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.
Pair of ‘Ginevra’ Armchairs in Stained Wood by Achille Castiglioni
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Berlin, BE
Pair of ‘Ginevra’ armchairs in stained wood by Achille Castiglioni Bonacina, 1979 Additional information: Material: Stained wood (bois teinté) Artist: Achille Castiglioni S...
Wood
Achille Castiglioni, Armchair Model “Primate”, 1970
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Barcelona, ES
Achille Castiglioni (1918-2002) Armchair model “Primate” Manufactured by Zanotta Italy, 1970 Leather, steel, resin base Measurements 45 cm x 47 cm x 79h cm 17.71 in x 18.5...
Steel
Achille Castiglioni ‘Castiglia’ Chairs, 1968, Zanotta
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Kampen, NL
A pair of ‘Castiglia’ chairs, designed in 1968 by famous italian architect and designer Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta. These chairs feature a chromed tubular steel frame with seaml...
Steel, Chrome
Arne Norell Easy Chair Model Sirocco, 1970s
By Arne Norell
Located in Stockholm, SE
Safari chair model Sirocco in good condition. Original cognac leather. Designed by Arne Norell, produced by Arne Norell AB in Aneby, Sweden, 1970s.
Brass
$1,292
H 35.44 in W 15.75 in D 18.9 in
Pair of "Irma" chairs by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, Italy, 1970s
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Argelato, BO
The "Irma" chair by Achille Castiglioni produced by Zanotta is composed of an elegant structure in black steel tube, which makes it more resistant than the previous one, with seat an...
Steel
$564 / set
H 29.93 in W 22.45 in D 25.6 in
Pair of Vintage Adjustable Armchairs, Czechoslovakia, 1970s
By Novy Domov
Located in Praha, CZ
Pair of vintage adjustable armchairs made of metal, wood and leatherette. Produced in former Czechoslovakia in the 1970s. They are in a ver...
Metal
Eberhard Krauss, Rare Armchair Model A 821 F for Thonet, 1930
By Thonet
Located in Uppsala, SE
Rare armchair / lounge chair designed by Eberhard Krauss for Thonet in 1930 for the exhibition "Thonet Werkbund" in Vienna. This model is sometimes also wrongly attributed to Adolf S...
Rattan, Birch
$3,643
H 40.16 in W 35.04 in D 36.62 in
Organic Vintage Sculptural Red Lounge Chair by Achille & Piero Castiglioni 1960s
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Vienna, AT
Space Age vintage San Luca sculptural lounge chair or armchair from leather in burnt red color Italy 1960s designed by Achille & Piero Castiglioni. This very comfortable organic ...
Leather
Model 4801 Armchair by Joe Colombo for Kartell, 1960s
By Joe Colombo, Kartell
Located in bruxelles, BE
Orange wooden armchair by Joe Colombo. The armchair is numbered. Dimensions: Seat height 34cm Wear due to time and age of the armchair. FOR SHIPPING, REQUEST US FOR RECEIVE THE BEST ...
Wood
1940s Pair of French Wood Armchairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredible pair of carved wood armchairs from France, 1940s. Beautiful carved bobbin wood legs and criss-cross detailing on back. Dark stain has been newly refreshed and shows some i...
Wood, Velvet
Kruger Armchair in Solid Cedar Wood
Located in Paris, FR
Armchair Kruger all in solid natural cedar wood treated with natural pine extracts. Solid cedar wood include movement, cracks and changes in wood conditi...
Cedar
$5,832 / item
H 31.11 in W 31.5 in D 33.47 in
Wood William Rocking Armchair Handmade in Portugal by Wood Tailors
Located in RIO TINTO, PT
Diversifying from printing to publishing, William Strachan was a successful businessman. Most known for his unquestionable expertise and talent, William was entrusted with the printing of Johnson's Dictionary, and also published the works of famous philosophers. Nowadays his original painting by Reynolds is located at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Honoring this Scottish gentleman...
Linen, Walnut
$11,634
H 32.68 in W 29.14 in D 29.14 in
Rare Rotating Giro Armchair by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Gavina 1962
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Rare Giro armchair by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni. A comfortable and unexpected office chair, produced in few pieces by Gavina in 1962. The circular rotating seat rests ...
Leather, Wood
$1,560Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 30.5 in W 22.75 in D 23.5 in
Castiglietta Pair of Office or Dining Chairs by Achille Castiglioni
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Italian chairs model 2062 by Achille Castiglioni & Marccelo for Zanotta year 1967 minale. Chairs are new reupholstered in leather.
Leather
Sold
H 46.5 in W 25 in D 35 in
'Sancarlo' Leather Lounge Armchair by Achille Castiglioni for Driade, circa 1982
By Driade, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This unique Post-Modern 'Sancarlo' armchair, with an emphasis on ergonomics, function and geometry, was designed by Achille Castiglioni for Driade in 1982. Modeled from the Sanluca chair, designed a few decades earlier with his brother Pier Giacomo, the Sancarlo lounge chair features tubular metal bent and curved around throughout the entirety of the chair including the legs, arms, and frame which holds the four leather cushions, each cushion intentionally positioned in a manner to increase comfort and ergonomics. seat into a series of cushions which curve to each part of the body they have to support. This design was ground breaking when it was first presented and is now a sought-after design for Post-Modern art and design collectors. This San Carlo arm chair by Achile Castigioni for Driade would work great in a Mid-Century Modern, Scandanavian Modern or Danish Modern home or penthouse apartment but could also look fantastic in a Contemporary or Post-Modern room. Also consider mixing it up in a Traditional, Transitional, Classical or Art Deco room with a splash of juxtaposition. Would also be an apt choice in a commercial project such as a hotel lobby lounge or members club, creative design studio or high-rise executive office. Consider using as a side chair, dining, cafe or breakfast table chair, bedside chair...
Metal
Sold
H 31.5 in W 22.05 in D 19.69 in
Set of Six Dining-Armchairs "Model Castiglia" by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Antwerp, BE
Set of six dining chairs, stackable camel saddle leather seat and back with steel chrome frame "Model Castiglia" designed by Achille Castiglioni and Marcello Minale for Zanotta in 19...
Chrome
Achille Castiglioni Castiglia Chairs Zanotta, Italy, 1968
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Fantastic large set of 10 Castiglia armchairs designed by Achille Castiglioni & Marcello Minale and manufactured by Zanotta, Italy 1968. Fantastic shaped and comfortable armchairs. C...
Chrome
Achille Castiglioni San Luca Chair
By Gavina, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Dronten, NL
Early Achille Castiglioni San Luca chair manufactured by Gavina. Original black wool felt upholstery in excellent condition, oak legs.
Felt, Oak