One of the most enigmatic and polarizing figures to emerge in Italian design, Aldo Tura is an outlier in the world of mid-century furniture. The designer’s glamorous bar carts, coffee tables, cabinets and more resist categorization and draw inspiration from Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Baroque, Surrealist and modernist styles.
Tura moved through distinct phases in his career in terms of aesthetics, influences and finishes, rendering his life’s work exciting and diverse. Despite these phases, he held a singular devotion to one material: lacquered goatskin. Tura established a furniture production house in 1939 in Lombardy, and some of his early work focused on tables, decorative lamps and more. He later expanded to bar furnishings like rolling carts, cabinets and complementary barware accessories like ice buckets and cocktail shakers. The eccentric, gleaming and luxe surface of lacquered goatskin was a constant, along with eggshell, parchment and leather.
By the 1950s, Tura had begun to use hand-painted figural panels on the surface of cabinets, serveware (such as carafes) and other pieces. He even replicated famous works by artists like Monet and Bruegel the Elder and art from the Middle Ages, sometimes playfully embedding the paintings on cabinets shaped like oversize books. Even though he had a favored color palette of rich chocolate browns and deep emeralds, his style remained consistently hard to define.
Tura was unlike most of his Italian contemporaries but held a similar reverence for the nation’s traditional craftsmanship and artisanal techniques. He never followed the growing trend of mass-produced, industrial furniture and stuck to creating small, meticulously handcrafted collections. This principled choice means that today, a Tura piece is a rare and highly coveted collectible. The Tura firm continues to operate in Brianza, promoting Italian craftsmanship and the eclectic materials embraced by their namesake designer.
Find authentic vintage Aldo Tura furniture today on 1stDibs.
Rare Goatskin Picture Frame by Aldo Tura
By Aldo Tura
Located in North Miami, FL
This all original large scale picture frame by Aldo Tura, with stand holds a 5x7 photo. It is a creamy aged goatskin and golden metal trim. It retains label to verso. THIS ITEM IS...
Goatskin, Glass
Aldo Tura Green Goatskin Chrome Box
By Aldo Tura
Located in Munich, DE
Elegant cigar box in lacquered goatskin. This box was executed, circa 1960 in light green parchment with chrome parts. Very good vintage condition. Along with artists like Piero Forn...
Goatskin
$1,080Sale Price|40% Off
H 9.5 in W 7.75 in D 0.5 in
Rare Estate Glittering Emerald Swarovski Crystal Elements Picture Photo Frame
Located in New York, NY
The Following Item we are Offering is A Spectacular Rare One of a Kind 5" x 7" Photo Frame with SWAROVSKI Crystal Elements and Stones from all over the World. The Mirror is Beautiful...
Crystal
$1,000Sale Price|60% Off
H 10 in Dm 4 in
Aldo Tura Sculpture, Red, Cream, Geometric, Lacquered Goatskin, Signed
By Aldo Tura
Located in New York, NY
Aldo Tura geometric sculpture, lacquered goatskin, red, cream, signed. Small to medium scale two-piece wood table sculpture covered in lacquered goatskin ...
Goatskin
French Giltwood Picture Frame
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th Century French giltwood picture frame with incised vine decoration and inner bead border. Warm gilt finish is in good condition with some losses to outer edges, slight corner ...
Giltwood
Octagonal Tortoiseshell Picture Frame
Located in New York, NY
Octagonal tortoiseshell picture frame. Antique octagonal frame in beautiful condition smoothly applied with antique Sicilian tortoiseshell and original brass hook; for favourite phot...
Metal
Murano Glass Picture Frame
Located in Dallas, TX
Gorgeous Murano glass and brass large scale picture frame. 10x13 overall. 7x9 interior. Perfect for today's transitional designs!
Blown Glass
Giotto Wall Picture Frame
By Giordano Viganò
Located in Milan, IT
More than a decorative object, this frame will display cherished memories recorded on a photo to be remembered and admired. This elegant frame is crafted of dark wenge and showcases ...
Metal
Fabulous Rare Art Nouveau Period Sterling Silver Picture Frame
Located in New York, NY
Fabulous, rare, sterling silver, Art Nouveau period picture frame, Thomas Brogan and Co., New York, Ca. 1895. The frame is acid-etched, having Art Nouveau-style flowers and vines tha...
Sterling Silver
Chrome Bamboo Picture Frame
By Gucci
Located in New York, NY
A relatively large chrome 'bamboo' motif picture frame in the style of Gucci Home, circa late-20th century. Frame can sit vertical or horizontal, as demonstrated. Picture window area...
Chrome
Sabino, Rare lit table picture frame
By Marius-Ernest Sabino
Located in Bridgewater, CT
Rare Sabino iluminated frame, made of clear and frosted glass depicting two peacocks facing each other, on a gilded metal base.
Glass
A rare signed Venini Murano glass picture frame
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in London, GB
A very rare Pulegoso Murano glass picture frame designed and produced by the world famous glass house Venini C1938 . Impressed Venini Murano to easle support.
Brass
Murano Picture Frame
Located in Dallas, TX
Gorgeous Murano glass and brass large scale picture frame, Circa 2000. Perfect for today's transitional designs!
Blown Glass
Aldo Tura photo frame 1970s.
By Aldo Tura
Located in bari, IT
The picture frame has a rectangular shape with a double border: the thicker outer frame in hand-applied parchment and the inner one in brass. The surfaces feature a polished finish t...
Brass
1960s Blue Goat skin Photo Frame by Aldo Tura
By Aldo Tura
Located in Florence, Tuscany
A 1960s handsome blue goat skin photo frame by the Italian designer, Aldo Tura. While his pieces were rarely signed, this piece has the design and techn...
Glass, Wood, Goatskin
Aldo Tura Italian Lacquered Goatskin Picture Frame ITALY 1960s
By Aldo Tura
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Picture Frame By Aldo Tura made in goatskin lovely picture frame. Made in Italy circa 1960s. Wood covered in goatskin with tan-beige tones. Dimensions: 13 5/8" H x 11 7/8" W x 1 1/...
Goatskin, Glass, Wood
Rare Goatskin Picture Frame by Aldo Tura
By Aldo Tura
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
Picture frame by Aldo Tura Goatskin, circa 1970 Italy.
Goatskin
Aldo Tura Goatskin Picture Frame
By Aldo Tura
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration a beautiful picture frame by Aldo Tura. Goatskin in beautiful color with glossy polyester finish. Will fit a picture 6 3/4" x 4 3/4". Frame has only o...
Goatskin