Midcentury Cubic Steel and Glass Dry Bar Attributed to Willy Rizzo, Italy 1970s

Unique midcentury cubic dry bar in lacquered ash wood, mirrored steel and glass dry bar with hidden wheels. Willy Rizzo probably produced this incredible piece of barware in Italy during the 1970s. The wheeled bar cart's four sides are in mirrored chromed steel, while the top is in dark smoked glass. It moves thanks to four hidden wheels, and the structure is veneered black lacquered oak. A design masterpiece that will become a cult furniture element in a midcentury bar or living room. Italian designer and photographer Willy Rizzo (1928-2013) first came to prominence in the 1960s as both a chronicler of and participant in La Dolce Vita, the glamorous, jet set lifestyle enjoyed by many international celebrities and socialites in the postwar era. While photography was Rizzo's first love, in the 1970s he developed a passion for interiors and launched a second successful career as a luxury furniture designer. Rizzo was born in Naples in 1928 but moved to France early. After expressing an interest in photography at the age of 12, Rizzo's mother gifted him an Agfa Box camera; soon he was shooting portraits of his classmates at Paris's Istituto Statale Italiano Leonardo Da Vinci. In the 1940s, Rizzo began his career as a photojournalist, working for several French publications, including Ciné Mondial, Point de Vue, and Image du Monde. In the aftermath of the Second World War, Rizzo notably covered the Nuremberg Trials and travelled to Tunisia for Point de Vue to photograph the conflict in North Africa, later published in Life Magazine. As his reputation grew, he was hired by France Dimanche to take portraits of the rich and famous at flashy events like the Cannes Film Festival. Rizzo's charm won the trust of royalty, dignitaries, and movie stars, allowing him to capture these public figures in unusually candid moments. Hoping to advance his career further, Rizzo travelled to New York with Black Star Agency in 1947 to photograph American starlets. When he returned to Paris two years later, he was invited to join Jean Prouvost’s newest publication in colour, Paris Match, as head photographer—a position that he held for 20 years and, along the way, sparked a new culture of celebrity photographers who were as intriguing and fashionable as their subjects. In 1959, he became the artistic director of Marie Claire and collaborated with other fashion magazines, such as Vogue. Throughout his career, Rizzo photographed dozens of stars, including Brigitte Bardot, Maria Callas, Salvador Dalí, Marlene Dietrich, Jane Fonda, Gene Kelly, and Gregory Peck, as well as striking up close friendships with famous personalities like Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, and Jack Nicholson. In 1962, Rizzo famously captured some of the last moments of Marilyn Monroe’s life on film before tragically committing suicide a few weeks later. In 1968, Rizzo married Italian actress Elsa Martinelli, and the pair relocated to Rome. It was here that Rizzo began his work in furniture design, starting with his newly-leased, run-down Roman apartment. Just for personal use (at first), Rizzo created a series one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by modernist icons, such as Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier. But as his glitterati friends—Rodolfo Parisi, Gigli Rizzi, Franco Rapetti, Salvador Dalí, Brigitte Bardot, and the like—became admirers of his work, Rizzo was flooded with design commissions. Rizzo went on to furnish apartments for Italian aristocracy in the Palazzo Borghese and Palazzo Ruspoli that same year and quickly earned an international reputation as a designer to the rich and famous. In response to ever-growing demand, he launched his own Tivoli-based company dedicated to contemporary furniture design handmade in lux materials such as wood, marble, stainless steel, brass, and wild boar. Over time, his team of eight grew to 150, and he was able to open shops in France and throughout Europe, as well as in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. With an emphasis on clean lines and geometric forms, Rizzo's tables, chairs, and accessories combined contemporary shapes with traditional materials—in contrast to many of his contemporaries, like Ettore Sottsass and Vico Magistretti, who were popularizing plastic, foam, and other synthetics in furniture production. Rizzo's most successful designs are many low, box-like tables in granite, metal, glass, or burled wood, often embellished with brass or chrome accents or built-in liquor cabinets or trays. Two examples of his most celebrated designs include the Alveo Coffee Table (1970s) for Mario Sabot and the circular Yin Yang Coffee Table...

Magnificent Hollywood Regency style dry bar in chrome-plated steel, brass, glass, mirror, suede and woven rattan wicker. This incredibly rare version of the iconic dry bar designed ...

Fantastic midcentury umbrella stand in smoked green glass and chrome. This piece was designed in Italy during the 1970s after Willy Rizzo. This item has gorgeous yet simple straight lines, with a clear inspiration from rationalist Willy Rizzo's design. The piece has an amazing blend of materials, smoked glass and chrome, and colours, smoked green. An incredible piece that will complete a mid-century entrance hall or living room. Born in Naples, Willy Rizzo started his career as a photographer in Paris very early inthe 40s. Great photographer of personalities, fashion and greatreports, he has exhibited all over the world: at Galerie Agathe Gaillard in Paris,at Galerie Bukamura in Tokyo, at Maison de la Photographie in Moscow, atMallett gallery in New York and London, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, or evenat the MUBE in São Paulo. In 1968, he moved to Rome and began his workdesigner for his personal needs because, according to him, "Scandinavian furniturewere neither comfortable enough nor luxurious enough. " When asked, he creates hisworkshops in 1970 and launched its points of sale worldwide."Imagination and strong modern style" are the words that define his style. Today his Elliptical marble table is exhibited at MoMA in New York. Willy Rizzo married Dominique Rizzo in 1979. They have three children, Willy Jr, Camilla and Gloria. In 2009, they opened the Willy Rizzo Design and Photography Studio at 12 rue de Verneuil...

Astonishing midcentury coffee table in lucite with tortoiseshell effect and mirrored glass. Willy Rizzo probably designed this table in Italy during the 1970s. This unique piece has gorgeous yet simple straight lines, clearly inspired by Willy Rizzo's rationalist design. The table has an amazing blend of materials, mixing a structure in tortoiseshell effect lucite with a bronzed mirrored glass top. This gorgeous table is squared with huge (12 cm x 12 cm) and wonderful squared legs. An incredible piece that will widen the space in a midcentury entrance hall with its elegant mirror or smarten a modern living room with its lines. Born in Naples, Willy Rizzo started his career as a photographer in Paris very early in the 40s. Great photographer of personalities, fashion and great reports, he has exhibited all over the world: at Galerie Agathe Gaillard in Paris, at Galerie Bukamura in Tokyo, at Maison de la Photographie in Moscow, at Mallett Gallery in New York and London, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, or even at the MUBE in São Paulo. In 1968, he moved to Rome and began his work designer for his personal needs because, according to him, "Scandinavian furniture was neither comfortable enough nor luxurious enough. " When asked, he creates his workshops in 1970 and launched its points of sale worldwide." Imagination and strong modern style" are the words that define his style. Today his Elliptical marble table is exhibited at MoMA in New York. Willy Rizzo married Dominique Rizzo in 1979. They have three children, Willy Jr, Camilla and Gloria. In 2009, they opened the Willy Rizzo Design and Photography Studio at 12 rue de Verneuil...

Splendid square umbrella stand in brass and chrome. This stunning piece was designed in the Italy in the 70s in the style of Willy Rizzo. The umbrella stand consists of an elegant w...

Gorgeous Vide-Poche fully made in chrome and brass. This fantastic piece was designed in Italy during the 1970s and is attributed to a Willy Rizzo production. This lovely decorati...

Bar with two pouf by Willy Rizzo. It had been made during the 1970s.

Striking Willy Rizzo Italian Design burl birch wood and gilt brass Cocktail bar set . Hollywood Regency cocktail bar includes a counter element a...

Questo cocktail bar è stato attribuito a Willy Rizzo negli anni Settanta. I suoi design di cocktail e bar sono tra i suoi oggetti più prolifici e quindi più ricercati. Questo partico...

Stunning 1970's Italian cocktail dry bar in Ebonized wood and Brown teddy fabric covering. The bar is designed by or in the style of Willy Rizzo. It features beautiful brown pluche t...

Very elegant bar console table Willy Rizzo Style made in Italy, circa 1970s. Sturdy black powder coated steel frame with brushed steel bar frame & polished Chrome compartment. Blac...

Coffee table dry bar 1970s Italian production in lacquered wood.