Milanese designer and architect Achille Castiglioni sought to inject personality into all of his work, and found deep inspiration in everyday objects. A legend of Italian mid-century modernism, he created iconic, universally loved table lamps, chairs and other lighting and furniture with his likeminded brothers during the postwar years.
There was the Snoopy lamp, which brings to mind the unmistakable Peanuts character, while the shape of a common street lamp inspired the design behind the Arco floor lamp. Elsewhere, the Toio floor lamp — a provocative fixture in any living room — was made with automotive parts as well as run-of-the-mill recreational gear.
Castiglioni studied the classics at Liceo Classico Giuseppe Parini, art at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera and finally architecture and design at the Polytechnic University of Milan. After graduating in 1944, Castiglioni began working with his brothers Pier Giacomo and Livio at the studio they cofounded with classmate Luigi Caccia Dominioni.
Livio left to pursue lighting design and sound technology, leaving Achille and Pier Giacomo to continue to collaborate on various projects. One such design was the iconic Taraxacum hanging lamp for FLOS which featured a resin “cocoon” created with sprayed plastic polymers that protects its steel core and allows for the diffusion of light.
Castiglioni won Italy’s highest award for industrial design — the Compasso d’Oro — seven times, and the Museum of Modern Art was home to his first individual retrospective in the United States. Castiglioni later taught at the Polytechnic University of Turin and at Polytechnic in Milan.
Castiglioni’s designs remain timeless. Some of them can be found in Tokyo’s Living Design Center Ozone, the Triennale di Milano and the Hangaram Art Museum at the Seoul Arts Center.
Find vintage Achille Castiglioni lighting, seating, tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Table lamp Blitz by Trabuccho, Vecchi & Volpi for Stilnovo - 1970s
By Trabucco, Vecchi, Volpi
Located in Uccle, Bruxelles
Magnificent "Blitz" table lamp designed by Trabuccho, Vecchi & Volpi for Stilnovo in the 1970s. This lamp features a stunning sculptural form created by folding a sheet of steel. It...
Metal
Pendant light Alesia by Carlo Forcolini for Artemide - 1980s
By Carlo Forcolini
Located in Uccle, Bruxelles
Amazing pendant light " Alesia" by Carlo Forcolini for Artemide in the 1980s. This pendant light has two special features. The first is its cable that extends up to 200 cm. This ca...
Metal
French Floor lamp - 1950s
Located in Uccle, Bruxelles
Magnificent French-made floor lamp dating from the 1950s. It is made of black metal with beautiful brass finishes, as seen in the photos. This lamp is in vintage condition and shows...
Metal
Italian green and black floor lamp - 1970s
Located in Uccle, Bruxelles
Superb Italian green and black floor lamp dating from the 1970s. Its particularity is undoubtedly its foot offering very designer symmetrical shapes. the "lampshade" has an arm that ...
Metal
Italian desk Lamp - 1970s
Located in Uccle, Bruxelles
Small desk lamp designed in the 1970s. It has a metal base on which we can find a small button to adjust the intensity of the light. (if the bulb allows it) It has a very original ...
Metal
Safari Lamp by Christian Hvidt for Nordisk Solar - 1960
By Christian Hvidt
Located in Uccle, Bruxelles
Here is an amazing Safari Lamp by Christian Hvidt for Nordisk Solar. Safari received the IF Product Design Award in 1981. the design of this lamp with the translucent perforation in...
Metal
Italian White “Gibigiana” Table Lamp by Achille Castiglioni for Flos
By Achille Castiglioni, Flos
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1980’s Italian White “Gibigiana” Table Lamp by Achille Castiglioni for Flos. I beautiful vintage condition with minor wear consistent with age. It takes a small halogen bulb with f...
Metal
Rare 'Bibip' Floor Lamp by Achille Castiglioni for Flos, 1976
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Dronten, NL
A highly rare Bibip floor lamp designed in 1976 by the legendary Italian designer Achille Castiglioni for Flos, one of the most influential lighting manufacturers of the 20th century...
Aluminum, Steel, Chrome
FLOS Gatto Piccolo Table Lamp by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With a shape that invokes the magical, festive spirit of a hot air balloon, and this creation by the Castiglioni brothers creates an air of whimsy. Named for a “little cat,” it sits ...
Steel
Vintage Italian Model Brera T Table Lamp by Achille Castiglioni for Flos, 1990s
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Hamburg, DE
The table lamp version from the Brera series by Flos, designed by Achille Castiglioni. A very simple and elegant table lamp. The egg-shaped opal glass lamp body sits on a short, sle...
Metal
Iconic Taccia table lamp design by Achille et Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos
Located in Monaco, MC
Iconic TACCIA table lamp designed by Achille et Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for the italian manufacture FLOS. Very good condition, light patina. Circa 1990 Lampshade in glass. Fr...
Metal
"Bibip" floor lamp by Achille Castiglioni for Flos, 1970s.
By Achille Castiglioni, Flos
Located in Milano, IT
Vintage Bibip floor lamp, designed by Achille Castiglioni for Flos in the 1970s. Featuring a minimalist and functional design, this lamp stands out for its chrome-plated metal frame ...
Metal
