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Giovanni Offredi Armchairs

Italian, 1927-2007

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.

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Creator: Giovanni Offredi
Set of 4 "Lens" Chairs by G. Offredi Blue Velvet and Chrome, Saporiti Italy 1968
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Roma, IT
Marvellous midcentury armchairs with tubular steel structure and seats. "Lens" model was designed by Giovanni Offredi and produced for Saporiti, around 1968 in Italy. These items are made of a stunning new stain-resistant, fire-retardant petrol blue velvet. A magnificent and iconic set that will be perfect for a living room or study, thanks to the brightness of the chromed steel structure. These pieces are in amazing vintage conditions as shown in the photos. The shipping quote refers to the chairs shipped with the seating disassembled from the chrome base. Giovanni Offredi (born 1927, Milan–died 2007, Milan) was a prominent Italian furniture and product designer of the second half of the 20th century. As opposed to most of the other Italian furniture designers of his time, Giovanni Offredi was not an architect, nor did he start designing early in his professional career. Instead, Offredi partially fits the career path of some of the talented contemporary designers who pursue product design outside of a formal education in architecture. The earliest furniture design work known by Giovanni Offredi consists of exemplary furnishings made specifically for some of the wealthy families in Milan. Such is the case of the works done by Offredi for Casa C., in 1960, in Gorgonzola, a small town 14 miles from Milan. These works were designed with a surprisingly minimal simplicity and elegance, and they also clearly display a hallmark of his design work with the use of angular lines and exposed metal or wood frames—not unlike some of the modern Scandinavian design of the time. In the late 1960s, Giovanni Offredi met Sergio Saporiti, the owner of Italian design shop and furniture maker Saporiti, and in 1970, Offredi formalized a partnership with the furniture maker. This partnership would be long and successful and resulted in many furniture designs of distinct precision that were clearly modern and innovative and that went on to enjoy considerable commercial success. The most prominent furniture designs that Offredi made for Saporiti include the Paracarro table...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Armchairs

Materials

Steel, Stainless Steel, Chrome

Wave Armchair, Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
By Giovanni Offredi
Located in Milano, Lombardia
The Wave Armchairs, designed by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti, are a captivating pair of chairs that embody elegance and innovation. With their distinctive wave-shaped backrests, the...
Category

1970s Italian Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Armchairs

Materials

Faux Leather

Saporiti Vela Alta leather armchair with ottoman by Giovanni Offredi
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Ludwigslust, DE
This large gray leather armchair comes in very good condition. The soft leather of the armchair and the ottoman shows slight signs of wear. The ...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Armchairs

Materials

Leather

Saporiti Italia set of 2 leather armchairs by Giovanni Offredi
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Ludwigslust, DE
These two saporiti armchairs from the 70s are in good condition. The soft black leather only shows slight signs of wear and patina. The seat backs are slightly springy and the armcha...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Armchairs

Materials

Leather

Set di 4 poltrone anni '80 di Giovanni Offredi per Saporiti Italia
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in SAN PIETRO MOSEZZO, NO
Set di 4 poltrone degli anni '80 disegnate da Giovanni Offredi per Saporiti Italia. Dal 1950 Saporiti Italia fornisce soluzioni di design avanzate per clienti in tutto il mondo. Sapo...
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1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Armchairs

Materials

Leather

Very rare Armchairs model P100 Designed by Giovanni Offredi For Saporiti
By Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
Located in Rovereta, Repubblica di San Marino
Very rare Armchairs model P100 Designed by Giovanni Offredi For Saporiti. posted
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1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Armchairs

Materials

Steel

Large Italian Modern 'Vela Alta' Lounge Chair by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti
By Fratelli Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage Italian Modernist Vela Alta ("Tall Sail") lounge chair designed in the 1970s by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti. Composed of a durable, metal, upholstered frame with exposed ch...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Armchairs

Materials

Metal, Chrome

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Giovanni Offredi 'Wave' Sofa By Saporiti, Italy #1
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Giovanni Offredi 'Wave' Sofa By Saporiti, Italy 1970’s #2
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Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Chaise Longue
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Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Chaise Longue
Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Chaise Longue
H 36.82 in W 30.32 in D 68.9 in
Italian chaise lounge model Wave by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti, 1974
By Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Postmodern chaise longue Wave model designed by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti. A timeless piece, characterized by a steel structure and a minimalist aesthetic in perfect postmodern style. The chair cushion...
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Set of Four Arrben Chrome and Leather Dining Chairs 1970s Italy
By Arrben
Located in Antwerp, BE
Set of four Italian chromed steel and green leather chairs, 1970s. Arrben leather chairs all four in original good condition, comfortable seat.
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1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Armchairs

Materials

Stainless Steel

Modular Sofà Vela Bassa Saporiti Giovanni Offredi, 1970s
By Saporiti
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Modular sofà Vela Bassa Saporiti Giovanni Offredi, 1970s.
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1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Armchairs

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Clay Leather Lounge Chair by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti
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Located in Chicago, IL
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Saporiti Italia 2 seater leather sofa by Giovanni Offredi
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Ludwigslust, DE
This leather sofa comes in very good condition. The black leather is soft and supple and shows hardly any signs of wear. There are 2 dents in the leather on the back of the sofa, but...
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Previously Available Items
Pair of "Lens" Chairs by G. Offredi Plum Velvet and Chrome, Saporiti Italy 1968
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Roma, IT
Marvellous midcentury pair of armchairs with tubular steel structure and plum fabric seats. "Lens" model was designed by Giovanni Offredi and produced for Saporiti, around 1968 in It...
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Italian modern steel and fabric Wave sofa by Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti 1974
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Italian modern steel and fabric Wave armchair by Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti 1974
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Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern steel and fabric Wave armchair by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia, 1974. Wave model armchair, with original orange fabric and satin steel structure and legs. Prod...
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Giovanni Offredi Saporiti Armchairs Model Onda, Label
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Italian Brown Leather Vela Alta Armchair by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti 1970
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Italian Brown Leather Vela Alta armchair with ottoman by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti 1970. Wear consistent with age and use.
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SET DI DUE SEDIE Giovanni Offredi Saporiti anno 1970
By Giovanni Offredi
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
Bellissimo SET di due sedie Giovanni Offredi Saporiti, Anno 1970. SET di due sedie disegnate da Giovanni Offredi e prodotte da Saporiti nell'anno 1970. La Struttura è in ABS laccato...
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1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Armchairs

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Velvet

Wave Armchair, Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
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Located in Milano, Lombardia
The Wave Armchairs, designed by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti, are a captivating pair of chairs that embody elegance and innovation. With their distincti...
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1970s Italian Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Armchairs

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Faux Leather

Wave Armchair, Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
Wave Armchair, Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
H 27.56 in W 27.56 in D 39.38 in
Pair of "Vela Bassa" Armchair by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti, Italia, 1970s
By Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
Located in Bagnolo Mella, Brescia
Pair of "Vela Bassa" Armchair by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia, 1970s. Crafted from premium black leather, the "Vela Bassa" armchairs exude luxury...
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1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Armchairs

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Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti "Vela Alta" Archair with Ottoman, Italy, 1970s
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Naples, IT
This 'Vela Alta' lounge chair complete with footrest was designed by Giovanni Offredi in the 1970s and produced in Italy by Saporiti. The chair has a curved ...
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1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Armchairs

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Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Lounge Chair in Floral Upholstery and Ash
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti, lounge chair, ash, fabric, Italy, 1970s This charming Italian lounge chair comes with a delicate upholstery featuring a light blue overtone decorat...
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Pair of Mid-Century Lounge Chairs by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti, 1970s
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Pair of mid-century lounge chairs by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti - 1970s.  
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1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Armchairs

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'Lens' Leather Chairs by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia, c. 1968, Signed
By Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti, Fratelli Saporiti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The age and patina on the thick leather of this set of six 'Lens' dining chairs by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia is so incredible and the bright clean tubular steel adds to th...
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1960s Italian Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Armchairs

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Giovanni Offredi armchairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Giovanni Offredi armchairs are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Giovanni Offredi armchairs, although orange editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original armchairs by Giovanni Offredi were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider armchairs by C&B Italia, Artemide, and Vivai del Sud. Prices for Giovanni Offredi armchairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,872 and can go as high as $7,356, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,849.

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