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.
Giandomenico Belotti Spaghetti Stool for Alias, 1985s
By Giandomenico Belotti
Located in Skokie, IL
Giandomenico Belotti Spaghetti Stool for Alias, Italy, 1980s Additional information: Materials:elastic, painted metal Dimensions: 17.75" W × 15.75" D × 18.5" H Condition: Excellent.
Metal
D_Ca3l "Large Catilina Low" Armchair by Luigi Caccia Dominioni, Azucena
By Azucena, Luigi Caccia Dominioni
Located in Skokie, IL
Luigi Caccia Dominioni model D_CA3L "large Catilina low" armchair for Azucena, Italy, 1958 / 2000s Additional Information: Materials: Enameled steel, velvet upholstery Dimension...
Steel
Mario Bellini Bambole Bibambola LBA2 leather Sofa with ottoman for B&B Italia
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Skokie, IL
Mario Bellini Bambole leather Sofa for B&B Italia circa 2017. Bibambola designed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia is a sofa made with flexible cold polyurethane foam padding w...
Steel
Achille Castiglioni Imperiale chaise longue for Zanotta, Italy 1983
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Skokie, IL
Achille Castiglioni Imperiale chaise longue for Zanotta, Italy 1983. The structure of the armrests is the basis for this articulated chaise longue. The rest of the structure can take...
Stainless Steel
Borek Sipek “Jansky” armchair for Driade Italy, 1980s
By B. Sipek, Driade
Located in Skokie, IL
Borek Sipek “Jansky” armchair for Driade Italy, 1980s Dimensions: 30 3/4" h x 24" w x 16" d Condition: Excellent vintage condition.
Steel
Verner Panton Easy Chair System 1-2-3 Model G lounge chairs for Fritz Hansen
By Fritz Hansen, Verner Panton
Located in Skokie, IL
Verner Panton rare pair of Easy Chair System 1-2-3 Model G lounge chairs for Fritz Hansen, Denmark circa 1960s. Priced as a pair. Dimensions: 28 1/2" h x 23 1/2" w x 32" d Seat Hei...
Steel
Customizable Zanotta Primate Leather Kneeling-Stool by Achille Castiglioni
Located in New York, NY
Kneeling-stool. Base in black painted polystyrene. Flexible polyurethane upholstery. 18/8 stainless steel leg. Cover in Ecofire or leather 95. New ways to shape the objects in our l...
Steel
Mario Bellini Cab 410 leather stool for Cassina, Italy - new
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Berlin, DE
Prices are dependent on the chosen sizes and material. Available sizes: 1. 48cm width x 51cm depth x 101cm height x 81cm seat height 2. 55cm width x 51cm depth x 101cm height x 68c...
Leather
Mid-Century Modern Adjustable Stool, Steel & Leather, Italy, 1970
Located in Ljubljana, SI
STOOL from 70s Italy craft. Industrial piece of art, almost undestructable. Height is adjustable from 60 to 74 cm. Really firm and sits to ground as it looks. Great vintage piece.
Steel, Chrome
1960'S Vintage one Original Leather Stool by Charlotte Perriand for Les Arcs
By DalVera, Charlotte Perriand
Located in Markington, GB
One leather Charlotte Perriand stools for Les Arcs, 1960. stunning stool very unusual and sought after, these are by Charlotte Perriand for and used in the Ski Resort Les Arcs, circa 1960. Very nice chrome tubular frame with cognac coloured thick leather seats. All original stools by Charlotte Perriand. We are just back from a long European buying trip where we bought some of these stunning Charlotte Perriand Stools and Chairs. We, eu vintage are the largest stock holders of Original Charlotte...
Metal
Italian modern squared stool in black faux leather with wheels, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Squared Stool in black faux leather with wheels, 1980s Square base pouf in black faux leather. The stool has a slight rise on the back. Wheels at the base, this makes ...
Leather
1960'S Vintage one Original Leather Stool by Charlotte Perriand for Les Arcs
By DalVera, Charlotte Perriand
Located in Markington, GB
One leather Charlotte Perriand stools for Les Arcs, 1960. stunning stool very unusual and sought after, these are by Charlotte Perriand for and used in the Ski Resort Les Arcs, circa 1960. Very nice chrome tubular frame with cognac coloured thick leather seats. All original stools by Charlotte Perriand. We are just back from a long European buying trip where we bought some of these stunning Charlotte Perriand Stools and Chairs. We, eu vintage are the largest stock holders of Original Charlotte...
Metal
