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.
“Leonardo” working Table by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1969 Italy
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Tel Aviv District
Designed in 1969 by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, the Leonardo Working Table embodies Castiglioni’s rigorous, user-centered approach to design. Conceived as a flexible working too...
Wood
Italian modern wood desk Leonardo by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1970s
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern wood desk Leonardo by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1970s Desk model Leonardo with rectangular top in wood with white finish. The two easel-shaped legs are made of ...
Wood
Achille Castiglioni and Luigi Caccia Desk for Palini Italy 1960s
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Čelinac, BA
Achille Castiglioni Desk for Palini Italy 1960s
Wood
Gae Aulenti for Zanotta "Gaetano" Writing Table, Italy 1970s
By Zanotta, Gae Aulenti
Located in Naples, IT
Gaetano work table by Gae Aulenti for Zanotta with original glass top supported by two folding trestles in black and red enamelled metal. Timeless object. With its dry and essential ...
Metal
Italian Desk from the 1960s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed in the 1960s the desk also features chrome tubular legs. Italian desk from the late 1960s characterize by the sleek and modern aesthetic. Second height 24.7 from the floor ...
Chrome
1960s desk, Arne Vodder
By G.V. Møbler, Arne Vodder
Located in Neuss, NW
Classic freestanding desk from the 1960s by Arne Vodder. High-quality corpus in oak veneer with three drawers, one door, a floating table top and solid wood legs. Quality Features: ...
Wood
$11,500
H 28.25 in W 40.325 in D 56 in
Expandable Desk by Pamio, Toso & Massari for Stilwood, Italy, 1970s
By Stilwood, Roberto Pamio & Renato Toso, Noti Massari
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Roberto Pamio, Renato Toso & Noti Massari designed this expandable desk for Stilwood in the 1970s. It is a remarkable example of Italian ingenuity....
Wood
Mid-Century Modern Wooden Desk, Italy, 1960s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern wooden desk, Italy, 1960s.
Wood
1970s Writing Desk, Italy
Located in Praha, CZ
- Item was carefully refurbished - sturdy and stable - mahogany veneer
Metal
$1,987
H 31.89 in W 47.25 in D 28.35 in
Bagutta writing desk by Annig Sarian for Arflex - Italy - 1960s
By Annig Sarian
Located in Milano, IT
Small desk with three drawers, wooden frame and chromed and curved tubular metal supports. The desk has a slight defect on one side, as shown in the photo. Manufactured by Arlex, It...
Steel, Chrome
$2,619Sale Price|20% Off
H 31.5 in W 38.98 in D 19.3 in
Midcentury Modern MIM Roma Walnut Desk, Italy 1970s
By MIM Roma
Located in Ceglie Messapica, IT
Midcentury Modern Solid Walnut Desk from the 1970s, MIM Rome Italy This Mid-Century Modern solid wood desk, produced by the renowned Italian company MIM Rome in the 1970s, is a stun...
Walnut
Ico Parisi Desk for Mim Rome from 1960s
By MIM Roma, Ico & Luisa Parisi
Located in bari, IT
Ico Parisi desk in wood and steel including leg protectors for MIM Rome. MIM (Mobili Italiani Moderni) was founded in Rome in 1957 as a company for the des...
Metal
1960s Vintage Painted Italian-Style Desk
Located in Augusta, GA
Vintage painted desk Made in the 1960s Stylish and functional This vintage writing desk is painted a beautiful shade of chartreuse green and accented with gold details.
Giltwood
Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta "Servomuto" coffee table, Italy 1970s
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Naples, IT
Servomuto coffee table from the Servi collection by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1974. Servomute, light and easy to move, it is the worthy heir to Franco Albini's essential, eleg...
Steel
Mid-Century Modern Wooden Desk, Italy, 1960s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Wooden Desk, Italy, 1960s
Wood
Sold
H 29.14 in W 78.75 in D 39.38 in
“Leonardo” height adjustable wooden table by A. Castiglioni for Zanotta , 1970
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Padova, IT
Achille Castiglioni, son of the sculptor Giannino and Livia Bolla, he graduated from the Milan Polytechnic in 1944; after graduating he worked in the studio of the older brothers Liv...
Wood
Achille Castiglioni Quark Desk BBB Bonacina, Italy, 1982
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Nice ‘Quark’ desk designed by Achille Castiglioni and manufactured by BBB Bonacina, Italy 1982. The Quark series were designed as a modular system, and could be customized to the customers personal needs and preferences. These desks are made of beech wood painted in white or black. This particular desk has containers on both sides, one equipped with four small drawers, and on the other side one large sliding drawer. On the back of these containers, there is an open space suitable for placing items like books. The frame of the desk is made of a sturdy triangular wooden structure featuring an angled plywood rib on the inner side. This design not only makes the desk strong but also gives it an iconic and recognizable shape. The collaboration with BBB Bonancina began with the Tric chair...
Beech
Achille Castiglioni Quark desk BBB Bonacina Italy 1982
By BBB Bonacchina, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice post-modern 'Quark' desk designed by Achille Castiglioni and manufactured by BBB Bonacina, Italy 1982. The Quark series included multiple desks designed as a modular system. The desks have a consistent structure and customers could customize the side parts and cabinets according to their preferences. These desks are made of beech wood painted in black. Each desk has containers on both sides each equipped with three drawers. On the back of these containers, there is an open space suitable for placing items like books. The frame of the desk is made of a sturdy triangular wooden structure featuring an angled plywood rib on the inner side. This design not only makes the desk strong but also gives it an iconic and recognizable shape. In good condition with normal surface wear. The collaboration with BBB Bonancina began with the Tric chair...
Beech
Sold
H 30.71 in W 78.75 in D 39.18 in
Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta Adjustable Table ‘Leonardo’ in Blond Wood
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, adjustable desk ‘Leonardo’, beech, laminated wood, Italy, design 1969. Italian architect and designer Achille Castiglioni (1918-2002) designed the ‘...
Beech
Leonardo Table by Achille Castiglione for Zanotta
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Weesp, NL
Design Achille Castiglioni, 1940 Made in Italy by Zanotta “What you need is a constant and consistent way of designing, not a style.” -Achille Castiglioni Leonardo table was ...
Laminate, Beech