Although he is relatively unknown in the U.S., Augusto Romano is renowned throughout his native Italy as an important architect and mid-century modern furniture designer.
Born in 1918, Romano studied architecture and design at the Politecnico di Torino, graduating in 1944. From 1947 to 1949, Romano taught at his alma mater in the department of architectural planning. Then, from 1949 to 1950, he taught in the school’s department of interior architecture (at the time, this department was chaired by celebrated furniture designer Franco Albini).
In addition to his teaching career, Romano was an established architect and furniture designer who drew on the works of the era’s Scandinavian modernists as well as Le Corbusier, a highly influential architect and urban planner whose career spanned almost five decades. Romano worked with wicker, waxed oak and other materials to create chairs and dining room tables that reflected a light, clean and elegant style of design.
By the late 1940s, Romano was winning acclaim for his innovative modular furniture. He won awards at the Triennale Milano in 1947 for a magazine rack and a glass-topped coffee table made with wood strips and brass rods. In the same year, Romano’s lightweight and collapsible tables, produced by Portuguese manufacturer Altamira, were shown at the CADMA exhibition held at the House of Italian Handicrafts in New York City.
Romano’s success with furniture designs and interior projects continued throughout the 1950s. He collaborated with the Italian manufacturer Cassina to create ashwood armchairs and walnut dining room chairs. With renowned architects Ettore Sottsass and Ildo Avetta, Romano worked on designing single-family houses in the QT8 section of Milan.
Romano’s furniture and architectural works were featured over the years in books by Herman Miller design director George Nelson as well as in a range of prominent publications including Interiors and Domus.
Find vintage Augusto Romano seating, tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Mid Century Modern Italian Augusto Romano Coffee Table
By Augusto Romano
Located in London, GB
A mid-20th century coffee or side table in walnut and maple timber by architect and designer Augusto Romano (1918-2001). Featuring a decorative, book-matched veneer top above dramati...
Maple
Tavolino Augusto Romano, in legno e corda intrecciata, Italia anni ‘40
By Augusto Romano
Located in Firenze, IT
Tavolino disegnato da Augusto Romano negli anni ‘40. Il tavolino ha un piano in legno laccato lucido nei toni dell’arancio, inserito in una cornice di corda intrecciata e canna d’Ind...
String, Wood
$2,873Sale Price|22% Off
Augusto Romano round beech and straw coffee table, 1948
By Augusto Romano
Located in Rome, IT
A rare side table designed by Italian designer Augusto Romano around 1948. A well-executed table that features a round wooden top with a border that is meticulously adorned with brai...
Straw, Beech
$1,299Sale Price|20% Off
H 13.78 in W 29.53 in D 29.53 in
Tavolino postmoderno in noce con piano fumè, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Palermo, IT
Tavolino da salotto italiano Mid-Century Post Modern in noce massiccio, piano in cristal fumè, designer A.&T Scarpa. About Afra & Tobia Scarpa Afra an...
Art Glass, Wood
$2,041Sale Price|20% Off
H 14.97 in W 46.86 in D 21.66 in
Tavolino Nuvola Plexiglass e Piano Grigio decorato a mano in Italia da Cupioli
By Cupioli made in Italy
Located in Rimini, IT
"Le nuvole entrano fluttuando nella nostra vita, non più per portare pioggia o tempesta, ma per aggiungere colore ai nostri tramonti." I tavolini Cloud nascono proprio guardando una...
Plexiglass, Scagliola
Lucite Mid-Century Modern Italian Coffee Table
Located in San Angelo, TX
Here is a really unique imported Italian Lucite and glass Mid-Century Modern coffee table. The glass top lifts and can be removed to replace with something else if one chooses. There...
Glass, Lucite
ICO PARISI Console in legno di faggio e marmo - ITALIA 1950
By Ico Parisi
Located in Milano, IT
ICO PARISICONSOLE ANNI 50 - elegante console originale anni 50 , per la linea e la raffinatezza del suo disegno e materiali possiamo attribuirla al architetto ICO PARISI. Questa bel...
Marble, Brass
$1,177Sale Price|30% Off
H 17.72 in W 55.52 in D 18.51 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian Surfboard Coffee Table, 1970s
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Particular coffee table from the 70s, top in mahogany veneer and metal base, the shape is reminiscent of a surfboard.
Metal
Paolo Buffa Coffee Table for Galdino Maspero, 1948
By Paolo Buffa, Galdino Maspero
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Paolo Buffa coffee table for Galdino Maspero, wood, Italy, 1948 Round coffee table designed by Paolo Buffa and manufactured by Galdino Maspero, Milan, 1948. The circular top feature...
Wood
Mid-Century Modern Coffee Table
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gorgeous Mid-Century Modern coffee table featuring rich walnut grain on a set of sturdy legs. (Please confirm item location - NY or NJ - with dealer).
Augusto Romano Attribution, Side Table, Wood, Rush, Italy, 1940s
By Augusto Romano
Located in High Point, NC
A wood and rush side table attributed to Augusto Romano, Italy, 1940s. Moderate imperfections on tabletop surface. Mild to moderate wear to rope edge, legs, and feet. Overall Dime...
Rush, Wood
Italian Mid-Century Modern Gold Coffee Table
Located in North Bergen, NJ
An Italian Mid Century Modern Laqured coffee table having gold gilt foil and ebonize lacquer decorated top supported on metal legs, circa 1960.
$3,322Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.14 in Dm 31.5 in
Tavolino Marmo Intarsiato, Base Legno, Fatto a Mano Italia Cupioli Disponibile
By Cupioli made in Italy
Located in Rimini, IT
Tavolino Marmo Intarsiato, Base Legno, Fatto a Mano Italia Cupioli Disponibile Cream marble round dining table or gueridon table size: diam. 80 cm h. 74 inches 31.50 h. 29.13 This t...
Marble
$3,609Sale Price|20% Off
H 15.75 in W 55.12 in D 31.5 in
Tavolino Ferro Battuto con Piano Ardesia Intarsiato a Mano in Italia Cupioli
By Cupioli made in Italy
Located in Rimini, IT
Tavolino da salotto con piano in ardesia nera ed intarsio in scagliola verde malachite brillante, base in ferro battuto. Questo tavolino costituirà un'aggiunta di valore al vostro a...
Slate, Wrought Iron
Cesare Augusto Nava dry bar coffee table Italy 1970
By Sormani, Claudio Salocchi
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice and versatile dry bar coffee table by Cesare Augusto Nava, Italy 1970. This recognizable almost constructivist coffee table has a...
Aluminum
Augusto Romano Table
By Augusto Romano
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Circular Italian side table by Augusto Romano, Italy, 1950s Woven rush along the trim with wonderful patina to wood. Two Available - slightly different patina
Rope, Wood
Augusto Romano Table
By Augusto Romano
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Circular Italian side tables by Augusto Romano, Italy, 1950s Woven rush along the trim with wonderful patina to wood. 2 tables available, sold individually. Table 1: Height 24.5...
Rope, Wood
Augusto Romano Round Side Table in Beech and Rope, Italy 1948
By Augusto Romano
Located in Hellouw, NL
A simple basis of actually three elements is what makes this side table appear so effortlessly elegant. Four legs, a beech wood top with a raised edge finished with rope is what the ...
Rope, Beech
Augusto Romano Table
By Augusto Romano
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Beautiful side table by Augusto Romano Double angular legs in beach with detailed rope edges Fantastic patina. Italy, 1940s
Rope, Wood
Mid-Century Modern Side Table by Augusto Romano – Italy 1950
By Augusto Romano
Located in Girona, Girona
Side table with four double legs and top in solid beech surrounded by decorative cord work. French polish. Design: Augusto Romano. Italy c. 1950.
Cord, Beech
Italian coffee table by Augusto Romano, 1940s
By Augusto Romano
Located in Palermo, PA
Italian coffee table by Augusto Romano, 1940s. Dimensions: H= 60 cm; D= 66 cm.
Wood
Augusto Romano Wood Consolle, 1950
By Augusto Romano
Located in Milano, MI
Augusto Romano 1950 edge consolle in wood.
Wood
Italian Midcentury Dining Table by Vittorio Dassi, 1950s
By Augusto Romano
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Elegant and fine midcentury oval dining table produced in Italy in the 1950s and attributed to Augusto Romano. The top is in green glass with a decorative scroll border. The legs in ...
Brass