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John Salterini Sofas

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
Incomparable Tuxedo Sofa by Mario Papperzini for John Salterini, circa 1950
Incomparable Tuxedo Sofa by Mario Papperzini for John Salterini, circa 1950

Incomparable Tuxedo Sofa by Mario Papperzini for John Salterini, circa 1950

By Mario Papperzini, John Salterini

Located in Atlanta, GA

This magnificent sofa maintains its original verdigris finish, with heavy patina. The piece may be painted or professionally powder coated if so desired. Finals may be finished in ag...

Category

1950s American Organic Modern Vintage John Salterini Sofas

Materials

Wrought Iron

Maurizio Tempestini, Sofa, Iron, Maple, Fabric, USA, 1950s
Maurizio Tempestini, Sofa, Iron, Maple, Fabric, USA, 1950s

Maurizio Tempestini, Sofa, Iron, Maple, Fabric, USA, 1950s

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A cast iron, dark-stained maple and white fabric sofa designed by Maurizio Tempestini and produced by Salterini, USA, c. 1950s. Seat Height (inches): 15” Arm Height (inches): 22" ...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Salterini Sofas

Materials

Iron

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John Salterini sofas for sale on 1stDibs.

John Salterini sofas are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wrought iron and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of John Salterini sofas, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider sofas by Donghia, and McGuire Furniture Company. Prices for John Salterini sofas can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $18,500 and can go as high as $18,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $18,500.