A modern Renaissance man, Italian designer Carlo di 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 di Carli furniture captures the extraordinary essence of Italian mid-century modernism.
Carlo di 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, di 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 di 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, di Carli is best known for his chair and table designs.
What sets di 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, di 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, di 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 di Carli armchairs, dining chairs and coffee tables on 1stDibs.
$10,931 / set
Set of six Carlo De Carli chairs in white bouclè
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Milano, IT
Immerse yourself in the timeless elegance of mid-century Italy with these exquisite Carlo De Carli chairs, each a masterpiece of design and craftsmanship straight from the 1950s. Ima...
Bouclé, Wood
Set of 4 Dining Chairs by Carlo di Carli for M. Singer & Sons
By Carlo di Carli, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An excellent set of four (4) armless Mid-Century Modern dining chairs designed by Carlo di Carli in walnut wood with an upholstered seat and back. Made by M. Singer & Sons in the USA...
Upholstery, Walnut
Rare set of six wood chairs model 585 designed by Carlo De Carli
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Milano, IT
Carlo De Carli (1910-1999) Rare set of six wood chairs model 585 designed for the Hotel Parco dei Principi di Gio Ponti in Rome in 1954. Cassina production. Publish Domus, Gio Pon...
Fabric
$27,329 / set
Carlo de Carli, set of 8 chairs model 634
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Milano, IT
COD-2366 Carlo de Carli (1910-1999) Rare set of 8 chairs model 634 designed by the architect, designer awarded with the Compasso d'Oro in 1954. Bibl. Architecture and primary space...
Cotton
Set of 6 Blue Chairs Model 634 by Carlo de Carli for Cassina, Italy, 1950s
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Brussels, BE
Set of 6 blue chairs model 634 by Carlo de Carli for Cassina, Italy, 1950s Mahogany and blue fabric. Reupholstered.
Fabric, Wood
Model 802 Armchair, Design by Carlo de Carli, by Cassina, Italy, 1954
By Cassina, Carlo di Carli
Located in Wolfurt, AT
Model 802 armchair - Design by Carlo de Carli, manufactured by Cassina, Italy, 1954. The wooden frame with foam upholstery rests on elastic ribbons. The a...
Fabric, Bentwood
Carlo DeCarli Desk Chair Wood Sky Padding 1950 italy
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Milano, IT
Carlo De Carli Chair
Wood
Carlo de Carli Chairs Set of Six Reupholstered with Fabric by Fornasetti
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carlo de Carli chairs set of six reupholstered with fabric by Fornasetti.
Unavailable|$22,800 / set
H 29.14 in W 18.9 in D 19.69 in
Carlo De Carli Dining Chairs for Longhi, 1965, Set of 8
By Longhi, Carlo di Carli
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Carlo De Carli chairs for Longhi, wood and Vienna straw, Italy, 1965, set of eight A refined expression of Italian modernism, these dining chairs designed by Carlo De Carli for Long...
Wood
Set of Four Carlo De Carli Walnut Dining Armchairs
By Cassina, Carlo di Carli
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rare set of four mid-century modern Italian walnut dining armchairs designed by Carlo De Carli (Italian 1910-1999) for Cassina. The set consists of all armchairs model #585 with a ri...
Fabric, Walnut
Carlo de Carli Boomerang Chair
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Sacile, PN
Beautiful boomerang chair by Carlo de Carli.
Brass, Iron
$1,880Sale Price|20% Off
H 33 in W 19 in D 18 in
1950’s Vintage Carlo Di Carli Dining Arm Chair - 1 of 2
By Carlo di Carli
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Rare Vintage Carlo Di Carli Dining Arm Chair - 1 of 2 Available.
Mahogany
$6,801 / set
H 31.5 in W 30.71 in D 27.56 in
Mid-Century Modern 802 Armchairs by Carlo de Carli for Cassina, 1950s
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern 802 Armchairs by Carlo de Carli for Cassina, 1950s
Wood
$5,526Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 31.5 in W 39.38 in D 37.41 in
Sormani Carlo De Carli Pair of Armchairs Black Leather Italian Design, 1960s
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Midcentury Sormani Carlo de Carli pair of armchairs back leather Italian design, 1960s.
Brass, Chrome
Carlo de Carli N63 Set of Six Dining Chairs, Italy 1960's
By Carlo di Carli
Located in New York, NY
An early set of six Carlo de Carli N63 chairs in a dark finish, reupholstered in leather in early 2000. COM is available on request.
Leather, Mahogany
$3,250
H 29.75 in W 22.75 in D 27.5 in
Carlo de Carli Lounge Chair in Italian Walnut for Singer and Sons
By M. Singer & Sons, Carlo di Carli
Located in Atlanta, GA
Clean Lined Italian Lounge Chair, designed by Carlo de Carli for Singer and Sons, Italy, circa 1950s. This chair is currently being reupholstered and can be completed in your fabric....
Upholstery, Walnut
Pair of Vintage Le Corbusier Armchairs LC1 by Cassina
By Cassina, Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Vilnius, LT
Pair of vintage LC1 chairs designed by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand, circa 1928. Base in chromed tubular steel, pony skin upholstery. Marked/engraved on the fr...
Chrome
$3,886 / set
H 29.53 in W 19.69 in D 18.12 in
Dining Chairs by Finn Juhl for France & Søn, 1960s, Set of 4
By France & Søn, Finn Juhl
Located in Rovereta, Repubblica di San Marino
Set of 4 Scandinavian chairs designed by Finn Juhl and produced by France and Son in Denmark in the 1960s. They feature solid teak structu...
Teak
Pair of Lounge Chairs by Carlo de Carli for Sormani
By Carlo di Carli, Sormani
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This stylish pair of Mid-Century Modern lounge chairs by Carlo de Carli for Sormani add elegant vintage Italian style to home or office seat...
Leather, Palisander
$21,700 / set
H 33.86 in W 18.12 in D 22.45 in
Carlo De Carli for Cassina '634' Dining Chairs in Walnut
By Carlo di Carli, Cassina
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Carlo De Carli for Cassina, set of six dining chairs, model '634', walnut, vinyl, Italy, 1954 These dining chairs by Carlo De Carli beautifully demonstrate the modernist principles ...
Walnut
Carlo De Carli rare set of ten wood chairs model 585
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Milano, IT
COD-2436 Paolo Buffa Pair of armchairs in stained wood and blond maple with seat and cushion upholstered in linen. Italian manufacture, ca. 1935.
Wood
Sold
H 33.86 in W 18.12 in D 18.9 in
Carlo de Carli Set of Eight Dining Chairs for Cassina, Italy, 1958
By Carlo di Carli, Figli di Amadeo Cassina
Located in Milan, IT
Carlo De Carli set of eight Model: 693 dining chairs for Cassina, Italy, 1958 Original leather seating Original Cassina labels.
Leather, Wood
Sold
H 33.47 in W 17.72 in D 19.69 in
Six chairs "634" model designed by Carlo de Carli and produced by Casssina 1954
By Carlo di Carli, Cassina
Located in Rovereta, Repubblica di San Marino
Six chairs model "634," designed by designer Carlo de Carli and produced by Cassina starting around 1954. Light wood frame, upholstered seats and backrest covered in velvet. Wooden ...
Wood
Set of six Carlo De Carli chairs in white bouclè
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Milano, IT
Immerse yourself in the timeless elegance of mid-century Italy with these exquisite Carlo De Carli chairs, each a masterpiece of design and craftsmanship straight from the 1950s. Ima...
Bouclé, Wood
Gruppo di sei sedie S82 di Eugenio Gerli per Tecno Anni 60
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Milano, IT
Gruppo di 6 sedie con struttura in legno esotico, metallo cromato e smaltato, imbottitura in espanso e rivestimento in tessuto.
Metal
Carlo de Carli Set of Six Dining Chairs for Cassina, Italy, 1958
By Carlo di Carli, Figli di Amadeo Cassina
Located in Milan, IT
Carlo De Carli set of six Model: 693 dining chairs for Cassina, Italy, 1958 Original leather seating Original Cassina labels.
Leather, Wood
Sold
H 30.71 in W 23.04 in D 19.69 in
Italian Mid-Century Modern Boomerang Armchairs by Carlo de Carli
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Paris, FR
An exquisite pair of collectible Boomerang armchairs by Carlo de Carli. These chairs are made of solid oak, tubular black lacquered steel structure,...
Brass, Steel
'634' Carlo de Carli Chairs for Cassina 1950s-60s
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Milano, IT
Ten chairs model "634," designed by designer Carlo de Carli and produced by Cassina from c. 1954. Solid walnut wood frame, seats and back upholstered and covered in velvet. Wooden r...
Velvet, Walnut
Set of 6 Chairs Mod. 693, Design by Carlo de Carli
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Chair model 693 production Cassina design Carlo de Carli, year 1958. Walnut wood frame, seat and back upholstered in rubber covered in warm white velvet. Carlo De Carli (Milan, 1910 ...
Velvet, Wood
"Boomerang" Model Chair Design Carlo de Carli, 1950s
By Carlo di Carli
Located in taranto, IT
"Boomerang" model chair, design Carlo de Carli, 1950s production made of wood on a black lacquered metal frame, seat and back upholstered in cream-colored skay, original of the ti...
Metal
Sold
H 37.41 in W 16.93 in D 16.93 in
Six Carlo de Carli Mid-Century Modern Italian Dinning Chairs by Cassina, 1957
By Carlo di Carli, Cassina
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Carlo de Carli, six chairs in ebonized beech, brass feet and original eco-leather upholstery, (the upholstery has small cracks as shown in the photo), Cassina production, Italy, 1957.
Brass
Four Carlo de Carli Chairs for Singer and Sons
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Dallas, TX
A set of four chairs by Carlo de Carli for Singer and Sons in original bleached finish with original leather.
Leather