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 Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
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
Pair of Arne Norell Easy Chairs Model Sirocco, 1970s
By Arne Norell
Located in Stockholm, SE
Pair of safari chairs model Sirocco in good condition with original black leather. Designed by Arne Norell, produced by Arne Norell AB in Aneby, Sweden, 1960s. Global front door ship...
Brass
$4,323
H 31.5 in W 30.32 in D 31.5 in
Kill International Model 6720 Lounge Chair Armchair by Kastholm & Fabricius
By Kill International, Jørgen Kastholm & Preben Fabricius
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This lounge chair model 6720 was design by Jorgen Kastholm & Preben Fabricius for Kill International. The lounge chair has a chromed steel frame and dark brown aniline leather. Gre...
Steel, Chrome
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
Pair of Louis XVI Style Carved Wood Leather Deco Armchairs
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Louis XVI French carved wood leather armchairs with columnal fluted legs and nailhead trim. Great patination to green painted legs. Button tufted seat with newly refreshed do...
Wood
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
$2,917
H 34.26 in W 24.41 in D 29.53 in
Philippe Starck Black Chair Armchair Driade Aleph Model Pratfall
By Philippe Starck, Driade
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Armchair model Pratfall by Philippe Starck for Italian manufacture Driade Aleph. Black leather and black lacquered plywood shell on black steel tube. Th...
Steel
$3,228Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 28.35 in W 28.35 in D 35.44 in
21st Century Wood Moore Armchair Linen Handmade in Portugal by Wood Tailors
Located in RIO TINTO, PT
Member of the Brook’s, one of the most prestigious gentlemen's clubs of London, Thomas Moore was an Irish poet, singer, songwriter. From a relatively early...
Linen, Walnut
Pair of Swedish Rococo Style 1890s Painted Wood Armchairs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Rococo style painted wood armchairs from the late 19th century, with carved splats, cabriole legs and upholstery. Created in Sweden during the last decade of the 19...
Upholstery, Wood
$1,887 / item
H 31.5 in W 22.05 in D 23.23 in
Customizable Tacchini Babela Armchair by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
By Tacchini, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in New York, NY
price listed for starting fabric. Designed in 1958 by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for the Milan Chamber of Commerce, Babela is an excellent example of how practicality and ...
Leather, Fabric, Plywood
$4,818 / item
H 39.38 in W 29.14 in D 36.23 in
Arflex Leafo Armchair in Grey Fabric with Black Stained Wood Base by Jaime Hayon
By Arflex, Jaime Hayon
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With the Leafo lounger, Hayon set out to make something that uniquely brings softness and lightness together. A simple chair that can be placed in spaces both small and large. The sp...
Fabric
Sold
H 46.5 in W 25 in D 35 in
'Sancarlo' Leather Lounge Armchair by Achille Castiglioni for Driade, circa 1982
By Achille Castiglioni, Driade
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 Achille Castiglioni, Gavina
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