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 for Zanotta Portapiante Smontabile "Albero," Italy 1980s
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Naples, IT
Albero by Zanotta is an iconic pot holder designed by Achille Castiglioni in 1983. A sculptural, light and dynamic object designed to display indoor plants in a functional yet aesthe...
Steel
"Albero" Plant Stand, designed by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1983
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Milano, Lombardia
“Albero” plant stand with rotating shelves, designed by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta in 1983. Original vintage. Featuring a vertical frame made of black-painted steel, the plant ...
Metal
Colored Murano Glass Vase, Italy, 1980s
Located in Palermo, IT
Colored Murano glass vase, Italy, 1980s Purchased in one of the most prestigious retailers of fine objects in Venice. Intact. Excellent condition.
Glass
Vintage Murano Blown Glass Vase, 1980s, Italian Design
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Murano blown glass vase with speckled patterns in amber, orange, and black; 1960s. CONDITION: In good condition; may show slight signs of wear. DIMENSIONS: Height 25; Diameter 15 c...
Glass
Blue Murano Glass large Vase, Italy 1980s
By Cenedese
Located in Dallas, TX
Very large blue translucent Mid Century Modern Murano glass vase. Attributed to Simone Cenedese, Murano, Italy, 1980s. The blue Murano glass is thick and heavy. The Murano glass is f...
Murano Glass
Set of 3 Black Cibele Plant Stands by OK Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 Black Cibele Plant Stands by OK Design Dimensions: D 35 x H 30 cm, D 35 x H 45 cm, D 35 x H 54 cm. Materials: Powder-coated metal. Available in small, medium, and large. Av...
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Murano Glass Vase, Aquamarine, Italy 1980s
Located in Catania, IT
Murano glass vase. Aquamarine coloured glass with an organic form. For use as a decorative artwork or as a functional vessel for holding flowers In excellent vintage condition
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Vintage 1960s Bamboo Plant Stand with Wheels, Italian Design
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Plant stand with wheels and a circular bamboo frame, Italian design, 1960s. CONDITION: In good condition, may show signs of wear given by time. SIZING: Height: 29 cm; Diameter 60 ...
Bamboo
Wicker Cane Plant Stand
Located in New York, NY
A vintage wicker cane plantstand with tri-pod base/legs, mid-20th century, circa 1960s-1970s. Plantstand has a round funnel-like cane basket supported by a wood frame/tripod base/leg...
Wicker, Cane, Wood
$800 / item
H 40.56 in Dm 12.21 in
Zanotta Servofumo Ashtray Stand by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
By Zanotta
Located in New York, NY
Ashtray stand. Base in polypropylene, container in aluminium and steel support frame, painted in the shade black for outdoors.
Aluminum, Steel
$1,200Sale Price|50% Off
H 8.25 in W 10 in D 10 in
Elsa Fedrigolli Sculptural Glass 1980s Italian Vase
By Esa Fedrigolli
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful 1980s Post Modern blue glass sculptural vase on a bronze vase made by famed Italian designer, Esa Fedrigolli. Rare. Signed.
Bronze
$1,200
H 9.85 in W 13.39 in D 5.52 in
Huge "Tasca" Porcelain Vase by Lino Sabattini for Rosenthal, Italy, 1980s
By Rosenthal, Lino Sabattini
Located in Milan, IT
Huge "Tasca" porcelain vase by Lino Sabattini for Rosenthal. Matte finish and still contemporary shape.
Porcelain
Vintage blue gold italian murano glass vase, 1980s
Located in Nicolosi, IT
Vintage Blue and Gold Italian Murano Glass Vase, 1980s Elevate your interior with this exquisite vintage Murano glass vase, handcrafted in Italy during the 1980s. A true work of art,...
Murano Glass
Dealbata flower vase Zanotta Alessandro Mendini Postmodern
By Alessandro Mendini, Zanotta
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
"Dealbata" flower vase designed by Alessandro Mendini. It was produced as one of collection for Zabro by Alchimia. Later Zanotta chose it in a Zanotta edizioni collection. Zanotta Ed...
Ceramic
Sold
H 3.63 in Dm 21.07 in
Large Arabescato marble bowl by Achille Castiglioni for Up & Up, Italy 1970s
By Achille Castiglioni, Up & Up
Located in Rotterdam, ZH
Exceptional large Arabescato marble bowl by Achille Castiglioni for Up & Up, Italy 1970s. Elegant organic shaped bowl carved out a solid piece o...
Marble
Sold
H 61.03 in W 20.48 in D 24.81 in
Vintage Albero Demountable Flowerpot Stand by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in München, BY
Early edition. Demountable planter or flowerpot stand 'Albero' in shape of a tree. Designed by Achille Castiglioni 1983 for Zanotta, Italy. Marked: Zan...
Steel
Sold
H 59.85 in W 20.48 in D 24.81 in
Zanotta Albero White Demountable Flowerpot Stand by Achille Castiglioni
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in New York, NY
Demountable flowerpot stand Painted steel frame in white, Pot-holder dishes in black polyamide. Black polypropylene feet. It was 1983 when Achille Cast...
Steel
Zanotta Albero White Demountable Flowerpot Stand
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in New York, NY
Demountable flowerpot stand Painted steel frame in white, Pot-holder dishes in black polyamide. Black polypropylene feet. It was 1983 when Achille C...
Steel
Great Plant Stand, Albero by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1982
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
This plant stand is a great design by the great Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta in 1982. Albero is a multi-armed flowerpot Stand. The structure is composed of a tubular steel rod su...
Metal