Of his mid-century modern furniture designs, which marry minimalist simplicity with elegance and symmetry, Italian designer Giovanni Offredi once said: “Beauty should not be confused with appearance, since the latter is the superficial part of the form.”
Born in Milan, in 1927, Offredi did not pursue formal education as an architect, unlike many of his contemporaries in the first half of the 20th century. He also did not begin designing furniture until later in his career. His earliest known furnishings were commissioned by wealthy Milanese families in 1960.
It wasn’t until the late 1960s — when Offredi met Sergio Saporiti, owner of Italian furniture manufacturer and design shop Saporiti — that his furniture designs would become more prominent. In 1970, Offredi entered into a partnership with Saporiti, producing several innovative and modernistic furniture lines.
Among Offredi’s most notable pieces are the gently curving Wave chair, sofa and lounge chair, the Onda coffee table and the Paracarro dining room table, with its cylindrical concrete base, glass top and metal cross section. He also designed a series of credenzas and sideboards in lacquered wood, featuring a high gloss finish and bold colors.
Offredi enjoyed a successful collaboration with Saporiti throughout the 1970s. In 1984, he began a partnership with Italian cabinet and kitchen manufacturer Snaidero, designing modern kitchens. His final kitchen design, Kube, in 2006, featured streamlined forms, contrasting materials and colors and a recessed aluminum toe kick with a reflective mirror finish, which made the kitchen appear suspended above the ground. The kitchen won a Good Design Award from the Chicago Design Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design, in 2008. Offredi never had the opportunity to accept that prize — he died in 2007.
Although Offredi’s works are relatively obscure, they are sought out by in-the-know furniture collectors and enthusiasts worldwide.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Giovanni Offredi chairs, tables, case pieces and storage cabinets.
Model Discos' Suspension Light by Giovanni Offredi for Sirrah, 1980s, Italy
By Sirrah, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Model Discos' Suspension Light by Giovanni Offredi for Sirrah, 1980s, Italy Lampshade is in good condition and very clean. This lamp works with fluorescent Wired and suitable to us...
Metal
$306Sale Price|48% Off
Diskos chandelier by Giovanni Offredi for Sirrah
By Sirrah, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Torino, IT
Chandelier Model Diskos designed by Giovanni Offredi for Sirrah. This chandelier with Minimal and avenieristic style for the time was named Diskos precisely because of its resemblan...
Plastic
Floor lamp Kazuki by Kazuhide Takahama for Sirrah , 1980s
By Kazuhide Takahama, Sirrah
Located in Padova, IT
Metal structure, white fabric diffuser, ground support in chromed steel rod. Ethereal presence fully representing Takahama's lightness design. Takahama, born in 1930, he studied ar...
Metal
Kumo Table Lamp by Kazuhide Takahama for Sirrah, 1980s
By Kazuhide Takahama, Sirrah
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Kumo table lamp designed by Kazuhide Takahama and produced by Sirrah in 1985. The model consists of an opaline glass shade and a rare gold colored metal base. Literature: Domus...
Metal
Mariyo Yagi for Sirrah 'Garbo' Chandelier in Nylon
By Mariyo Yagi, Sirrah
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mariyo Yagi for Sirrah, 'Garbo' chandelier, metal, nylon, Italy, 1976 Enchanting 'Garbo' fringe chandelier designed by Japanese designer Mariyo Yagi and manufactured by Sirrah. The ...
Metal
$2,959
H 43.31 in W 22.05 in D 19.69 in
'Naeko' Ceiling Lamp by Kazuhide Takahama for Sirrah, 1970s, Italy
By Kazuhide Takahama, Sirrah
Located in Hagenbach, DE
'Naeko' Ceiling Lamp by Kazuhide Takahama for Sirrah, 1970s, Italy Lampshade is in good condition and very clean. This lamp works with E27 light bulb Wired and suitable to use with...
Metal
Kazuhide Takahama, Saori, Ceiling Light, Sirrah, 1973
By Sirrah, Kazuhide Takahama
Located in Paris, FR
Kazuhide Takahama (1930-2010) Saori 52 A white canvas and metal square ceiling light, the white canvas stretched on an oblique arched stem on a flat metal support. Produced by Sirr...
Canvas
"Garbo" Ceiling Lamp by Mariyo Yagi for Sirrah, 1970s
By Sirrah, Mariyo Yagi
Located in bruxelles, BE
Ceiling light with fabric fringes designed by Mariyo Yagi. Stamped Sirrah, Mariyo Yagi. Wear due to time and age.
Metal
Naeko Chandeliers by Kazuide Takahama
By Kazuhide Takahama, Sirrah
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Naeko Chandelier by Kazuide Takahama for Sirrah. Designed in Japan circa 1970s. This light features a white silk fabric which is supported by brass c...
Metal, Brass
$4,837Sale Price|38% Off
H 43.31 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Naeko Chandelier by Kazuhide Takahama Hanging lamp made by Sirrah, Italy 1970
By Kazuhide Takahama
Located in Oirlo, LI
Kazuhide Takahama Hanging lamp made by Sirrah, Italy 1970 Naeko chandelier by Kazuide Takahama for Sirrah. Designed in Japan around 1970. This la...
Metal
Floor Lamp Sigla René Kemna for Sirrah, Italy, 1980s
By Rene Kemna 1, Sirrah
Located in Rijssen, NL
This floor lamp was designed by Rene Kemna for Sirrah in Italy in the 1980s. The structure allow the light and shade to articulate into various positions (head of lamp swivels 360 de...
Metal
Model 338 Suspension Light by Carlo Nason for Mazzega
By Mazzega, Carlo Nason
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Model 338 Suspension Light by Carlo Nason for Mazzega. Originally designed in 1967. Current production by Mazzega designed ...
Copper
Vistosi Scintilla SP Suspension Light by Giovanni Barbato
By Vistosi, Giovanni Barbato
Located in Mogliano Veneto, Treviso
The blown glass gives light its central role, by comfortably directing and spreading it in the environment, and emphasizing its brightness. LED lighting source. Specifications: ...
Blown Glass
$4,552 / item
H 26.38 in Dm 12.6 in
Midcentury Italian Pendant Light by Franco Albini for Sirrah, 1968
By Franca Helg, Antonio Piva and Franco Albini, Sirrah
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Stunning pendant light model AM4Z Designed by Franco Albini, Franca Helg e Antonio Piva. Produced by Sirrah in Italy, circa 1968-1971. Please feel free to contact us to receive a cu...
Chrome
Model 2211 Suspension Light by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Suspension light by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. Designed and manufactured in Italy, circa 1960. Glass diffusers, brushed satin glass internal cylinders, brass armature and hardware...
Brass
$2,456
H 23.63 in Dm 15.75 in
1960s Modernist Chrome Metal Suspension Light Italian Design by Franco Albini
By Sirrah, Franco Albini and Franca Helg
Located in London, GB
A very modernist 1960s chrome metal suspension light. Italian design by Franco Albini and Franca Helg for manufacturer Sirrah Design produced in...
Metal
$1,800
H 31.5 in Dm 15.75 in
"AM/AS" Metal Ceiling Lamp by Albini, Helg and Piva for Sirrah, Italy, 1960s
By Franca Helg, Antonio Piva and Franco Albini, Sirrah
Located in Milan, IT
AM/AS ceiling light fixture by Franco Albini, Franca Helg and Antonio Piva for Sirrah. Beautiful and rare trumpet shade and adjustable height. Part of a wide range of lamps made wi...
Metal
Sold
H 43.31 in W 27.56 in D 24.81 in
Italian Post Modern Diskos Chandelier by Giovanni Offredi for Sirrah, 1980s
By Giovanni Offredi, Sirrah
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian post modern white and black plastic Diskos chandelier by Giovanni Offredi for Sirrah, Imola, Italy, 1980s. Diskos model chandelier with opaque white plastic diffuser and bla...
Plastic
Sold
H 86.62 in W 47.25 in D 8.27 in
Mid-Century Modern Arc Floor Lamp by Goffredo Reggiani, Italy, 1970s
By Giovanni Offredi
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Arc floor lamp by Goffredo Reggiani, Italy, 1970s.
Metal
