Architect and designer Cesare Lacca is renowned for the modernist furniture he created during the 1950s. Made with materials like teak, glass and brass, his work continues to command great interest from mid-century modern collectors. His pieces have recently found their way onto some of the 21st century’s most trendy television and movie sets.
Lacca was born in Naples, Italy, in 1929. Like many Italian designers in the 20th century, he moved to Milan after World War II to launch his career. At the age of 20, he was selected by a group of American curators for inclusion in the 1951 landmark exhibition “Italy at Work: Her Renaissance in Design Today” at the Art Institute of Chicago. It showcased Italian designers who had embraced modernist principles and rejuvenated traditional Italian crafts, like Carlo Mollino, Franco Albini and Gio Ponti.
Lacca designed a dizzying array of tea carts and serving trolleys across his career, including magazine racks and coffee tables. Lacca’s most well-known piece is a tea cart — most commonly used as a bar cart — that Cassina manufactured. It features beautifully sculpted beech, cedar, teak and walnut with brass details, a glass tabletop and a removable glass tray.
This Lacca cart was featured as Don Draper’s office bar in his Manhattan advertising agency on several episodes of the wildly popular television show Mad Men, reinvigorating the interest of collectors. Several other Lacca pieces have been part of the set decorations in the television series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and the movie Being the Ricardos.
On 1stDibs, find Cesare Lacca tables, racks and stands, seating and more.
1950s Italian Vintage Brass & Teak Jardinière by Cesare Lacca
By Cesare Lacca
Located in Paris, FR
A 1950s Italian jardinière by Cesare Lacca, a celebrated designer known for his refined mid‑century furniture and lighting. This exceptional piece features a perforated brass basket ...
Brass
Willy Guhl Cauldron Planters by Eternit, Vintage Swiss Design, 1950s
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A pair of vintage Willy Guhl Cauldron-shaped planters elevated of short three legs and two lateral handles, in good condition. Each of the Swiss Eternit garden planters are created i...
Cement
Circa 1880 English Oval Brass Jardiniere
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1880 oval brass jardiniere, English. Raised on large lion paw feet with lion mask ring handles. Riveted base & sides. Hammered body. 18.5" w., 13 5/8" d., 11.75" h. We are...
Brass
$3,300
H 13.5 in W 30.5 in D 30.5 in
Vintage Biomorphic Garden Planter by Willy Guhl, Swiss Design, 1950s
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A large, vintage Mid-Century modern Swiss biomorphic garden planter made of hand crafted light weight cement designed by Willy Guhl and produced by Eternit, in good condition. This s...
Cement
$150
H 7.09 in W 23.23 in D 12.21 in
Vintage French Painted Cast Stone Sea Shell Planter Jardiniere, c.1950s
Located in Bristol, GB
Vintage Hand Decorated Reconstituted Stone Plant Pot A thick heavy planter in the form of a trough with remnants of original paint and applied clam sh...
Cast Stone
1950s Extra Large Rattan/Wicker Jardinière/Planter
Located in Brecht, BE
Made in the 1950s in France, the largest rattan/wicker jardinière I have seen ... high 87 cm and 90 cm diameter! A conversation piece.
Wicker, Rattan
$320Sale Price|20% Off
H 7.5 in W 8.75 in D 5 in
Vintage Brass Seashell Cachepot Jardinière Plant Holder
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in San Diego, CA
Sculptural and incredibly chic plant holder. This beautiful piece is rendered as a seashell. This mid-century piece is completed in brass and brings old Hollywood style...
Brass
Italian Mid-Century Modern Umbrella Stand in Brass, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Luxury Mid-Century Modern Decorative Round Umbrella Stand in Brass. Handcrafted in Italy, 1950s. This eye-catching round shaped umbrella stand features brass circles joined between t...
Brass
$1,200
H 7.75 in W 11.5 in D 8 in
Italian Planter Cachepot Jardinière Pheasant Bird by Mottahedeh, Italy
By Mottahedeh
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful Italian flower or plant potholder planter cachepot jardinière with pheasant bird by Mottahedeh, circa mid-20th century, Italy. Pot is cream off-white ceramic with promine...
Ceramic
Vintage Swiss Diablo Planter by Willy Guhl, Cement, 1950s Design
By Willy Guhl
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sculptural, vintage Swiss Diablo Eternit spindle garden planter made of light weight cement, designed by Willy Guhl, in good condition. The detailed tall planter is reinforced with...
Concrete
Mastercraft Brass Pedestal Jardiniere
By Mastercraft, William Doezema
Located in Hanover, MA
Fabulous pedestal jardiniere by William Doezema for Mastercraft in their signature patinated brass finish. Base is a straight round column which has double rings suggestive of bamboo...
Brass, Steel
Vintage Hammered Brass or Copper Planter/Jardiniere Hong Kong
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a vintage hammered brass or copper planter/jardiniere featuring a prominent riveted rim band. Stamped HONG KONG. Often associated with Arts & Crafts, Miss...
Brass
Swedish Brass Jardiniere
Located in New York, NY
A jardiniere made in brass with beautiful details and lions heads with twisted ring handles standing on lions feet. Made during the 20th century.
Brass
Cesare Lacca Console Jardiniere
By Cesare Lacca
Located in Hanover, MA
Slim and swanky jardiniere console by Cesare Lacca, Italy, circa early 1950's. Two dark mahogany X frame supports hold a rectangular glass top held securely in place by black metal ...