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
$6,619Sale Price|25% Off
“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
$655Sale 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
Memphis Side Coffee Table Servomuto Castiglioni Zanotta, Italy 80s
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
Mid-century side coffee table "Servomuto" designed by A. Castiglioni for Zanotta, Italy 1974. Signed. Artist customized with new finish.
Metal
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
Mid-Century Modern Wooden Desk, Italy, 1960s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern wooden desk, Italy, 1960s.
Wood
$13,800
H 33.86 in W 118.12 in D 51.19 in
Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Zanotta Large 'Bramante' Table in Maple
By Zanotta
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Zanotta, 'Bramante' dining or studio table, maple, Italy, design 1950, production 1980s A remarkable and cutting-edge design by the celeb...
Maple
$10,002
H 36.62 in W 47.25 in D 30.32 in
1960s "Maya" Giotto Stoppino for Bernini Italian Design Wood Desk
By Giotto Stoppino, Bernini
Located in Brescia, IT
Rare italian desk Giotto Stoppino for Bernini Italy, 1969 Wood and chrome metal Bibliography: G. Gramigna, 1950-1980 repertorio: immagini...
Wood
Desk by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, 1960s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in bruxelles, BE
White wooden desk with black metal. Consists of a cabinet with 3 drawers and storage space, and another cabinet with 3 drawers. No keys. Wear and tear due to age and use. FOR SHIPPIN...
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
$4,752 / item
H 91 in W 200 in D 100 in
Zanotta Leonardo Working Table in Laminated Top & Natural Varnished Beech Frame
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Leonardo Working Table in Laminate Top and Natural Varnished Beech Frame by Achille Castiglioni Natural varnished steam-treated beech trest...
Beech
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
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
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 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 Achille Castiglioni, BBB Bonacchina
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