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.
Zanotta Albero Rotating flowerpot Stand by Achille Castiglioni
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in New York, NY
Rotating flowerpot stand. Painted steel frame in the shades talc, amaranth, grass green or black. Pot-holder dishes in black polyamide. Black polypropylene feet. It was 1983 when Ach...
Steel
Achille Castiglioni Albero Plant Stand Produced by Zanotta in Italy
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Albero plant stand designed by Achille Castiglioni. Produced by Zanotta in Italy.
Metal
Servofumo dinner holder by Achille Castiglioni produced by Zanotta in 1961
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Ravenna, IT
Servofumo dinner holder designed by Achille Castiglioni and produced by Zanotta in 1961. From a gray-painted polypropylene base rises a steel support rod, featuring a black-painted a...
Aluminum, Steel
Wicker Rattan Magazine Holder
Located in New York, NY
A rattan wicker magazine holder stand, circa mid-20th century. Piece has two storage compartment areas to hold magazines, newspapers, papers, books, etc. A great addition to an offic...
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
French Style 1950s Plant Stand
Located in Sharon, CT
A plant stand that holds four small plants in style. Light blue over white paint. The holes are 4" in diameter.
Steel
Secession Plant Stand
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Secession plant stand with brass fittings. Professionally stained and repolished.
Brass
$200
H 20.5 in W 16.25 in D 20.5 in
Garden Patio Poolside Table by Hauser Made in USA Ca. 1970's After Brown Jordan
By Brown Jordan
Located in New York, NY
Chic diminutive side table in original aqua paint finish, with original textured glass top. The frame is of tubular aluminum, and retains its original plastic dome feet. This table is part of a large suite of patio, garden, poolside furniture...
Aluminum
Functionalist Steel Plant Stand by Emile Guyot
By Emile Guyot
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Functionalist steel plant stand by Emile Guyot with black glass. Very good original condition with signs of usage.
Steel
Concentric Gas Fire Pit in Steel by ORCA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A dyad of mixed metals. The Concentric Fire Pit is composed of a weathered steel ring nested within a stainless steel outer shell. Like yin and yang, distinct characters in balance w...
Steel, Stainless Steel
Dovetailed Bench in Mahogany by Brian Holcombe
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
In designing this bench I took cues from sashimono, seeking a outwardly simple aesthetic which gives way to more elaborate detail upon a closer look. In building this bench I utilize...
Mahogany
Wrought Iron Mosaic Tile pedestal stand
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a wonderful wrought iron Mosaic tile top pedestal table. It features a braided or twisted form of wrought iron work. The tiles have a marvelous translucent color that bring a...
Wrought Iron
$165 / set
H 16 in Dm 16 in
Pr. Mid Century Patio Poolside Tables by Fibreform Made in Florida c.1950/1970s
By Woodard Furniture Co., Brown Jordan
Located in New York, NY
Chic architectural patio, poolside stacking tables, having circular fiberglass tops, on metal legs with black plastic feet. The tables are in good, original condition, both are structurally sound and sturdy, both show minor cosmetic wear, normal and consistent with age. Offered and priced as a pair, marked on verso, Fibreform Made in Opa Locka...
Wrought Iron
Tropical Planter by Willy Guhl, Produced by Eternit Brazil, 1960s
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in New York, NY
This vase is part of the series of Eternit fiber-cement vases designed by Willy Guhl (1915–2004), the industrial design pioneer in Switzerland who also created the remarkable Loop ch...
Cement
Swiss Planter by Willy Guhl, Produced by Eternit Brazil, 1960s
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in New York, NY
This vase is part of the series of Eternit fiber-cement vases designed by Willy Guhl (1915–2004), the industrial design pioneer in Switzerland who also created the remarkable Loop ch...
Cement
$2,355
H 42.52 in W 31.5 in D 47.25 in
Boho Bamboo Extendable Lounger, Rattan Deck Chair, and Magazine Holder, 1950s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Boho bamboo lounger, rattan deck chair, extendable lounge chair with slide in ottoman, patio garden chair.There is also a foot section to pull out and n...
Bamboo, Rattan
Sold
H 61 in W 24 in D 24 in
"Albero" Demountable Flowerpot Stand in Pink by Achille Castiglioni, 1983
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Skokie, IL
Achille Castiglioni pink model "Albero" demountable flowerpot stand for Zanotta, Italy, 1983 Early edition demountable planter or flowerpot stand 'Albero' in shape of a tree. Desi...
Steel
Sold
H 37.8 in W 39.38 in D 22.84 in
Italian Modern Camilla Bench with Armrests by Achille Castiglioni Zanotta, 1984
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Camilla Bench with armrests by Achille Castiglioni Zanotta, 1984 Fantastic folding bench with armrests mod. Camilla Bench with seat and back in light gray painted laminate. The structure is in black painted metal. Totally resealable. Suitable to use in the garden or outside. it is suitable to create a vintage outside...
Metal
"Albero" Flowerpot Stand by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Milan, IT
"Albero" (Tree) flowerpot stand by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta. Sturdy steel frame tripod carries eight adjustable arms. Each of them ends with a...
Steel