Magistretti 1960s
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Stairs
Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Beech
Vintage 1960s Italian Table Lamps
Plastic
Vintage 1960s Italian Armchairs
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Table Lamps
Chrome
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Leather, Walnut
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Rush, Beech
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Rush, Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Space Age Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal, Brass
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Plastic
20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Brass
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Plastic
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Plastic
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Cane, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Chairs
Upholstery, Wood, Bentwood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Straw, Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Rush, Beech
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Leather
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Straw, Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Space Age Table Lamps
Plastic
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Fiberglass
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Straw, Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Straw, Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Rush, Wood
Vintage 1960s Futurist Table Lamps
Plastic
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Iron
Vintage 1960s Italian Other Table Lamps
Plexiglass
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Settees
Straw, Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Milk Glass
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Blown Glass
Vintage 1960s Italian Wall Lights and Sconces
Nickel
Vintage 1960s Italian Armchairs
Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
Plastic
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Straw, Beech
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Steel
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Magistretti 1960s For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Magistretti 1960s?
Vico Magistretti Biography and Important Works
As one of the founding fathers of modern Italian design, prolific architect and industrial designer Ludovico Magistretti (known by his nickname Vico) was guided by his philosophy, “There is no excuse for bad design.” His architectural projects are widely revered, and an ingenious meld of form and function can be found in his stylish and deceptively simple table lamps, sofas, armchairs and other mid-century furnishings.
Born in Milan, Magistretti followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather (both architects) to study architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan. At the outbreak of World War II, he fled to Switzerland, and it was there he met his role model and mentor, renowned humanist architect Ernesto Nathan Rogers. Magistretti was inspired by Rogers’s vision to revive postwar Italy, and they collaborated on several reconstruction projects. Among Magistretti’s first architectural designs is a “poetic” round church, which he created for the QT8, an experimental Milanese neighborhood.
When Magistretti returned to Milan in 1945, he worked at his father’s architectural firm. It wasn’t until the early 1950s that he expanded his talents into design while working with furniture artisans.
In the 1960s, Magistretti began his 30-year working relationship with famed entrepreneur Cesare Cassina of the Cassina furniture manufacturing company. In their design approach, the two men shared a vision of the relationship between modernity and tradition and enjoyed a close bond (Magistretti designed Cassina’s luxurious villa in 1965). However, their friendship was not without contention.
Legend has it that upon seeing the prototype for Magistretti’s Maralunga sofa, Cassina hated it so much that he punched it, breaking the back of the sofa, which crumpled into itself.
“Right, great, it looks perfect to me like that,” an unfazed Magistretti allegedly responded, and the Maralunga’s slumped, adjustable-height backrest was born. Incidentally, the Maralunga sofa won Italy’s Compasso d’Oro award as did his Eclisse lamp for Artemide and his Atollo lamp for Oluce.
Magistretti died in 2006, but his designs live on in galleries, museums and private residences and offices around the world.
Find a range of vintage Vico Magistretti furniture and lighting on 1stDibs.