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.
Single armchair Designed by Lina Bo Bardi, Brazil, 1959
By Lina Bo Bardi
Located in Barcelona, ES
Single armchair Designed by Lina Bo Bardi Manufactured by Pau Bra Brazil, 1959 Measurements 56 cm x 72 cm x 79h cm 22 in x 28,5 in x 31h in Provenance Private collection, Sao Paulo
Wood
Oscar Niemeyer, Single armchair "Alta", France, 1974
By Oscar Niemeyer
Located in Barcelona, ES
Oscar Niemeyer (1907-2012) Single armchair model “Alta” Manufactured by Mobilier international France, 1974 Steel, wool upholstery Measurements 104,1 x 68,6x 56,5h cm 41 x 27 x 22,25h in Literature Gilles de Bure, Inte´rieurs: Le Mobilier Franc¸ais 1965-1979, Pa- ris, 1983, p. 101 Provenance Private collection, Antwerp. Details Certificate by Oscar Niemeyer Foundation. Biography Niemeyer was a Brazilian architect who is considered to be one of the key figures in the development of modern architecture. His exceptional architectural work has been unanimously hailed, and his influence on how the world looks like today has been reminded. In 1960’s Oscar Niemeyer started developing furniture projects, in collaboration with his daughter Ana Maria. The first piece designed by the team was “the Alta easy chair” and its footrest, but the most famous piece designed by Oscar and Ana is the “Rio Chaise Longue...
Steel
Low easy chair by Oscar Niemeyer, Brazil, 1978
By Oscar Niemeyer
Located in Barcelona, ES
Low easy chair Manufactured by Tendo Brasileira Brazil, 1978 Plywood, leather fabric Measurements 70 cm x 114 cm x 46h cm 27,6 in x 44,9 in x 18,1h in Literature Furniture By Archi...
Leather, Plywood
Olivier Mourgue, Lounge Chair and ottoman "Suede", France, 1970
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Barcelona, ES
Olivier Mourgue (1939– ) Lounge chair model “Suede” Manufactured by Airbone France, 1970s Steel, upholstery Measurements 75 cm x 80 cm x 97 cm 29.53 in. x 31.5 in. x 38.19...
Steel
Alta armchair by Oscar Niemeyer, 1978
By Oscar Niemeyer
Located in Barcelona, ES
Armchair model “Alta” Manufactured by Tendo Brasileira Brasil, 1978 Leather, painted and molded plywood, steel Measurements 104,1 cm x 68,6 cm x 56,h5 cm 41 in x 27 in x 22,3h in
Steel
Single armchair model “Tridente” or “P9”
By Lina Bo Bardi
Located in Barcelona, ES
Single armchair model “Tridente” or “P9” Manufactured by Studio d’Arte Palma (Lina Bo Bardi & Giancarlo Palanti) Brazil, 1948 wood, velvet mohair upholstery Measurements 64cmx84cmx8...
Velvet, Wood
Basculante Rocking Chair by Augusto Betti for Habitat Ids, 1970s
By Habitat International, Augusto Betti
Located in Roma, IT
A rare and highly distinctive “Basculante” rocking lounge chair in fiberglass structure and velvet upholstery. designed by Augusto Betti during the 1970s embodying the futuristic and...
Resin
Alky chair by Giancarlo Piretti for Castelli - 1960s
By Giancarlo Piretti
Located in Uccle, Bruxelles
Magnificent Alky armchair designed by Giancarlo Piretti for Castelli in the 1960s. This iconic armchair is upholstered in brown fabric. It is in very good vintage condition but show...
Aluminum
Armchair model "PS142" by Eugenio Gerli for Tecno, Italy, 1960s
By Eugenio Gerli, Tecno
Located in Milan, IT
Armchair model "PS142" by Eugenio Gerli for Tecno. Fully blue velvet upholstered frame on wheels. A second piece with different green emerald fabric available
Velvet
Brazilian Mid-Century “Dinamarquesa” Armchair by Carlo Fongaro, c. 1970s
By Carlo Fongaro
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Carlo Fongaro (1915–1986) for Probjeto in the 1970s, the Dinamarquesa armchair reflects the dialogue between European modernism and Brazilian material culture that define...
Metal
Luciano Frigerio Girasole lounge Chair, Italy 1960s
By Luciano Frigerio
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
The ‘Girasole’ chair by Luciano Frigerio is a distinctive example of Italian Space Age design from the 1960s. The chair consists of a white lacquered fiberglass half sphere resting ...
Velvet, Fiberglass
Vintage P180 Armchair by Gastone Rinaldi, Italy, 1968
By Gastone Rinaldi
Located in Roma, IT
Fusion of aluminium, plastic reinforced with fiberglass, vinyl-coated padding. Manufacture label under the base. Bibliography: Domus, no.458 (January 1968), p. d/407 Giuseppe Drago-J...
Aluminum
