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.
Aldo Tura, Italian Mid-Century Modern, Carafe, Brass, Red Lacquered Goatskin
By Aldo Tura
Located in Stamford, CT
Aldo Tura, Italian Mid-Century Modern, Carafe or Decanter, Brass, Red Lacquered Goatskin This Aldo Tura carafe is a stunning example of Italian Mid-Century Modern design from the 19...
Brass
1950s Aldo Tura by Macabo Midcentury Italy Goatskin Carafe with Label
By Aldo Tura
Located in Brescia, IT
Carafe by Aldo Tura, Italy, 1950s. Ivory goatskin and metal details.
Goatskin
$468Sale Price|20% Off
Midcentury Pitcher Aldo Tura with Square Section Decorations Parts Goat Skin
By Aldo Tura
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Midcentury termos Aldo Tura with square section decorations parts goat skin, 1950s.
Brass
Pitcher, design Aldo TURA for MACABÒ. Wood and brass. Italy, 50s
By Macabo, Aldo Tura
Located in Torino, IT
Pitcher, design Aldo TURA for MACABÒ. Wood and brass. ORIGIN Italy PERIOD 1950s DESIGNER Aldo TURA (1909-1963) MARK MACABO' MODEL Table pitcher MATERIALS Wood and brass DIMENS...
Brass
Mid-century cream parchment vase, Aldo Tura Italy 1950s
By Aldo Tura
Located in Firenze, IT
Mid-century cream parchment vase Aldo Tura Italy 1950s Leather, brass, copper h 30 cm diam. 24 cm Conditions: very good conditions consistent with age and use.
Silver Plate, Copper
Vintage Turned Beech and Parchment Thermos / Jug by Aldo Tura for Macabo, Italy
By Macabo, Aldo Tura
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1960s. It is made in turned beech, parchment, brass and silvered glass. This jug is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it can be cons...
Brass
1950s Aldo Tura Macabo Cusano Wood Basket Brass Handle Milano Italy
By Macabo, Aldo Tura
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a 1950s Aldo Tura Macabo Cusano wood basket. Designed by the legendary Italian modernist master Aldo Tura. Produced in Milan, Italy by Macabo Cusano. Features...
Brass
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
Mid-Century Modern Bitossi Ceramic Vase by Aldo Londi, Italy, 1950s
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Philadelphia, PA
"Modern in the Tradition of Good Taste" Large scale Raymor Bitossi Vase by Aldo Londi Yellow and Green Signed on underside: Italy 4675 Retains partial original Raymor paper la...
Pottery, Ceramic, Clay
Mid-Century Modern Hand-Blown Glass Vases, Italy, 1950s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of striking hand-blown glass vases flecked with 22 karat gold vases.
Gold
Aldo Londi Bitossi Vase, Ceramic, Mid-Century Modern, Italy, 1960
By Aldo Londi
Located in Paris, IDF
ALDO LONDI. vase, ceramics, Bitossi, Italy, around 1960 A rare Model stamped on the reverse. Good condition. Crackling frenzy.
Ceramic
Spanish Bull Shaped Glazed Ceramic Pitcher
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching ceramic bull jug / pitcher, Spain, 1960s. Spanish ceramic bull shaped jug with romanesque inspired decorative details in green, white and brown-black. This kind of tradi...
Ceramic, Majolica
Kayserzinn Art Nouveau Pewter Pitcher with Devils Head
By Kayserzinn 1
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
German Kayserzinn pewter wine/water pitcher or jug with Art Nouveau style low relief iris decoration centered by a Devils head under the spout and a ...
Pewter
$3,600 / set
H 23 in W 12 in D 12 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian Ceramic Vases, Ecru Floral Design, 1950s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A white, vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian tall pair of glazed ecru colored ceramic décor in the shape of a vase with overspilling floral ornaments, in good condition. Wear consiste...
Ceramic
Aldo Tura Parchment Jewelry Box
By Aldo Tura
Located in New York, NY
Jewelry box in lacquered parchment and wood by Aldo Tura. Italy, circa 1960s.
Parchment Paper
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
$3,515
H 13.39 in W 3.19 in D 3.08 in
Sculptural Goatskin Pepper Mill Blue Cat by Aldo Tura for Macabo, Italy 1960s
By Macabo, Aldo Tura
Located in München, BY
Exceptional, sculptural pepper mill by Aldo Tura for Macabo, Italy, 1960s. Hand-painted, expressive blue cat on goatskin. A rare, fine collector's item. Stamped Macabo on the base. ...
Metal
$999
H 11.5 in W 6 in D 7 in
Large Antique Nippon Styled Ewer or Pitcher with Ornate Moriage Decoration
By Nippon Sento Company Ltd
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large antique and ornately decorated ewer is unsigned, but believed to have been made by the Nippon Company of Japan in approximately 1900 in an Anglo-Japanese style. The pitche...
Porcelain
Sold
H 11.82 in Dm 5.12 in
Aldo Tura Green Thermos Decanter in Goatskin and Brass for Macabo, Italy 1950s
By Macabo, Aldo Tura
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning thermos decanter in vitrified dyed green goatskin and brass. This charming object was designed by Aldo Tura for Macabo in Italy during the 1950s and is signed on the bottom....
Metal, Brass
1950s Aldo Tura Italian Barware Distressed Wood Vessel Jar
By Aldo Tura
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1950s Aldo Tura Italian distressed Vessel Container Jar Italy Signed 16 h x 13 w x 10 d Unrestored distressed vintage condition Damage present: no glass insert, no lid, no handle and...
Goatskin, Wood
Sold
H 12.21 in W 5.91 in D 4.73 in
Aldo Tura Midcentury Goatskin and Brass Thermos Decanter for Macabo, Italy 1950s
By Aldo Tura, Macabo
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning vitrified goatskin thermos decanter with gilt brass trim. Aldo Tura designed this wonderful item in Milan, Italy, during the 1950s for a Macabo production. The piece shows ...
Metal, Brass
Sold
H 10.83 in W 5.52 in D 3.55 in
Black Parchment Thermos with Hieroglyphics by Aldo Tura for Macabo, Italy
By Macabo, Aldo Tura
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Cusano Milanino, near Milan, Italy, in 1960s. This thermos is made in painted parchment, brass, beech and glass. It is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight traces ...
Brass
Giorgio Tura Vintage Object Holder with Salamander
By Aldo Tura
Located in Milano, IT
Lovely varnished wooden holder from the 1960s designed by Giorgio Tura, of fine Italian manufacture. The holder is made entirely of dark wood, very beaut...
Brass
Sold
H 12.21 in Dm 5.52 in
Aldo Tura Midcentury Goatskin and Brass Thermos Decanter for Macabo, Italy 1950s
By Aldo Tura, Macabo
Located in Roma, IT
Amazing wooden goatskin thermos decanter with mid-century gilt brass trim. Aldo Tura produced this wonderful item in Milan, Italy, during the 1950s for a Macabo production. The pi...
Metal, Brass
Vintage Sculpture Flower Holder in Wood and Brass by Aldo Tura
By Aldo Tura
Located in Milano, IT
Wonderful sculpture flower holder designed by Aldo Tura in the 50's, of fine Italian manufacture. The flower holder is made entirely of fine wood and durable, has an oval shape as i...
Brass
Pitcher in Parchment and Brass by Aldo Tura
By Aldo Tura
Located in Milano, IT
Splendid parchment jug designed by Aldo Tura in the 60's, of fine Italian manufacture. The jug is made entirely of light brown and black parchment, has a rectangular shape and under...
Brass
Sold
H 12.6 in W 4.73 in D 10.24 in
Aldo Tura Midcentury Wood and Brass Italian Thermos Decanter for Macabo, 1960s
By Macabo, Aldo Tura
Located in Roma, IT
Amazing midcentury wooden thermos decanter with gilded brass finishes and delightfully decorated with multicoloured dots. This wonderful item was produced in Milan, Italy during the ...
Metal, Brass
Tura Aldo Italian Designer Thermos in Wood Covered in Goatskin
By Aldo Tura
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Elegant and very particular thermal jug...
Brass
Sold
H 13 in Dm 5.52 in
Aldo Tura Midcentury Glass and Brass Italian Thermos Decanter for Macabo, 1960s
By Macabo, Aldo Tura
Located in Roma, IT
Amazing wooden thermos glass decanter midcentury gilded brass finishes. This wonderful item was produced in Milan, Italy in the 1960s by Aldo Tura for Macabo. The next piece is fa...
Metal, Brass
Sold
H 13.39 in W 5.52 in D 7.88 in
Aldo Tura Midcentury Walnut Wood Italian Thermos Decanter for Macabo, 1950s
By Macabo, Aldo Tura
Located in Roma, IT
Amazing midcentury walnut wood thermos decanter. This wonderful item was produced in Milan, Italy, during 1950s by Aldo Tura for Macabo. The following piece is fantastic as the external and isolating part is made of hand carved walnut wood with unique craftsmanship. This piece will enrich with its elegance a midcentury dining table. Aldo Tura was an Italian furniture designer best known for his midcentury tables and lamps. Combining his interest in Art Deco and Art Nouveau with the low-slung Minimalist design of the 1940s and 1950s, he often utilized unusual materials like parchment, eggshell, and goatskin, frequently employing wheels and casters in his designs. Born in 1909, Tura began manufacturing his signature furniture in the 1930s, focusing on limited production of handcrafted designs produced within the confines of traditional craftsmanship. Tura died 1963...
Metal