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 "Servomuto" coffee table, Italy 1970s
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Naples, IT
Servomuto coffee table from the Servi collection by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1974. Servomute, light and easy to move, it is the worthy heir to Franco Albini's essential, eleg...
Steel
Vintage Postmodern Model Servomuto Side Table by Achille Castiglioni, 1970s
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Hamburg, DE
A design classic from the Servi series by the Italian manufacturer Zanotta based on a design by Achille Castiglioni from the 70s. A postmodern design with an object character that a...
Metal
Memphis Side Coffee Table Servomuto Castiglioni Zanotta, Italy 80s
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
Mid-century side coffee table "Servomuto" designed by A. Castiglioni for Zanotta, Italy 1974. Signed. Artist customized with new finish.
Metal
Achille Castiglioni 'Comodo' Versatile Storage by Karakter
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Berlin, DE
Versatile storage unit designed by Achille Castiglioni and Giancarlo Pozzi in 1988. Castiglioni and Pozzi’s elegant multi-purpose unit can be used as a bedside table, a tray, a coffe...
Wood
Contemporary Boton Three Side Table in Conacaste Solid Wood by Labrica
By Ricardo Velasquez, Labrica
Located in Oakland Park, FL
Inspired by old brass buttons and cuff links, this series includes three different table tops each with a distinct base. The series continues to grow and each piece can be modified t...
Wood
$3,800 / set
H 17.52 in W 17.52 in D 17.52 in
Pair of Midcentury Side Tables in Rosewood Designed by Aksel Kjærsgaard, 1960s
By Aksel Kjersgaard
Located in Lejre, DK
Pair of side tables rosewood. Designed by Aksel Kjærsgaard in 1960s, Denmark. Great original condition.
Rosewood
$1,184 / item
H 14.97 in W 14.97 in D 14.97 in
Vodo bedside table / stool, in oak and metal, by Accardi Buccheri for Medulum
By Mauro Accardi & Silvia Buccheri
Located in Meolo, Venezia
Vodo is a collection made up of folded sheet metal structures and solid wood shelves fixed by a joint. Whether it is our bench, stool, console or bookcase, Vodo will be perfect for any environment thanks to its clean line and lightness. Vodo is a line of furniture redefining internal landscapes. Objects made of bent sheets of metal, recalling voids like windows opened towards inhabited spaces...
Sheet Metal
Alessandro Mendini, Sirfo Goose Table, Zanotta, Italy, 1986
By Zanotta, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Krefeld, DE
Alessandro Mendini “Sirfo” side table for Zanotta Edizioni, Italy, 1986. Iconic postmodern design piece, also known as the “Goose Table”. The ...
Aluminum
$696 / item
H 17.75 in Dm 15.75 in
Contemporary Boton Three Side Table, Conacaste Wood with Black Stain by Labrica
By Ricardo Velasquez, Labrica
Located in Oakland Park, FL
Inspired by old brass buttons and cuff links, this series includes three different table tops each with a distinct base. The series continues to grow and each piece can be modified t...
Wood
$1,615
H 12.6 in W 31.5 in D 31.5 in
"Marcuso" Square Chrome Coffee Table by Marco Zanuso for Zanotta, Italy 1970s
By Marco Zanuso, Zanotta
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful Mid-Century “Marcuso” square coffee in chrome plated metal completed by a thick square shaped glass. This stylish table designed by Marco Zanuso and produced by Zanotta in ...
Crystal, Chrome
$15,800
H 27 in W 119 in D 49 in
1950s Italian Bramante Beech Dining Work Studio Table by Castiglioni for Zanotta
By Zanotta
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An opportunity to buy a rare and substantially sized ‘2630 Bramante’ trestle table originally designed in 1950 by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Zanotta, Italy. A reversible beech wooden top, sits upon a pair of solid beech trestle bases. The bases are height adjustable, allowing the top to be set at five different heights from 69.5cm to 85.5cm in increments of 4cm - from a seated position to a standing position - and secured by turned wooden pegs...
Wood
$10,168
H 22.05 in W 25.6 in D 17.72 in
Peter Hvidt Side / Tray Table Model No 1775 by Fritz Hansen in Denmark
By Peter Hvidt
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare side / tray table model no 1775 designed by Peter Hvidt. Produced by Fritz Hansen in Denmark.
Walnut
$1,184 / item
H 14.97 in W 14.97 in D 14.97 in
Vodo bedside table / stool, in oak and metal, by Accardi Buccheri for Medulum
By Mauro Accardi & Silvia Buccheri
Located in Meolo, Venezia
Vodo is a line of furniture redefining internal landscapes. Objects made of bent sheets of metal, recalling voids like windows opened towards inhabited spaces, sculptures that become...
Sheet Metal
$8,972
H 26.35 in W 61.82 in D 36.23 in
“Leonardo” working Table by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1969 Italy
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Tel Aviv District
Designed in 1969 by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, the Leonardo Working Table embodies Castiglioni’s rigorous, user-centered approach to design. Conceived as a flexible working too...
Wood
Vintage Side Table, 1960s-1970s Vintage
Located in Hannover, DE
Nice Vintage Side Table. Production period approx. 1960s-1970s. Good condition, sturdy chromed metal frame. Movable top. Totally three glass plates. Height: 70 cm Diameter: 40 cm
Metal
Marcuso coffee table by Marco Zanuso for Zanotta, 1970s
By Marco Zanuso, Zanotta
Located in Correggio, IT
1970s coffee table model Marcuso by Marco Zanuso for Zanotta. The legs are made of chrome-plated steel and bear the manufacturer's mark. The visually striking, 1.5 cm thick top is ma...
Stainless Steel
Zanotta Black Basello Small Table by Achille Castiglioni
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in New York, NY
Double height small table with variable spread. Frame in medium density fiberboard finished with scratch resistant embossing in the shades white, black or burgundy. Steel articulated...
Wood
Sold
H 13.78 in W 25.6 in D 20.48 in
Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta Side Table in Lacquered Wood Published, 1970s
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Milano, IT
Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta side table in lacquered wood published A rare coffee table designed by Achille Castiglioni for the 1970 Zanotta factory. The top is supported by 4 leg...
Wood
Side Table by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Side Table by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta.
Metal