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.
Mid Century Modern Dining Table Center Table Stone Glass Giovanni Offredi Italy
By Giovanni Offredi
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid Century Modern vintage dining table Paracarro from stone by Giovanni Offredi 1973, Italy and executed by Saporiti. A minimalistic and sophisticated dining table from stone and ch...
Stone
$2,350Sale Price|47% Off
Customized 'Paracarro' Dining Table Base by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti 1970s
By Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This pair of 'Paracarro' dining table bases are by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia which are sculpted from concrete and chromed steel with ceramic tiles in a mosaic form during ...
Concrete, Steel, Chrome
1980 Large coffee table by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti
By Giovanni Offredi
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Large coffee table in speckled maple veneer. Comprising a large speckled maple veneer top with rounded edges. The base consists of four cylindrical semicircles, embellished at the b...
Wood
Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Concrete Cantilever Coffee Table
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Jensen Beach, FL
Rare coffee table designed in the late 1970s by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia.
Concrete, Metal
Italian Brass and Chrome Center or Dining Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
Elegant Italian Brass and Chrome Center or Dining Table, Italy, circa 1960s. The table base measures 27.5"H x 35.25"W.
Metal
1970s Sculptural Chrome Dining Or Center Table
By Pace Furniture Company
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Modern sleek and sculptural chrome 1970s tubular dining or center table. This table is simply stunning. The photographs really capture its beauty. Curved chrome supports reflect and ...
Chrome
$5,400
H 14.75 in W 51 in D 51.25 in
Italian Adjustable Maple Coffee Table by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Presenting an exceptional mid-century Italian coffee table, a true statement piece designed by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia in the 1980s. This rare table artfully combines lu...
Granite, Steel, Chrome
$3,600
H 29 in Dm 48 in
Mid-Century Modern Pencil Reed Bamboo Circular or Round Dining Table with Glass
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A lovely form pencil reed dining table. It features a bamboo wrapped drum base with large clear glass top.
Bamboo, Glass, Wood
1970s Round Bullnose Travertine Dining Table with Hex Base
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Las Vegas, NV
This gorgeous 4ft round Italian Travertine dining table from the 80s is incredible. The rarely seen, thick, bullnosed top combined with the original hexagonal base are the most juxt...
Travertine
$1,800
H 28.75 in Dm 40 in
Mid-Century Modern Milo Baughman Style Round Chrome & Glass Dining Center Table
By Milo Baughman
Located in Lambertville, NJ
1970s Mid-Century Modern chrome and glass dining or center table in the style of Milo Baughman. Sculptural polished chrome base features a flat bar octagon design. Existing round cle...
Chrome
$9,097
H 29.53 in W 110.24 in D 43.31 in
Large table with a lacquered top by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti - Italy 197
By Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
Located in Roma, RM
Composite supports and a lacquered wood top. Internal distance between the two legs: 150 cm
Wood, Composite stone
$3,900
H 29 in W 36 in D 36 in
Mid Century Italian Post Modern Travertine Marble Dining Table with Steel Base
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A simple modern Italian travertine dining table ideal for smaller spaces. It features a polished stainless steel base with a travertine slab top. In ve...
Travertine, Stainless Steel
$7,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 30 in Dm 54 in
Custom Modern Round Porcelain Dining Table with Geometric Brass Base
By Carrocel
Located in North York, ON
Custom modern round porcelain dining table with geometric brass base. Custom designed by the artisans at Carrocel with imported Italian honed travertino porcelain top. Completed with...
Brass
Giovanni Offredi Onda Glass Coffee Table for Saporiti ca. 1970's
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in New York, NY
Classic Post Modern Italian design glass top coffee table designed by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti. This example is in good original condition, the metal base shows some oxidation, ...
Steel
Giovanni Offredi Round 'Paracarro' Dining Table for Saporiti
By Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
Located in Waalwijk, NL
'Paracarro' dining table, in concrete, metal and glass by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti, Italy, circa 1973. Stunning round 'Paracarro' dining table. This table has a very modern a...
Concrete, Metal, Chrome
GIOVANNI OFFREDI Coffee Table
By Giovanni Offredi
Located in Shibuya-ku, 13
This coffee table is a beautiful combination of glass and metal. This is a vintage item from Italy. I think this kind of design is possible because Italy is a country of design. Mirr...
Steel
Giovanni Offredi "Paracarro" Dining Table for Saporiti, 1970s
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Concrete and chrome center or dining table designed by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italy model 'Paracarro'. The glass on the images is an example, we include a new glass as showed...
Concrete, Chrome
Sold
H 28.5 in Dm 50 in
'Paracarro' Concrete Dining Table by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia, 1970s
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This sleek modern 'Paracarro' dining table by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia was sculpted from concrete and chromed steel during the 1970s in Italy. A .75" thick and 50" diameter glass top adorns this stylish table which works great for dinners, games, meetings and as a center table and suitable for indoor or outdoor applications. *NOTE, we have a 2nd table available if you are looking for a pair. One larger glass can be made with both bases underneath if you wish to have one large table. Great for collectors and interior designers, using...
Concrete, Steel, Chrome
Giovanni Offredi "Paracarro" Dining Table for Saporiti, 1970s
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Concrete and chrome center or dining table designed by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italy model 'Paracarro'. The table comes wit hit's original beveled clear glass top. The ch...
Concrete, Chrome
Giovanni Offredi "Paracarro" Dining Table Base for Saporiti
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Miami, FL
Concrete and chrome dining or center table base by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti. Table does not come with glass, we can assist with custom shape, sizing and ordering. Chrome bars ar...
Concrete, Chrome
Sold
H 28.75 in W 33 in D 33 in
Giovanni Offredi “Paracarro” Dining or Center Table for Saporiti Italia
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Miami, FL
Giovanni Offredi concrete table base with polished chrome bars for Saporiti Italia. The table was used as a side table but can easily be turned into a dining or center table with a...
Concrete, Chrome
"Paracarro" Table by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti, Italy
By Giovanni Offredi
Located in Grenoble, FR
"Paracarro" table by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti, Italy.
Cement
Sold
H 16.54 in W 70.87 in D 43.31 in
Italian Crystal and Carrara Marble Square Sofa Table by Giovanni Offredi, 1970s
By Giovanni Offredi
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian crystal and Carrara marble square sofa table by Giovanni Offredi, 1970s Very thick glass sofa table with a square sectioned base and a chrom...
Crystal, Carrara Marble, Steel
Italian Coffee Table by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti, 1970s
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Voorburg, NL
Concrete coffee table designed by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia in the 1970s. The dome shaped concrete base has a chrome cross plinth to support the glass top. The table is ve...
Concrete, Chrome
Giovanni Offredi "Paracarro" Dining Table for Saporiti
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Miami, FL
Concrete and chrome dining or center table by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti. Table does not come with glass, we can assist with custom shape, sizing and ordering. Measures: Chrome ba...
Concrete, Chrome
Giovanni Offredi "Paracarro" Dining Table for Saporiti
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Miami, FL
Concrete and chrome dining or center table by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti. Table does not come with glass, we can assist with custom shape, sizing and ordering. Chrome bars are 39-...
Concrete, Chrome