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.
Huge Aldo Tura Red Goatskin Lantern Table Lamp
By Aldo Tura
Located in Munich, DE
Superb lantern table lamp made by Aldo Tura, Italy in the 1960s. The lamp was executed in lacquered red goatskin with brass rings and includes a little bowl and it is in very good...
Goatskin
$2,750
H 23.5 in Dm 7 in
1950's Old Florida Nautical Glass Lantern Lamp w/ Original Sintzenich Lampshade
Located in New York, NY
Old brass nautical ship oil lantern lamp with blue-green glass lens. There are two switches on lamp, one to illuminate shade, and another to illuminat...
Brass
Pair of Vintage Pagoda Table Lamps, Lanterns Chinoiserie
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
I just adore these lovely pair of vintage pagoda lantern style table lamps. These will be newly wired prior to shipping. The cord will have an on/off sw...
Metal
$799 / set
H 8 in W 5 in D 4.5 in
Pair of Vintage Murano Lantern Styled Art Glass Table or Bedroom Accent Lamps
By Angelo Seguso
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This pair of small lantern styled art glass table lamps are unsigned, but are presumed to have been made in Italy and designed by Angelo Seguso in circa 1970. The two lamps are done ...
Metal
$590Sale Price|50% Off
H 21.5 in W 4.75 in D 12 in
Aldo Tura Goatskin Parchment Surrealist Pipe Ashtray Lamp
By Aldo Tura
Located in Jensen Beach, FL
“Ceci n'est pas une pipe” is the caption that adorns Magritte’s painting “The Treachery of Images,” and this pipe form lamp inspires a similar surrealist setting. It’s a pipe, but it...
Gold Plate
$2,423
H 27.96 in W 9.45 in D 9.45 in
Italian Lacquered Vellum & Brass Large Table Lamp Attr Aldo Tura
By Aldo Tura
Located in Norwich, GB
Mid Century Italian lacquered vellum & polished brass large table lamp with shade. Attributed to Aldo Tura (1909–1963). Circa 1960. The lamp base is in good condition, showing some ...
Brass
$3,531
H 28.35 in W 14.38 in D 8.27 in
Mid Century Modern Vintage Brown Goatskin Brass Table Lamp Aldo Tura 1960s Italy
By Aldo Tura
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid Century Modern vintage table lamp from goatskin and brass by Aldo Tura, 1960s Italy. A fantastic table lamp in chocolate brown color tone from lacquered goatskin and nice brass d...
Brass
Aldo Tura Red Parchment & Nickel Table Lamp, Italy, 1950's, signed
By Aldo Tura
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Aldo Tura Red Parchment & Nickel Table Lamp, Italy, 1950's, signed
Goatskin, Parchment Paper
Table lamp, Aldo Tura Macabo Cusano Milanino Italy 1950′.
By Aldo Tura
Located in Milan, IT
Desk lamp, made out of carved hazel nut wood, depicting an octopus holding a lantern with a tentacle. The lampshade is made of parchment encased by three tridents, made out of copper...
Brass
$2,514
H 18.9 in W 8.67 in D 9.06 in
Hand Carved Wood Monk Table Lamp by Aldo Tura for Macabo, Italy, 1950s
By Aldo Tura, Macabo
Located in Rome, IT
Not many Aldo Tura pieces can be compared to this unique lamp, hand carved from a single piece of wood. Aldo Tura lamps were done in small editions and the detail and level of sophis...
Metal
Huge Aldo Tura Red Goatskin Lantern Table Lamp
By Aldo Tura
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Big size lantern table lamp made by Aldo Tura, Italy in the 1950s. The lamp are made in lacquered red goatskin with brass rings working in very good condition.
Goatskin
$1,520Sale Price|20% Off
H 14.57 in W 12.2 in D 5.91 in
Table lamp set, bird holding lantern, ashtray, Design, Aldo Tura, 1940s, Italy
By Aldo Tura
Located in Wien, AT
Wonderful table lamp, smoker set, designed by Aldo Tura, made in the 1940s in Italy. The base is an oval plate, carrying a spectacularly hand carved heron bird of beech wood which ...
Brass
Elegant Vintage Brass and Encased Glass Lantern Table Lamp, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1950. This lantern is made in brass, white encased glass and features a turned wood handle. It is a vintage piece, therefore it mig...
Brass
Dolphin-Form Table Lamp by Aldo Tura
By Aldo Tura
Located in New York, NY
Parchment covered wood form. Gold-plated brass mounts and frosted laminate inset shade. A great table top figure with a low light source. Paper label on underside.
Early Rocket Ship Shaped Lamp by Aldo Tura
By Aldo Tura
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
Early Aldo Tura parchment rocket ship shaped lamp with mosaic parchment exterior and stylized lanter shape. With early Tura foil sticker attached to the u...
Parchment Paper, Goatskin
Surrealistic Pair of Aldo Tura Flamingo Lamps
By Aldo Tura
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
Whimsical pair of Aldo Tura table lamps with flamingos holding a parchment covered lantern. Similar pair sold through Los Angeles Modern Auctions December 3rd, 2006.
Brass