Furniture designer Guglielmo Ulrich was born in Milan to a family with Danish origins. After completing his studies at the Brera Academy, the Scuola Speciale di Architettura and the Polytechnic University of Milan in 1927, Ulrich’s status quickly rose in high-society circles, as he’d gained a reputation for creating elegant interiors for a range of commercial and private clients. Architecture and furniture design in Milan was evolving during the era owing to industrialization, and Ulrich’s modernist work was seen as fresh and forward-looking.
In 1930, Ulrich established the furniture company ARCA — which was short for Arredamento Casa — with colleagues Attilio Scaglia and Renato Wild. Together they created a platform for Ulrich’s designs, which were quite different from the typical furnishings found in Europe at the time.
Ulrich favored simple lines — tapered table and chair legs, lean silhouettes — and the graceful contours of his console tables and dining chairs are representative of an endeavor to streamline neoclassical forms. He created luxurious but practical furniture and home accessories that featured an emphasis on craftsmanship as well as an integration of exotic materials such as ebonized wood, opaline glass and green marble. Ulrich’s designs were very much in line with what we now know as the Art Deco style, which was officially introduced to the world in 1925 at Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris. He collaborated with legendary architect and designer Gio Ponti on designs for a hotel property in the late 1930s and co-edited Ponti’s revered Domus magazine with Milanese architect Melchiorre Bega.
By the 1950s, Ulrich was firmly established as one of the most influential Milanese designers, having a hand in designing homes, commercial properties and more. In 1961, he won the Fiera di Trieste award for his lightweight Trieste chair, a seat that shared common ground with Ponti’s iconic Superleggera chair and was produced by Saffa.
Find vintage Guglielmo Ulrich seating, tables,and cabinets on 1stDibs.
Guglielmo Ulrich Art Deco Italian Velvet Sofa, 1940s
By Guglielmo Ulrich
Located in Puglia, Puglia
A large Italian sculptural sofa designed by Guglielmo Ulrich, very comfortable. Recently upholstered in light blue velvet with a light gray velvet border, in a minimalist way, which ...
Velvet, Beech
$4,800
H 31.5 in W 59 in D 29 in
Danish Midcentury 1940s Sofa or Settee with Open Armrests by Alfred Christensen
By Slagelse Mobelvaerk, Alfred Christensen
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Fantastic 1940s Alfred Christensen designed sofa in his characteristic style of open armrests carved from solid beech wood and made by Slagelse Mobelvaerk in the 1940s. Beautiful ref...
Wool, Beech
$8,000
H 28 in W 79 in D 33 in
Flemming Lassen Style, Danish Mid-Century Modern, Curved Sofa, Boucle, 1940s
By Flemming Lassen
Located in Manhasset, NY
Flemming Lassen Style, Danish Cabinetmaker, Mid-Century Modern, Curved Sofa, Beige Boucle, 1940s Beautifly organic shaped Danish sofa similar to works by Flemming Lassen. This sofa ...
Bouclé
$2,632Sale Price|35% Off
H 35.04 in W 78.75 in D 30.32 in
1940s Kaare Klint Three Seater Sofa, Hardwood Legs & Striped Wool Upholstery
By Rud Rasmussen, Kaare Klint
Located in London, GB
1940s Kaare Klint Three Seater Sofa, with Mahogany Legs & Striped Wool Upholstery with Leather Trim. Usable condition. Bespoke quote can be...
Leather, Wool, Hardwood
Gugliemo Ulrich Attributed Art Deco Sofa
By Guglielmo Ulrich
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An art deco sofa attributed to Gugliemo Ulrich. Rounded back and aviator style silhouette with wood plinth feet. Upholstery as found. Sourced in Northern Italy.
Upholstery
Gio Ponti, Sofa, Velvet, Wood, Italy, 1940s
By Gio Ponti
Located in High Point, NC
A green velvet and wood sofa designed by Gio Ponti and produced by Casa e Giardino, Italy, c. 1940s. Minor scuffing of feet. Minor staining on seat and backrest cushions. Minor fr...
Velvet, Wood
Italian 1950's Scalloped Shaped Channeled Velvet Settee or Sofa
Located in New York, NY
A decadently designed Italian 1950's settee with a scalloped or petal shaped form and luxuriously upholstered channeled back tufting. The settee has been fully restored and newly reu...
Brass
Guglielmo Ulrich, Art Deco 3-Seater Sofa in Fabric and Walnut, 1930s
By Guglielmo Ulrich
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A matching three-seater sofa to the above pair, crafted in walnut and upholstered in coordinating striped coral-orange fabric. The scrolled arms and streamlined silhouette exemplify ...
Walnut
$4,500
H 28.35 in W 77.96 in D 35.44 in
Guglielmo Ulrich Art Deco Sofa in Original Velvet Fabric, Italy 1930s
By Guglielmo Ulrich
Located in Almelo, NL
Guglielmo Ulrich Art Deco sofa in original Velvet fabric, Italy 1930s A particular three-seater sofa was designed by the famous architect Guglielmo Ulrich. Production of the 1930s ...
Fabric, Beech
Osvaldo Borsani, Sofa, Wood, Velvet, Italy, 1940s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in High Point, NC
A dark-stained wood and red velvet sofa designed by Osvaldo Borsani and produced by Arredamenti Borsani, Italy, 1940s. Significant scratching to wood legs. Vintage fabric in distres...
Velvet, Wood
$4,315Sale Price|60% Off
H 33.86 in W 70.87 in D 38.59 in
English Art Deco Walnut Framed Cane Bergere Sofa C.1920
Located in London, GB
An English Art Deco Walnut Framed Bergere Sofa C.1920. Classic Art Deco shaped arms with with acanthus leaf and lion head carvings. A scalloped apron terminating on ball and claw f...
Upholstery, Cane, Walnut
$3,280
H 32.29 in W 63.78 in D 32.29 in
Svante Skogh, Freestanding Sofa in Floral Fabric, Swedish Modern, 1940s
By Svante Skogh, AB Förenade Möbelfabrikerna Linköping
Located in Odense, DK
A refined and expressive Swedish sofa designed by Svante Skogh for Förenade Möbler, Linköping, mid-20th century. This elegant piece features upholstered cushions paired with a staine...
Fabric, Textile, Upholstery, Wood, Beech
Jules Leleu, Art Deco Sofa with Rounded Back, French, 1930s
By Jules Leleu
Located in New York, NY
A lush, upholstered sofa with rounded arms, back, and feet. These last, executed in French polished beech, serve as a charming, subtle accent. A 1930s de...
Upholstery, Beech
Gugliemo Ulrich Mid-Century Modern Italian Sofa, 1950s
By Guglielmo Ulrich
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Particular three-seater sofa attributed to the famous architect Guglielmo Ulrich, produced in the 1950s. Feet in lacquered iron with brass tips. The upholstery is original from the...
Metal, Brass
Guglielmo Ulrich Art Deco Italian Sofa, 1940s
By Guglielmo Ulrich
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Particular three-seat sofa attributed to the famous architect Guglielmo Ulrich, the upholstery is original of the time but it is recommended to replace it. 1940s production in Art De...
Fabric, Beech