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
A pair of table lamps by Aldo Tura, Italy, c. 1960s.
By Aldo Tura
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Wrapped in lacquered goatskin parchment, the rectangular bases display a rich range of tones from honeyed amber to deep bronze. The subtle variation of the material gives each lamp a...
Metal
Aldo Tura Mid-Century Modern Table Lamp, Brown Goatskin & Brass
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Conceived as an oversized pipe, this exceptional table lamp is a playful and highly sculptural example of Aldo Tura’s distinctive mid-century design language. Produced in Milan circa...
Goatskin
Unavailable|$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
$2,990
H 17.33 in W 10.63 in D 4.34 in
Vintage Aldo Tura Swan Goatskin Wood and Brass Lamp, 1950s, Italy
By Aldo Tura
Located in Vis, NL
Vintage Aldo Tura goatskin, wood and brass lamp. 1950s Made in Italy. This piece is in good vintage condition with porous grains on the brass ...
Brass
$2,631
H 19.69 in W 7.88 in D 7.88 in
Wood Orphan Child Lantern Table Lamp by Aldo Tura for Macabo, Italy, 1950s
By Aldo Tura, Macabo
Located in Rome, IT
This particular and sophisticated lamp made by Aldo Tura is most likely a unique prototype lamp. Aldo Tura lamps were done in small editions, thus the d...
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
$857
H 13.78 in W 11.82 in D 7.88 in
Hand Carved Wood Mill Table Lamp Ashtray by Aldo Tura Macabo, Italy, 1960s
By Macabo, Aldo Tura
Located in Rome, IT
Table lamp with ashtray by Aldo Tura for Macabo (signed on the bottom) in the shape of a mill in hand carved wood. Milan, Italy, circa 1960.
Metal
$1,954
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, England
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
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
Pair of 1950s Italian Brass Table Lanterns
Located in Hanover, MA
Pair of 1950s Italian table lamps or lanterns in polished solid brass with two satin glass cylinders over two candelabra sockets. Totally restored and rewired. Push button switch on ...
Brass
$3,374
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
$915
H 11.82 in W 4.73 in D 4.73 in
Aldo Tura Brown Goatskin Parchment and Brass Table Lamp, Italy 1960s
By Aldo Tura
Located in Milan, IT
Aldo Tura Brown Goatskin Parchment and Brass Table Lamp, Italy 1960s Lamp shade not included. Measurements are for the lamp base, including bulb holder.
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