Red Lacquered Goatskin
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Located in Stamford, CT
Aldo Tura, Italian Mid-Century Modern, Carafe or Decanter, Brass, Red Lacquered Goatskin This Aldo Tura carafe is a stunning example of Italian Mid-Century Modern design from the 19...
Brass
Spanish Mid-Century Olive Wood Pepper Mill with Brass Finial, 1950s
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
A refined example of spanish mid-century tableware, this pepper mill is crafted from beautifully turned olive wood, showcasing the species’ distinctive, expressive grain. Its elegant...
Brass
Aldo Tura Cocktail Shaker, Italy
Located in San Francisco, CA
Aldo Tura cocktail shaker, Italy Refined design made with high quality materials and attention to detail. In very good original condition, l...
Brass
Mid-century cream parchment cocktail shaker, Aldo Tura Italy 1950s
By Aldo Tura
Located in Firenze, IT
Mid-century cream parchment cocktail shaker Aldo Tura Italy 1950s The leather is not lacquered as Tura sets usually are in the later 60s productions but bare, very rare to find in ...
Brass
