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.
SAPORITI ‘P10 Proposals’ modular sofa set by Giovanni Offredi – Italy, 19
By Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland
The P10 Proposals modular living room set by Giovanni Offredi for SAPORITI is a stylish and groovy collection of furniture pieces that can transform you...
Mohair, Velvet
$1,221Sale Price|63% Off
H 32.68 in W 70.08 in D 30.32 in
Giovanni Offredi Leather Sofa by Saporiti Italia, Curved Design, 1970s
By Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
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...
Leather
Saporiti Italia Two Seater "Wave" Sofa by Giovanni Offredi 1970s
By Fratelli Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Dallas, TX
Designed in 1974 by Giovanni Offredi, "Wave" two seat sofa / settee. Since 1950 Saporiti has produced some of the most sophisticated and advanced pieces of furniture in the history o...
Steel
Saporiti Italia "Wave" Sofa by Giovanni Offredi 1970s
By Giovanni Offredi, Fratelli Saporiti
Located in Dallas, TX
Designed in 1974 by Giovanni Offredi, "Wave" three seat sofa. Since 1950 Saporiti has produced some of the most sophisticated and advanced pieces of furniture in the history of Itali...
Steel
$8,000 / set
H 33 in W 32 in D 31 in
1970s Giovanni Offredi 'Onda' Lounge Chair & Ottoman, Velvet, Saporiti
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in New York, NY
A fantastic original 'Onda' or wave lounge chair and accompanying ottoman by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti, 1970's. It is covered in a wonderful designer cotton velvet fabric depict...
Stainless Steel
Giovanni Offredi 'Wave' Sofa By Saporiti, Italy #1
By Giovanni Offredi
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Crafted with industrial steel frames with the two seat upholstered loveseat mounted atop the frame. The sofa has affixed upholstered seat and seat back cushions. Presents as sleek ...
Steel
$744Sale Price|20% Off
H 29 in W 21 in D 21 in
Giovanni Offredi White Leather and Steel "Lens" Chairs for Saporiti, Italy, 1968
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Roma, IT
Marvellous midcentury lounge chair with tubular steel frames and white leather seat. The "Lens" model was designed by Giovanni Offredi and produced for Saporiti in 1968. This chair has a white leather seat with original upholstery and a fantastic tubular structure, available as it is or can be restored. A wonderful space-age design piece, fused with sumptuous and elegant materials. A magnificent and iconic piece that will be perfect for a midcentury-style living room or study and a must-have for vintage leather seats lovers. The condition of the chair has some normal signs of use and vintage condition, as shown in the photos. 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 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...
Steel, Stainless Steel
Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Chaise Longue
By Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia, chaise longue, chrome-plated metal, textured multicolored fabric, Italy, 1970s This exquisite lounge chair, designed by Giovanni Offredi for th...
Chrome, Metal
Postmodern Leather "Wave" Chaise by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti
By Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fully restored postmodern leather "Onda" or "Wave" Chaise designed in 1974 by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti, (Milan, Italy). The jewel of the Sapor...
Steel
Giovanni Offredi 'Wave' Sofa By Saporiti, Italy 1970’s #2
By Giovanni Offredi
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Crafted with industrial steel frames with the two seat upholstered loveseat mounted atop the frame. The sofa has affixed upholstered seat and seat back cushions. Very comfortable. ...
Steel
Giovanni Offredi P80 dining chairs Saporiti Italy 1973
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
These Model P80 dining chairs, designed by Giovanni Offredi and manufactured by Saporiti Italia in 1973, are a striking example of mid-century Italian design. The chairs feature cast...
Metal
$3,950 / item
H 36.82 in W 30.32 in D 68.9 in
Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Chaise Longues in Vibrant Upholstery
By Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia, chaise longues, chrome-plated metal, textured multicolored fabric, Italy, 1970s This exquisite lounge chair, designed by Giovanni Offredi for t...
Chrome, Metal
Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Leather Sofa
By Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
Located in Chicago, IL
Leather sofa designed by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti, Italy, 1980. All original and in great vintage condition. Arms are removable.
Leather
Corner Casement Sofa by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti
By Giovanni Offredi
Located in Oakville, CA
Design care of Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti. Italy, 1970s. Wood casement frame with horizontal metal inlays wrapping the entire perimeter. Makers marks visible on interior of frame....
Metal
"Wave" Sofa Set by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia, 1970s
By Giorgio Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Dallas, TX
Designed in 1974 by Mr. Giovanni Offredi, "Wave" three seat sofa, two seat sofa and a chaise lounge. Since 1950 Saporiti has produced some of the most sophisticated and advanced piec...
Steel
Sold
H 29.53 in W 37.41 in D 33.47 in
Pair of "Vela Bassa" Armchair by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti, Italia, 1970s
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Brescia, Brescia
Pair of "Vela Bassa" Armchair by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia, 1970s. Crafted from premium black leather, the "Vela Bassa" armchairs exude luxury...
Iron
Saporiti Brown Leather Sectional Sofa, Italy, 1960s
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Antwerp, BE
Postmodern curved sectional sofa in brown leather by Saporiti, Italy 1960s The double padded backrest provides a lot of comfort. Each piece is sig...
Leather
Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Cream Leather Sectional Sofa, 1975
By Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lavish, significantly proportioned Italian sectional, designed by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia, in sumptuous cream leather upholstery and seven bolster pillows for additional...
Leather