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 Zanotta Servino Wine Bottle Cooler, Ice Bucket, Italy, 1987
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful, minimalist, and quite rare postmodern floor-standing champagne, wine, and drinks cooler / ice bucket / bottle holder designed in 1987 by Achille Castiglioni and produced...
Metal
Spirale ashtray in black marble by Achille Castiglioni, 1970s
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Vigevano, PV
Ashtray in Belgian black marble and steel spiral. 16 cm diam. 7.5 cm h. Metal plaque by Bacci Italia signed in the mold applied to the base of the bowl. Designed by Achille Castiglio...
Marble, Steel
"Spirale" Ashtray by Achille Castiglioni for Bacci, Italy, 1970s
By Bacci, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Milan, IT
Early Spirale ashtray by Achille Castiglioni for Bacci. Belgian black marble base and spring steel movable part.
Belgian Black Marble, Steel
Centerpiece mod. Spirale, Achille Castiglioni for Bacci, 1970s
By Bacci, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Centerpiece mod. Spirale, designed by Achille Castiglioni for Bacci, in 1971. The object is of particular rarity because of its size (cm 31.5 Ø x 9 h). Made of black marble, the int...
Marble, Steel
21st Century by Achille Castiglioni "MINIROUND" Marble Centerpiece
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in massa, IT
Name: MINIROUND Materials: Black Portoro - National Travertine - Green Alpi - Bianco Carrara - Rosso Levanto Size : Cm Diam.26 x H4 Designed By Achille Castiglioni.
Marble
Italian Ashtray by Studio Opi for Cini and Nils 1970s Milano Italy
By Cini & Nils, Mario Melocchi and Franco Bettonica
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Ashtray produced by Cini and Nils in the 1970s based on a design by Studio OPI (Franco Bettonica and Mario Malocchi). Hemispherical ashtray in steel, polished on the inside and brush...
Steel
Glass Ashtray, Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Glass ashtray is an object realized in 1970s. Art glass, D 15 x 4 cm. Very good conditions!
Art Glass
Vintage Glass Ashtray, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage glass ashtray is an original decorative object realized in the 1970s. Good conditions.
Glass
Gianfranco Frattini, Red Centerpiece / Tray, Progetti Italy, 1970s
By Gianfranco Frattini, Progetti
Located in Firenze, IT
Red enamelled aluminium stackable tray / centerpiece designed by Gianfranco Frattini Manufactured by Progetti, Italy, 1970s. Manufacturer's label on the base Measures: Heigh...
Aluminum
$1,790 / item
H 7.09 in Dm 9.85 in
21st Century Karim Rashid Centerpiece Container Murano Glass Ocean Blue
By Karim Rashid, Purho Murano
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st century Karim Rashid centerpiece container Murano glass various colors. Designed by Karim Rashid, Kountess is a stately, sculptural jar with a lid. Just like its twin model, Kou...
Murano Glass
Arthur Court Rabbit Hinged Ice Bucket or Wine Cooler
By Arthur Court
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Whimsical Arthur Court rabbit hinged ice bucket or wine cooler, realistically cast and modeled figure of a standing rabbit, with gemstone eyes, hin...
Aluminum, Brass
Acqua 'Water', 21st Century Arabescato Corchia Marble Tray
Located in Cologna Veneta, IT
Made from a single circular piece of marble, Acqua is a modern, elegant and refined centrepiece. The Acqua marble tray is perfect for the dining table, kitchen countertop or coffee table. Acqua can also be used as a serving plate to be placed centrally on the table, allowing you to compose an exclusive set of marble plates for a classy dinner. The Acqua tray, which we propose using Arabescato...
Marble, Carrara Marble
Original crystal glass ashtray by Mario Cioni, Italy, 1970s
By Mario Cioni
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Original crystal glass ashtray by Mario Cioni made in Italy in the 1970s. An elegant ashtray made of high-quality crystal, created by the legendary Italian master Mario Cioni. A spe...
Crystal
$595
H 6.25 in W 11 in D 5 in
Mid-Century Italian Ceramic Black Top Hat Wine Cooler Champagne Ice Bucket
Located in Pearland, TX
A stylish Mid-Century Modern Italian ceramic black top hat wine cooler or champagne ice bucket. Enjoy a drink in style with this sleek top hat! Thi...
Ceramic
$896
H 11.82 in W 25.6 in D 14.97 in
Vintage Large 8 Bottle Wine Champagne Cooler Ice Bucket 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a large elegant and stylish Vintage champagne cooler dating from the late 20th Century. This alluring item is perfectly suited to a party, and can easily accommodate eight b...
Silver Plate
Murano glass ashtray italy around 1970s
Located in Wien, AT
Murano glass ashtray italy around 1970s Original condition
Murano Glass
$1,068
H 1.58 in Dm 11.82 in
Travertine Centerpiece by Pier Alessandro Giusti & Di Rosa for Up & Up, 1970s
By Up & Up
Located in Brescia, Brescia
A stunning sculptural travertine centerpiece designed by Pier Alessandro Giusti and Di Rosa for Up & Up Italia in the 1970s. This remarkable piece showcases the timeless elegance of ...
Travertine
Posacenere Achille Castiglioni per Bacci Modello Spirale Italia Anni '70
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Milano, IT
Posacenere Achille Castiglioni per Bacci modello Spirale. Posacenere in marmo nero belga e spirale in acciaio. Sotto la base targhetta metallica con marchio della manifattura. Disegn...
Marble, Steel
Sold
H 3.15 in Dm 6.7 in
Italian modern steel ashtray Spirale by Achille Castiglioni for Alessi, 1990s
By Achille Castiglioni, Alessi
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern steel ashtray Spirale by Achille Castiglioni for Alessi, 1990s Ashtray model Spirale with round base in stainless steel. A spiral spring rests in the round plate, whic...
Stainless Steel
Achille Castiglione ''SERVINO'' Zanotta 1987
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
A rare champagne/winecooler by Achille Castiglione for Zanotta. The bucket has 2 cooling elements filled with water that can be frozen. An ongoin...
Metal