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 modern — the 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.
Outdoor Settee / Sofa and Pair of Chairs 'One Rocker' by John Salterini
By John Salterini
Located in Kansas City, MO
John Salterini outdoor, patio, loveseat and pair of chairs, one being a rocking chair. Very comfortable and stylish. There are several layers of white paint on the pieces, but they s...
Steel, Wrought Iron
Garden Patio Park Loveseat Bench of Strap Steel and Wrought Iron
By Fiske Or Mott
Located in New York, NY
Charming garden, patio, or park loveseat size bench of wrought iron and strap steel. This example is in very good estate condition, sturdy, s and solid, showing only cosmetic wear t...
Wrought Iron
Wrought Iron Garden Patio Poolside Settee Loveseat Bench by Salterini
By Woodard Furniture Co., Salterini
Located in New York, NY
Chic wrought iron garden, patio, poolside loveseat, bench, sofa by Salterini. The sofa is in very good original condition, showing only light cosmetic wear, normal and consistent wit...
Wrought Iron
$4,595 / set
H 27.25 in W 22.25 in D 23.75 in
Set 6 Mid Century Modern Orange Slice Chairs by Tempestini & Salterini + a Table
By Maurizio Tempestini, John Salterini
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous and rare set of six orange slice chairs. Freshly painted in a satin white enamel, chairs are in excellent vintage condition. Exceptional design by Maurizio Tempestini for Jo...
Iron
Modern Victorian Wrought Iron Peacock Rocker by Salterini
By Salterini, John Salterini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
For your consideration is this all-original Peacock rocker by Salterini with a great aged patina, composed of twisted, curled, and welded wrought iron wire. A fun and dramatic place to sit, in this less common rocker variation of the Salterini Peacock chair.
Iron
$476Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.25 in W 45.25 in D 19 in
1960s Salterini Style Wrought Iron Garden Patio Settee
By Salterini
Located in Esperance, NY
Salterini style wrought iron garden patio settee. This is a very nice original Settee from the 1960s made out of wrought iron.
Wrought Iron
Radar Chair by Salterini Newly Powder Coated
By John Salterini, Maurizio Tempestini
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.
Metal, Wrought Iron
Minimalist Outdoor Lounge Chair, Brazilian Design
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
This outdoor lounge chair or armchair, the multi-finish structure is combined with outdoor fabrics such as the Batyline to create an interesting outdoor solution. Bellow the full Skyfolding collection concept: Skyfolding In-Outdoor collection, the collection concept is inspired by the asian building scaffoldings, where a structure is composed by bamboo sticks crossed to create this inspiring and fascinating structures. We combined elements of this structures and also references from the ballet stretching bars that often combine metal and wood, this combo is the concept very soul. All the figurative elements are abstracted in the design process to extract the precise best of each world, and by then resulting in a collection of delicate objects, cult and curated to the minimum details, in design and engeneering. The collection is composed by outdoor net, batyline or plastic, in a portion leaving room to a more soft design approach that is harmonious, this elements are combined to a structure made of wood and metal that transcends to tech and soft, a paradigm of past, present and future that invite all the viewers to contemplate and reflect in this philosophical matters in a tactile and visual way. Resulting is a essencial and timeless set of objects...
Metal
$11,200
H 41 in W 35 in D 47 in
Modern Contemporary Outdoor Minimalist White Bird Chair in Recycled Metal
By Nina Edwards Anker
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bird Chair's abstracted bird profile carries connotations of flight; in side view, the biophilic outdoor loveseat resembles a bird in flight. It provides a sculptural focus point for the garden, encouraging indoor/outdoor living. This aluminum outdoor daybed comfortably holds two people on a single narrow spine or foot. The generously sized lounge chair supports the body for outdoor lounging and comfort. It is also perfect for working on the laptop or reading to your child under the shade of a tree. It is accompanied with a removable water proof round head pillow, covered with Sumbrella outdoor fabric. The bed cannot be damaged or stolen, as it is durable and embedded in its territory. The day lounger is made of 3/8" thick anodized metal or glossy powder-coated recycled metal...
Aluminum
Edward Wormley Pair of Sofas / Settees
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Highland, IN
These lovely, lightly scaled sofas or loveseats designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, are not only an uncommon form, having a matched pair available is also very rare. They are stru...
Upholstery, Wood
$695 / set
H 32 in W 27 in D 26 in
Vintage Pair of Mid-Century Salterini Curve Back Outdoor Arm Chairs A
By Salterini
Located in Wilmington, DE
Set of 2 Mid-Century Modern Salterini Curve Back Outdoor Arm Chairs Offered is a Vintage Mid-Century Salterini Curve Back Outdoor Iron Arm Chair in the style of Salterini(circa 1960'...
Iron
$3,295 / set
H 42 in W 15.75 in D 21 in
Set 6 Mid Century Modern El Prado Iron Indoor Outdoor Dining Chairs by Salterini
By John Salterini
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous set of rare El Prado dining chairs in old white paint. High quality iron set with solid brass finials. In excellent vintage condition with minimal we...
Iron
Tempestini for Salterini Radar Chair
By Maurizio Tempestini, John Salterini
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...
Iron, Wrought Iron
Sold
H 37.5 in W 60 in D 29 in
Outdoor Settee Sofa by Mario Papperzini for John Salterini. Expertly Restored.
By Mario Papperzini, John Salterini
Located in Kansas City, MO
Patio love seat / loveseat designed by Mario Papperzini for the John Salterini Company, 1950s. We have the companion coffee table and chair with ottoma...
Steel, Wrought Iron
Maurizio Tempestini for Salterini "Clamshell" Patio Petite Loveseat
By Maurizio Tempestini, John Salterini
Located in San Diego, CA
Outdoor clam shell lounge patio loveseat designed by Maurizio Tempestini and manufactured Salterini can be used on the terrace, patio, porch or in the garden. This piece its all-iron...
Iron
Sold
H 29 in W 43 in D 24 in
Petite Sofa and Lounge Patio Chair Designed by Maurizio Tempestini for Salterini
By Maurizio Tempestini, John Salterini
Located in San Diego, CA
Freshly powder coated in white two-seat sofa and chair, circa 1950s designed by Maurizio Tempestini for Salterini.
Iron
"Tete a Tete" Settee by Tempestini for Salterini, circa 1950 Made in USA
By Maurizio Tempestini, John Salterini
Located in Jersey City, NJ
Tete a Tete is a two-seat chair set that has a center table with a chair attached on each side. The settee was from Salterini's modern line of outdoor furniture.
Sold
H 28 in W 42 in D 22 in
Tempestini for Salterini Clamshell Loveseat and Two Chairs Outdoor Patio Set
By Maurizio Tempestini, John Salterini
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
"Clamshell" or "Orange Slice" loveseat and two chair outdoor garden set in original vintage condition. "As is" with so...
Wrought Iron
Mid Century Five Piece Salterini Garden Set
By John Salterini
Located in Port Jervis, NY
5 Piece Set Consists Of Settee, And Two Lounge Chairs. We Have Added Two Chairs Which Have An Arm On Opposite Sides, Which Can Be Used To Create A Sofa With Two Lounge Chairs In The...
Sold
H 34 in W 46 in D 22 in
Sectional Settee by Salterini circa 1950 American outdoor garden furniture
By John Salterini
Located in Jersey City, NJ
Sectional loveseat in enameled metal by Salterini from the ribbon series.
Metal