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 Servento Screen in Red Steel Post with Canvas by Achille Castiglioni
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Servento Screen in Red Steel Post with Canvas by Achille Castiglioni Base in black, white or red painted polypropylene. Steel support rod, painted in the shade black, whit...
Steel
$1,668 / set
H 26.19 in W 21.66 in D 23.63 in
Metal, Black Leather Castiglia Chairs by A. Castiglioni for Zanotta, Set of 4
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Set of 4 stackable armchairs in chromed tubular metal, seat and back in black leather and spring structure for a comfortable seat. Model "2062 Castiglia" designed by A. Castiglioni a...
Metal, Steel, Chrome
$5,064 / set
H 35.44 in W 15.75 in D 18.9 in
Set of 8 “Irma” Dining Chairs by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, Italy 1970s
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Hellouw, NL
The "Irma" chair, designed by the renowned Italian designer Achille Castiglioni in the 1970s and produced by the esteemed Italian furniture company Zanotta, stands as a timeless test...
Steel
$1,418
H 19.89 in W 17.13 in D 18.9 in
Mezzadro Tractor Stools by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1970s
By Zanotta, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Mezzadro Tractor Stools by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1970s Italian design - Seating - Vintage Measures : 43,5x48cm H:50,5cm Materials : Steel - metal - wood M...
Metal, 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
$1,500
H 31.25 in W 47.25 in D 25.75 in
Achille Castiglioni Imperiale chaise longue for Zanotta, Italy 1983
By Zanotta, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Skokie, IL
Achille Castiglioni Imperiale chaise longue for Zanotta, Italy 1983. The structure of the armrests is the basis for this articulated chaise longue. The rest of the structure can take...
Stainless Steel
Mezzadro stool, Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1958
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Stool, single piece, Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta, Italy, 1958, chrome-plated steel, yellow enameled sheet metal seat and beech wood base, Zanotta trademark on the frame, famous for ...
Metal, Steel
$1,310
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
Zanotta Za Za Max Sofa by Zaven in STOCK
By Zanotta
Located in New York, NY
1)ZA:ZAMAX SOFA 201C CM.186 ORIENTATION LEFT COLOR V.ESPR. COVER TESSUTO TOBIA CAT30 TORTORA 030840 100% PL 1)ZA:ZAMAX SOFA 201C CM.186 ORIENTATION RIGHT COLOR V.ESPR. COVER TESSUTO...
Upholstery
$2,204
H 20.87 in W 16.93 in D 21.07 in
Modern Vintage Red Stool Mezzadro Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni 1950 Italy
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Vienna, AT
Modern Italian vintage stool Mezzadro by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni 1950s for Zanotta circa 1978. An iconic gorgeous stool from metal and beech in silver, red and brown color tones. This design icon Mezzadro designed 1950s and manufactured circa 1978 is an early example and in good condition with some signs of age and use, like corrosion and minor abrasions. Marked with the company's name underneath the seat. This splashy stool with a tractor seat in fresh red color brings a playful vibe into any interior and opens up your Traditional, Rustic or Contemporary interior. The Mezzadro stool features rural and simple elements and turned into a an iconic design piece, which is represented in many museums and collections. Easy removable seat, support rod from chromed metal and beechwood, all these simple elements forms a timeless and brightly statement piece. We love this stool in particular for its fresh vibe and we love to combine with Traditional desks...
Metal
$2,014
H 28.35 in Dm 11.03 in
pink metal & leather 1960/70s occasional stool Sella by Castiglioni for Zanotta
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Rare occasional stool "sella" designed by Achille Castiglioni in the 1950s. This stool belongs to the 1960/70s production. Leather seat by brooks (old metal label); chrome plated and...
Metal, Steel, Chrome, Iron
$13,400 / set
H 31.11 in W 21.66 in D 27.17 in
Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta Set of Twelve 'Castiglia' Dining Chairs
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Archille Castiglioni for Zanotta, set of twelve dining chairs, model Castiglia, chromed aluminum, faux leather, Italy, design 1968 These iconic 'Castiglia' chairs were designed by t...
Aluminum, Chrome
$1,650 / item
H 27.96 in Dm 13 in
Zanotta Sella Bicycle Pink Stool by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
By Zanotta, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in New York, NY
Seat. Black saddle of racing bicycle, pink lacquered steel column. Cast-iron base. Dynamic balance Irony and attention to the functions are the assumptions on which ‘jugglers’ Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni based their participation in the exhibition Colori e forme nella casa d’oggi, at Villa Olmo, Como, in 1957. This was one of the founding experiences of the Italian design culture, where, as if by magic, a real racing bicycle saddle (Sella) appeared, mounted on a stainless steel column supported by a heavy hemispherical base, capable of a ‘dynamic balance’. The object was designed as a ‘telephone stool...
Steel, Iron
Camila Bench by Achile Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1984
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Lisboa, PT
The Camila Bench by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, designed in 1984, is an iconic piece of Italian postmodern design that fuses aesthetic appeal with innovative functionality. The...
Metal