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.
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
“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 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
Gae Aulenti for Zanotta "Gaetano" Writing Table, Italy 1970s
By Gae Aulenti, Zanotta
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
$15,800
H 27 in W 119 in D 49 in
1950s Italian Bramante Beech Dining Work Studio Table by Castiglioni for Zanotta
By Zanotta
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An opportunity to buy a rare and substantially sized ‘2630 Bramante’ trestle table originally designed in 1950 by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Zanotta, Italy. A reversible beech wooden top, sits upon a pair of solid beech trestle bases. The bases are height adjustable, allowing the top to be set at five different heights from 69.5cm to 85.5cm in increments of 4cm - from a seated position to a standing position - and secured by turned wooden pegs...
Wood
Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta "Servomuto" coffee table, Italy 1970s
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
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
$2,034
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
$1,364Sale Price|40% Off
H 29.93 in W 43.31 in D 25.6 in
1960s vintage wooden desk and chair set Italian design
Located in None, IT
Desk set with black metal frame, wooden top and drawers with gilt brass handles, black metal chair and curved wooden seat, design Carlo Ratti, 1960s. CONDITION: In good condition, s...
Metal, Brass
Mid-Century Modern Wooden Desk, Italy, 1960s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern wooden desk, Italy, 1960s.
Wood
$10,500
H 50.5 in W 40 in D 35.5 in
Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni rosewood Rampa secretary desk Bernini Italy
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Bernini
Located in Skokie, IL
Designed in 1965 by the legendary brothers Pier Giacomo and Achille Castiglioni, the "Rampa" unit is a masterclass in multidisciplinary design. Renowned for their ability to merge ar...
Brass
19th Century Swedish Provincial Working Table
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
19th century Swedish Provincial working table. Time worn original patina, single drawer.
Wood
Desk by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, 1960s
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in bruxelles, BE
Wood and metal desk. Composed of a box with 3 lockable drawers with key and storage space, and another box with 3 unlockable drawers. The boxes can be turned. Stamped Tecno. Wear du...
Metal
1960s Danish Desk
Located in London, Lambeth
Wonderfully designed Danish desk with good function and form with 3 storage draws in teak Dimensions 130cm wide 60cm. deep 75cm. high
Teak
Ico Parisi Desk for Mim Rome from 1960s
By Ico & Luisa Parisi, MIM Roma
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
Sold
H 30.71 in W 78.75 in D 39.18 in
Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta Adjustable Table ‘Leonardo’ in Blond Wood
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
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
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 Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
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
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