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.
Memphis Side Coffee Table Servomuto Castiglioni Zanotta, Italy 80s
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
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 Early Comodo Multifunctional Side Table, Italy 1988
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Milan, IT
Rare and Early Achille Castiglioni Comodo ( comfortable ) Side Table, Italy 1988 Multipurpose cabinet/side table composed of a painted steel tripod supporting a wooden container with...
Metal
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
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
$1,148 / 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
$1,565
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 Zanotta, Marco Zanuso
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
$1,148 / 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
$696 / item
H 17.75 in Dm 15.75 in
Contemporary Boton Three Side Table, Conacaste Wood with Black Stain by Labrica
By Labrica, Ricardo Velasquez
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
$9,859
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
Vintage Blackend Steel Side Table by Allegri Parma 1970s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Vintage Blackend Steel Side Table by Allegri Parma, 1970s A stylish vintage blackened steel side table by Allegri Parma, hailing from the 1970s. This Ita...
Metal
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
$8,699
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
Montis White Annex Multifunctional Side Table
By Montis, Gijs Papavoine
Located in New York, NY
Annex is a multifunctional side table. The support has asymmetrical structures of flat metal strips. The functions of the free tabletop with projection are obvious and are ideal for ...
Metal
Rare Modernist Side Table by Jansen, 1970s
By Maison Jansen
Located in New York, NY
Rare modernist side table by Jansen, the polished wood framed mirrored top raised on aluminum sheathed wood base with tapering legs. Signed, with serial numbers. Only one available D...
Aluminum
Achille Castiglioni per Zanotta Tavolino"Servomuto", Italia 1970s
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Naples, IT
Tavolino Servomuto della collezione Servi di Achille Castiglioni per Zanotta, 1974. Servomuto, leggero e facile da spostare, è il degno erede dell'essenziale, elegante ed equilibrato...
Steel
Zanotta Black Basello Small Table by Achille Castiglioni
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
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 Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
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 Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Side Table by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta.
Metal