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
$634Sale Price|70% Off
H 29.93 in W 43.31 in D 25.6 in
1960s vintage wooden desk and chair set Italian design
Located in Torino, Piemonte
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
Rosewood Desk by Arne Vodder for Sibast Furniture 1960s
By Sibast, Arne Vodder
Located in Lejre, DK
Rosewood desk designed by Arne Vodder and manufactured by Sibast Furniture in the 1960s. The desk features a large work surface and a classic Danish design from the period. — Origin...
Rosewood
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
Ico Parisi Tolomeo Executive Desk for MIM Rome, 1960s
By Ico Parisi, MIM Roma
Located in bari, IT
Designed by Ico Parisi in 1958 for MIM Roma (Mobili Italiani Moderni), the “Tolomeo” executive desk is part of one of the most well-known series in the company’s postwar catalog. Par...
Teak
$10,364
H 36.23 in W 47.25 in D 29.93 in
Italian Design “Maia” Walnut Desk Giotto Stoppino for Bernini, 1960s
By Giotto Stoppino
Located in Oirlo, LI
A striking example of Italian modernist design, the “Maia” desk was designed by Giotto Stoppino and edited by Bernini in 1969. With its sculptural silhouette, refined materials and i...
Chrome
Cees Braakman Teak Double Pedestal Desk for Pastoe, 1960s
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Produced by Pastoe in the 1960s, this Cees Braakman desk features a floating teak top that extends beyond the drawer pedestals on both sides, creating a clean horizontal profile. Two...
Metal, Aluminum
Mid-Century Desk By Antonello Mosca for Sormani, Italy, 1960s
By Sormani
Located in Rhode-Saint-Genèse, BE
Ce bureau a été conçu par le designer Antonello Mosca et édité par Sormani dans les années 60. Le plateau supérieur est recouvert de Formica noir, y est suspendu un bloc à tiroirs, e...
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
$6,580
H 28.35 in W 51.19 in D 31.3 in
Model 530 Writing Desk by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini, Italy, 1960s
By Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini
Located in Buccinasco, MI
An iconic Model 530 writing desk, designed by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini in the 1960s, retaining its original Bernini manufacturer’s label. Model 530 is among Gianfranco Fratti...
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
"Arco" Desk by BBPR for Olivetti, Italy, 1960s
By Studio BBPR, Olivetti
Located in Milan, IT
"Arco" desk by BBPR for Olivetti. Compact desk with chest of drawers and wood decorated top.
Metal
$19,800
H 32 in W 63 in D 31.5 in
Mid-20th Century Executive Desk by Luigi Caccia Dominioni for Azucena, Italy
Located in New York, NY
Large desk, designed by Luigi Caccia Dominioni for Azucena in the 1960s. The desk stands on brass legs that are set back under the drawer elements, giving it an elegant, floating cha...
Brass
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 26.35 in W 61.82 in D 36.23 in
“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
Sold
H 25.99 in W 78.75 in D 39.38 in
Italian modern wood desk Leonardo by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1970s
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
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
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