Carlo de Carli Seating
A modern Renaissance man, Italian designer Carlo de Carli wove his personal philosophy into his furniture creations. He believed that furniture should suit human movement and the surrounding environment, and each piece was made not only with an eye to form but also for everyday practicality. In today’s interiors, vintage de Carli furniture captures the extraordinary essence of Italian mid-century modernism.
Carlo de Carli was born in Milan in 1910. He studied at the Polytechnic University of Milan and developed an interest in design, architecture, writing and philosophy. After graduating in 1934, he worked under revered Italian architect and designer Gio Ponti. Shortly afterward, de Carli opened a studio with furniture maker Renato Angeli. In 1940, he began a relationship with the Milan Triennial design and art museum, where he eventually joined the board of directors.
Most of de Carli's furniture and architectural works came to fruition between the 1940s and 1970s. His architectural projects included the Church of Saint Ildefonso and the Via dei Giardini 7 building in Milan. However, de Carli is best known for his chair and table designs.
What sets de Carli’s chairs and other seating apart from those of other designers is that they are made to be lived in. As a result, his comfortable, functional and inviting designs earned the attention of leading Italian furniture companies like Cassina, Singer & Sons, Tecno and GUBI, and he played a significant role in 20th-century Italian furniture design.
In 1954, de Carli was awarded the Compasso d’Oro for his Cassina Model 683 chair. In 1957, he also won a Grand Prix at the Milan Triennial exhibition for a chair he designed for Tecno. Still committed to his academic pursuits, de Carli served as dean of the architecture faculty at the Polytechnic University of Milan from 1963 to 1968. He continued teaching until 1986 and continued writing until his death in 1999. His most important writings were published in a book titled Architettura, Spazio Primario.
Find vintage Carlo de Carli armchairs, dining chairs and coffee tables on 1stDibs.
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Iron
1950s Albanian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Bouclé, Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Wood
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Faux Leather, Wood
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Other Carlo de Carli Seating
Steel
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Fabric, Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Fabric, Walnut
1960s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Metal, Chrome
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Velvet, Beech
1960s Italian Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Wood
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Steel, Nickel
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo de Carli Seating
Cotton
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Leather, Walnut
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Brass, Steel
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Brass, Steel
1960s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Steel, Nickel
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo de Carli Seating
Wood
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Faux Leather, Walnut
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Leather, Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Brass, Nickel
1950s Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Brass
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Chrome
1950s Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Velvet, Beech
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo de Carli Seating
Wood, Leather
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo de Carli Seating
Plastic, Laminate, Walnut
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Upholstery, Fruitwood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Brass
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Steel, Chrome
1960s Italian Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Steel
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo de Carli Seating
Brass
1950s Italian Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Metal
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Leather, Palisander
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo de Carli Seating
Brass
1950s Italian Other Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Wood
1960s Italian Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Steel
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo de Carli Seating
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo de Carli Seating
Fabric, Oak
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Walnut, Fabric, Foam
1970s Italian Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Leather
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Iron, Brass
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Metal, Chrome
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Brass
2010s Italian Carlo de Carli Seating
Leather, Fabric
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Mid-Century Modern Carlo de Carli Seating
Oak
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Fabric, Wood
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Steel
1940s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Wood, Walnut
1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Fabric, Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Naugahyde
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Nickel, Brass, Chrome
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo de Carli Seating
Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo de Carli Seating
Fabric