Giovanni Offredi Chairs
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.
1970s Italian Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Upholstery
1970s Italian Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Steel
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Steel, Stainless Steel
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Plastic, Fabric
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Steel, Stainless Steel, Chrome
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Steel, Stainless Steel, Chrome
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Leather, Patent Leather
1960s Italian Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Steel
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Velvet
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Steel
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Chrome
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Leather
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Steel
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Steel
1970s Italian Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Fabric
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Metal, Brass
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Upholstery
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Mohair, Velvet
1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Chrome, Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Stainless Steel
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1970s Italian Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Steel
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Wood, Maple
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Chrome
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Chrome
1960s Italian Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Steel
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Chrome
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Steel
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Steel
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Steel, Stainless Steel
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Upholstery, Plastic
20th Century Modern Giovanni Offredi Chairs
Chrome