Vintage Azucena furniture is elegant and inviting — the esteemed mid-century Milanese manufacturer’s wall lights, armchairs and side tables, which are marked by simple symmetry and thoughtfully contrasting materials, can likely be found in the living rooms of design lovers all over Italy.
Azucena was founded in 1947 by three leading figures of 20th-century Italian architecture: Luigi Caccia Dominioni, Ignazio Gardella and Corrado Corradi Dell’Acqua. The trio initially established Azucena in order to furnish the interiors of buildings they’d designed but found a robust business opportunity in manufacturing individual pieces from those collections for postwar consumers. And as the company founders borrowed the brand name from a conniving character in the Giuseppe Verd opera Il Trovatore, it is appropriate, then, that the furniture for which Azucena is known is practical but exudes a hint of playfulness.
The best of Italian modernism combines cheekiness and bold functionality with provocative and thoughtful design, and Azucena is deeply rooted in that tradition. While its brass-and-walnut mid-century-modern-era dining tables and stackable coffee tables — created by the likes of Dell’Acqua and Vico Magistretti — are exceptionally unobtrusive in small spaces and framed in clean lines, Dominioni designed chunky, enveloping armchairs during the 1970s upholstered in striking red fabric.
Among Azucena's most successful and iconic designs is also Dominioni's most famous piece of furniture: the minimalist Catalina chair. After it debuted at the Milan Triennial in 1957, the Catalina chair, with its generously curving enameled steel frame and plush leather cushion, became an instant sensation. Dominioni’s other enduring designs for Azucena include the Monachella lamp, the ABCD armchair and the versatile Cilindro ottoman.
Italian furniture manufacturer B&B Italia acquired Azucena in 2018 and has reissued a number of designs from the legendary brand’s portfolio, such as the Imbuto lamp, the Catalina armchair and the Cavalletto table.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Azucena lighting, tables, seating and more.
Luigi Caccia Dominioni Set of Ten Catilina Chairs with Leather Cushions Azucena
By Luigi Caccia Dominioni, Azucena
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Set of ten Catilina chairs with frame in painted steel, seat in black lacquered multi-layered wood, and polyurethane cushions covered with leather. This...
Steel
Italian mid-century P4 Catilina chairs Luigi Caccia Dominioni Azucena, 1960s
By Azucena, Luigi Caccia Dominioni
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century modern P4 Catilina chairs by Luigi Caccia Dominioni for Azucena, 1960s Set of four tub chairs model P4 Catilina in metal and wood. The frame is made of steel rod....
Metal
Luigi Caccia Dominioni Set of Six Catilina Chairs in Steel and Fabric Azucena
By Luigi Caccia Dominioni, Azucena
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Set of six Catilina chairs with frame in painted steel, seat top in multi-layered wood, and upholstery-shaped polyurethane cushions covered with red fabric. This iconic seat was designed by Luigi Caccia Dominioni, and produced by Azucena since 1958. Luigi Caccia Dominioni firstly presents this seat at the XI Triennale in Milan in 1957 and from this moment Catilina became one of Luigi Caccia Dominioni’s classics. Caccia Dominioni created a new chair and also defined how to sit in it. Catilina is not designed for relaxation and letting go but for thoughtfulness and elegance. You could almost be transported back to ancient Rome ensconced in the seat of the Roman senator, Lucio Sergio Catilina, after whom the chair is named. In turn, the chair harks back to medieval thrones...
Steel
Luigi Caccia Dominioni for Azucena Sedia "Catilina," Italy 1970s
By Luigi Caccia Dominioni, Azucena
Located in Naples, IT
Chair Mod. Catilina with painted steel frame, black lacquered plywood seat and polyurethane cushion covered in green fabric. This iconic seat was designed by Luigi Caccia Dominioni i...
Metal
Set of Table Design Ignazio Gardella for Azucena and Six Danish Chairs, 1960s
By Azucena, Ignazio Gardella
Located in taranto, IT
Set of table design Ignazio Gardella for Azucena and six Danish chairs, 1960s Splendid original 1960s set consisting of a hexagonal table in rosew...
Wood
Single Chiavarina Mod. S1 chair by Azucena, Italy, 1950s
By Azucena
Located in Milan, IT
Rare single Chiavarina Mod. S1 chair by Azucena, Italy, 1950s Reference: Azucena Catalogue.
Wicker, Wood
Gruppo di dodici Sedie 'Nonaro' di Luigi Caccia Dominioni per Azucena anni 70-80
By Azucena
Located in Milano, IT
Importante gruppo di dodici sedie in metallo smaltato e richiudibili modello 'Nonaro' di cui due capotavola con braccioli. Progettate negli anni '60 da Luigi Caccia Dominioni per acc...
Metal
$14,210 / set
H 33.86 in W 27.96 in D 31.89 in
Pair of Ignazio Gardella Digamma armchairs for Gavina Italia, 1960s
By Gavina, Ignazio Gardella
Located in Rovereta, Repubblica di San Marino
An extremely rare first edition pair of original 1950's Digamma reclining chairs designed by Ignazio Gardella designed in 1957 and manufactured by Gavina, Bologna, Italy. The chair...
Brass, Steel
$2,400Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 31.5 in W 20.87 in D 17.72 in
Set of Six Baby Pink "Shell" Chairs, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Six beautiful chairs type 1020 colloquially called "shells" produced by the Slupsk centre of Furniture Industry in the 1960s. They are after full renovation upholstery and carpentry....
Velvet, Beech
Ignazio Gardella Reclining Digamma Chairs, 1960s, Italy
By Ignazio Gardella
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
An original, early pair of Ignazio Gardella Reclining Digamma chairs, designed in the late 1950s and produced by Gavina, Italy in the 1960s. Newly reupholstered in yellow / gold velv...
Brass, Steel
Armchair Luigi Caccia Dominioni 1973 Modell TORO
By Azucena, Luigi Caccia Dominioni
Located in Berlin, DE
This exceptional, unique armchair made of faux fur was designed by Milanese architect and designer Luigi Caccia Dominioni (1913-2016). He designed the Armchair Toro in 1973 for Azuce...
Faux Fur
1960s Set of Six Spanish Wood & Leather Chairs
Located in Marbella, ES
1960s set of six Spanish wood and leather chairs.
Leather, Wood
$11,747Sale Price|20% Off
H 26.78 in W 84.26 in D 31.5 in
Vintage Fuchsia Sofa by Luigi Caccia Dominioni for Azucena
By Azucena, Luigi Caccia Dominioni
Located in Milano, IT
Gorgeous fabric sofa designed by Luigi Caccia Dominioni for the fine manufacturer Azucena Italia. The vintage sofa is made of brown, fuchsia and purple striped fabric, which creates a very colorful geometric effect. The lines are very hard and geometric, wonderfully eccentric. The frame is made of anodized aluminum, shiny silver, which connects to the spectacularly beautiful square, hollowed out feet. The cushions also act as square armrests, very colorful. The sofa comes from the Rome home of Luigi Caccia Dominioni. The colored sofa are ideal for furnishing eccentric and colorful living rooms.
Metal
$1,368 / set
H 32.68 in W 18.12 in D 26.78 in
Medea Chairs by Vittorio Nobili, Fratelli Tagliabue, Italy, 1950s
By Vittorio Nobili
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A nice pair of old, authentic Medea chairs by Vittorio Nobili for Fratelli Tagliabue, Italy, 1950s. The price shown is for a single chair. Signs of use and wear and some minor losses...
Metal
$9,579
H 29.53 in W 83.08 in D 34.65 in
Luigi Caccia Dominioni Fasce Cromate Sofa, New Mohair, Italy, 1960s
By Azucena, Luigi Caccia Dominioni
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
An original Luigi Caccia Dominioni Fasce Cromate (or Chromate) Sofa, model P11, manufactured by Azucena in Italy, in the 1960s. Chrome-plated steel. Newly upholstered in drak brown...
Chrome
Chiavarina Chairs, 1960s, Set of 6
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Montelabbate, PU
6 Highbacked chairs by Paolo Buffa 1950s.
Velvet, Cherry
$6,500
H 25.25 in W 29.5 in D 25 in
D_Ca3l "Large Catilina Low" Armchair by Luigi Caccia Dominioni, Azucena
By Azucena, Luigi Caccia Dominioni
Located in Skokie, IL
Luigi Caccia Dominioni model D_CA3L "large Catilina low" armchair for Azucena, Italy, 1958 / 2000s Additional Information: Materials: Enameled steel, velvet upholstery Dimension...
Steel
Catilina Armchair by Luigi Caccia Dominioni for Azucena
By Luigi Caccia Dominioni, Azucena
Located in Los Angeles, CA
"Large" Catilina Lounge Chair with leather upholstered seat by Luigi Caccia Dominioni for Azucena. Designed and presented in 1957 at the XI Triennale in Milan. Literature: Gramigna,...
Iron
Set of 6 Danish Side Chairs & Armchairs, 1960s
Located in Andrézieux-Bouthéon, FR
Set of 6 Danish Side Chairs & Armchairs, 1960s Vintage Design Set of four chairs and two Danish design armchairs 1960’. The mulching is completely redone in our workshops by ...
Straw, Wood
Luigi Caccia Dominioni Catilina Chair for Azucena, Italy, 1958
By Luigi Caccia Dominioni, Azucena
Located in Milan, IT
Luigi Caccia Dominioni Catilina chair for Azucena, Italy, 1958 This model probably 1970s-1980s Seat covered in green felt.
Metal
Sold
H 27.56 in W 22.84 in D 18.51 in
Luigi Caccia Dominioni "Catilina" Chairs for Azucena, 1958, Set of 4
By Luigi Caccia Dominioni, Azucena
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Luigi Caccia Dominioni "Catilina" Chairs for Azucena, 1958, set of 4 Catilina is not designed for relaxation and letting go but for thoughtfulness and elegance. It is essentially ...
Steel
Sold
H 37.41 in W 24.81 in D 24.41 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian Set of 4 Armchairs by Luigi Caccia Dominoni, 1970s
By Azucena, Luigi Caccia Dominioni
Located in Prato, IT
Mid-Century Modern Italian set of 4 armchairs by Luigi Caccia Dominioni for Azucena with their original polyester velvet fabric, 1970s The upholstery is in good vintage conditions. ...
Velvet, Wood
Sold
H 37.41 in W 24.81 in D 24.41 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian Set of 6 Armchairs by Caccia Dominioni for Azucena
By Azucena, Luigi Caccia Dominioni
Located in Prato, IT
Mid-Century Modern Italian set of 6 armchairs by Luigi Caccia Dominioni for Azucena with their original polyester velvet fabric. 1970s The upholstery is in good vintage conditions. ...
Velvet, Wood
Luigi Caccia Dominioni Catalina Chairs
By Luigi Caccia Dominioni, Azucena
Located in London, GB
Luigi Caccia Dominioni was a Milanese architect considered to be a leading pioneer in the field of industrial design. Graduating from Milan’s renowned polytechnic, he made a name for himself in the design world through collaborating with Pier and Giacomo Castiglioni, developing a series of cutting edge radios. In 1947 he cofounded Azucena along with Ignazio Gardella, the Catalina chair...
Steel