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John Salterini Chairs

Italian, 1928-1952

While John B. Salterini designed ornate wrought-iron garden furniture for patios and lawns, he specifically sought to match the forms of indoor furniture and also advocated the use of his furniture indoors “because it brings into your home the freshness and gaiety of a flowery summer garden” (per his print advertisements).

After emigrating from Italy to New York, Salterini worked in journalism at first, editing a newspaper in Syracuse. When he moved to New York City, he worked in glass manufacturing and then entered into the production of wrought-iron furniture as a partner in Salterini & Gallo. When that company shuttered, he launched his own eponymous firm in 1934, eventually offering some of the most exquisite, high-end outdoor furniture of the mid-century period.

Over the course of his career, Salterini designed a wide range of furniture, from tables and chairs to chaise longues, ottomans and benches. And his influences were equally wide as well. His work is often identified as mid-century modernthe Clamshell line, designed for Salterini’s company by like-minded Italian architect and industrial designer Maurizio Tempestini, boasts soft curves and cocoon-like shells that strike a sharp contrast with the solidity of wrought iron and resemble the zany chair designs emerging during the postwar period from designers like Pierre Paulin and Arne Jacobsen.

The furniture from John B. Salterini Company also combined organic and geometric forms, one of the mid-century design movement’s defining features. But Salterini was equally influenced by the Gothic Revival and Art Deco movements, incorporating their signature flourishes like intricate lace-like patterns, delicate vine leaves and protruding scrolls into his French Provincial Group’s glass-topped tables and chairs. One of his most ornate and ostentatious designs is the Peacock double chaise longue, with its elaborate spokes and arching back.

The postwar boom in prosperity and leisure time led to the expansion of the home to include patios, which needed to be furnished with stylish outdoor furniture.

Wrought iron was considered the best material for outdoor use because of its comparative lightness and pliability to other metals. The term “wrought” means made by hand, as opposed to “cast” iron, which was made using molds. Salterini’s high-end handcrafted furniture, with names like Park Avenue Group — promoted for indoor use and photographed as such for the firm’s catalogues — attracted wealthy buyers from across the country. They were drawn to his ability to make a metal like wrought iron look almost ethereal and elegant, and the way he incorporated the popular styles and design principles of the day into his pieces. That Salterini’s garden furniture can be used indoors and look completely natural is a rare feat.

Find vintage John B. Salterini outdoor furniture on 1stDibs.

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Creator: John Salterini
Radar Chair by Salterini Newly Powder Coated
Radar Chair by Salterini Newly Powder Coated

Radar Chair by Salterini Newly Powder Coated

By Maurizio Tempestini, John Salterini

Located in New York, NY

Great Radar Hoop chair designed by Tempestini for Salterini, just powder coated in semi gloss black. Originally designed for outdoor use, suitable for indoor placement as well.

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern John Salterini Chairs

Materials

Metal, Wrought Iron

Tempestini for Salterini Radar Chair
Tempestini for Salterini Radar Chair

Tempestini for Salterini Radar Chair

By John Salterini, Maurizio Tempestini

Located in New York, NY

Nice Garden or Patio Radar chair designed by Tempestini, manufactured by Salterini. No damage, bends, weld or repairs. This example is in later burgundy pa...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern John Salterini Chairs

Materials

Iron, Wrought Iron

Vintage Wrought Iron Outdoor Patio Furniture
Vintage Wrought Iron Outdoor Patio Furniture

Vintage Wrought Iron Outdoor Patio Furniture

By John Salterini, Salterini

Located in Cumberland, RI

Salterini Dining Seating Set of 6 Exquisite set of chairs available now and ready for your use and enjoyment. High backs make them perfect for dining with a coordinating Salterini Table. Perfect for any deck, garden, terrace, or patio. Tables available and sold separately. Ships for flat rate of 379 along the east coast states. Variable and competitive rates for west shipping dependent on zip code. Inquire. Shop Salterini Garden Furniture and Woodard Garden Furniture listed here or other Vintage Wrought Iron Patio Furniture Pieces online at our 1stDibs Store Front. Our Vintage Wrought Iron Outdoor Furniture Pieces are Available now and Ready to Ship for your enjoyment. Vintage Wrought Iron Patio Furniture is an Excellent Choice for your newest patio design or to add additional outdoor wrought iron furniture pieces to your Vintage Wrought Iron Patio Furniture Collection. Wrought Iron Outdoor Patio Furniture is Classic and Timeless in style and made to last decades. Shop our sustainable vintage outdoor living garden furniture seating arrangements today and add style to your outdoor living space while being kind to the planet. All of our Vintage Salterini Wrought Iron Patio Furniture pieces are hand selected and one-of-a kind awaiting to be enjoyed by you in your favorite outdoor space. Add this to your cart today or "Make an Offer" now to reserve space on this month's delivery route. View other in-stock and ready to ship Vintage Salterini Wrought Iron Patio Furniture pieces including complete vintage wrought iron conversation sets, vintage Woodard Wrought Iron dining sets in popular patterns like Chantilly Rose and Orleans, vintage wrought iron Salterini Peacock Chairs, Woodard Wrought Iron Arm Chairs, Vintage Wrought Iron Patio Bar Carts and Tea Carts, Outdoor Wrought Iron Dining Chairs, Vintage Tempestini Radar Chairs...

Category

Early 20th Century John Salterini Chairs

Materials

Iron, Wrought Iron

Set of Original John Salterini "Montego" Chairs ( Two Arm, Two Armless )
Set of Original John Salterini "Montego" Chairs ( Two Arm, Two Armless )

Set of Original John Salterini "Montego" Chairs ( Two Arm, Two Armless )

By John Salterini

Located in North Miami, FL

An incredible elegant set of four (4) ALL ORIGINAL aluminum frame chairs by John Salterini, Brooklyn, circa 1960. These are how the chairs were originally produced and thus, shows ...

Category

1960s American Vintage John Salterini Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

1960's Pair of Folding Chairs by Salterini
1960's Pair of Folding Chairs by Salterini

1960's Pair of Folding Chairs by Salterini

By John Salterini

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Mid-Century Modern outdoor patio pair of folding chairs designed by Salterini. The chairs are made of mesh and tubular steel. In good vintage c...

Category

Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern John Salterini Chairs

Materials

Steel

Salterini Dinette Chairs Parzinger Weinberg Attrib Maurizio Tempestini
Salterini Dinette Chairs Parzinger Weinberg Attrib Maurizio Tempestini

Salterini Dinette Chairs Parzinger Weinberg Attrib Maurizio Tempestini

By John Salterini, Maurizio Tempestini

Located in Chicago, IL

Beautiful form and craftsmanship on these. Wrought iron. Need to add dims and additional photos. Please inquire.

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern John Salterini Chairs

Materials

Iron

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John Salterini chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

John Salterini chairs 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 John Salterini chairs, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original chairs by John Salterini were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider chairs by Anton Lorenz, General Fireproofing Company, and Ficks Reed. Prices for John Salterini chairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $975 and can go as high as $5,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,250.