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Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni

Italian

Milanese industrial designer-architects Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni (1918–2002; 1913-68) created some of the most iconic furniture designs in the world, particularly those that originated in the realm of mid-century modern lighting. 

In the late 1930s, after graduating from the acclaimed Polytechnic University of Milan, Pier Giacomo opened a design studio with his brother Livio and likeminded architect Luigi Caccia Dominioni. Achille, also a graduate of Milan Polytechnic, joined the group after completing his studies in 1944. The era’s architects were encountering difficulty in their attempts to secure building commissions, so the group focused on designing practical everyday objects such as the Model 547, a tabletop radio for Phonola that was encased in Bakelite

The Castiglioni brothers produced wildly popular and innovative designs throughout the 20th century. While Livio departed the practice in 1952 to pursue lighting design and sound technology on his own, Pier Giacomo and Achille would continue to collaborate on a wealth of projects in the ensuing years. 

Vintage furniture collectors may be familiar with Livio and Italian designer Gianfranco Frattini’s serpent-like Boalum lamp, while Achille’s Taraxacum hanging lamp — created for FLOS with sprayed plastic polymers originally intended for military use — as well as the Arco, Snoopy and Toio lamps, which were the result of the collaboration between Pier Giacomo and Achille, are milestones in modernist lighting design

Also for FLOS, Pier Giacomo and Achille created a series of metal frames that, wrapped in the polymer, became floor lamps (Gatto) or pendant lights (Viscontea and Taraxacum), all released in 1960. The Gatto floor lamp takes its name from the Italian word for “cat” and the inspiration for its aesthetic from lighting that George Nelson developed for legendary American furniture manufacturer Howard Miller during the 1940s. Around the same time, the designer Tobia Scarpa (son of the famed Italian architect Carlo Scarpa and one-half of the widely revered postmodern husband-and-wife design duo Afra and Tobia Scarpa) created a floor lamp called Fantasma (1961) using the polymers technique. FLOS continues to make the Castiglionis’ innovative pieces today.

In addition to their provocative lighting works, Pier Giacomo and Achille also created stereo systems, decorative objects, seating, tables and other items for the likes of Brionvega, Alessi, Zanotta, Kartell and more.

Find vintage Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni floor lamps, table lamps, pendants, seating and other furniture on 1stDibs.

Average Sold Price
$3,060
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Iconic Designs from Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Explore timeless pieces that have earned their place in history.
Arco Lamp
Arco Lamp
Castiglioni Toio Floor Lamp
Castiglioni Toio Floor Lamp
Snoopy Lamp
Snoopy Lamp
Pier Giacomo & Achille Castiglioni for Flos 'Arco' Marble & Steel Floor Lamp
By Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Achille Castiglioni, Flos, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed by Pier Giacomo & Achille Castiglioni in 1955, this iconic floor lamp rose to its current fame around the time of the great American mid-century designers like Knoll. Despit...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni

Materials

Carrara Marble, Steel

'Teli' Pendant by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos
Located in Los Angeles, CA
'Teli' Pendant by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos. Designed and manufactured in Italy, circa the 1970s. A contemporary take on geometrical formations take the lead on t...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni

Materials

Cut Steel

Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, "Viscontea" Pendant Lamp for Flos, 1960
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos
Located in Paris, FR
Large 26,4 inches Suspension lamp designed by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni. This iconic "Viscontea" pendant light was manufactured by Flos, in Italy in 1960s. Resin and enam...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni

Materials

Brass, Metal

Original Arco Floor Lamp for Flos
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Category

Early 2000s Italian Modern Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni

Materials

Carrara Marble, Aluminum, Stainless Steel

Taraxacum Pendant Light by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos, Italy, 1960
By Flos, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
An original, vintage and in excellent condition ''Taraxacum'' cocoon suspension lamp designed in the 1960 by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni and manufactured by Flos in the same...
Category

1960s Italian Organic Modern Vintage Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni

Materials

Metal

'Teli' Pendant light by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos
Located in TOURS, FR
'Teli' Pendant light by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos Designed and manufactured in Italy, circa the 1970s
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni

Materials

Metal, Stainless Steel

Achille Castiglioni for Flos Italian Modern 'Taccia' Table Lamp, Large, Silver
By Flos, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Italian modern 'Taccia' table lamp designed by Achille Castiglioni for Flos in the 1960s. The aluminum and polished steel metal base is topped with an inverted glass...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni

Materials

Aluminum, Stainless Steel

Midcentury Beige Cocoon Floor Lamp in Brass and Metal, Castiglioni, Italy 1960s
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning cocoon floor lamp designed by Achille Castiglioni in Italy in the 1960s. This breathaking floor cocoon lamp features a lovely structure in black enameled metal with the th...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni

Materials

Brass, Metal, Steel

Browse all Furniture from Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
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Creators Similar to Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni

More Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni Designs
Arco Lamp
Arco Lamp
Average Price
$3,392
Number Available
7
Arco Lamp
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Achille Castiglioni, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos
Materials
Marble, Metal, Stone, Carrara Marble, Stainless Steel, Aluminum
Styles
Mid Century Modern
It was a humble street light that inspired Achille Castiglioni (1918–2002) and his brother Pier Giacomo Castiglioni (1913–68) to design their Arco lamp. The two men, along with their eldest brother, Livio, were the sons of prominent Milanese sculptor Giannino Castiglioni, and all became trained architects. Achille graduated from the acclaimed Polytechnic University of Milan in 1944 and joined Pier Giacomo and Livio in the design studio they'd opened with Luigi Caccia Dominioni. With large arc...
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Castiglioni Toio Floor Lamp
Castiglioni Toio Floor Lamp
Average Price
$2,191
Number Available
7
Castiglioni Toio Floor Lamp
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Achille Castiglioni, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Materials
Metal, Stainless Steel
Styles
Modern
The idea of the readymade didn’t just upend the art world, it also provoked a wave of invention in design. This provocative spirit is alive and well in the Toio floor lamp, which sees an integration of automotive parts as well as everyday recreational gear. Along with their eldest brother, Livio, Pier Giacomo (1913–68) and Achille (1918–2002) Castiglioni were born in Milan and for a time, the three worked together in their own firm as architects and designers. While Livio departed the practic...
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Snoopy Lamp
Snoopy Lamp
Average Price
$2,621
Number Available
6
Snoopy Lamp
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Achille Castiglioni, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Materials
Marble, Stone, Metal, Steel, Carrara Marble, Glass
Styles
Mid Century Modern, Modern
With an oblong black head that sits atop a tilting white marble base, the Snoopy lamp’s shape playfully brings to mind the snout of the canine main character in Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts comic strip. The design, one of many innovative collaborations by the Italian brothers Achille (1918–2002) and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni (1913–68), was introduced in 1967.After graduating from the Polytechnic University of Milan in 1944, Achille joined the urban planning, architecture and industrial design s...
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Achille And Pier Giacomo Castiglioni furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 128 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 46 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Achille Castiglioni, Angelo Brotto, and Marcello Fantoni. Prices for Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at £250 and can go as high as £27,005, while a piece like these, on average, fetch £1,614.

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