Lino Sabattini was the preeminent figure in modern Italian silver and metalware design. His expansive and diverse body of work is marked by its strength and boldness, whether in dynamic forms that suggest the thrust and power of Italian Futurist art and design or light and curvaceous biomorphic serveware and decorative objects.
Sabattini was largely self-taught as a designer. Born in the northern Italian town of Correggio, he learned metalsmithing techniques while working in the studio of a maker of brass tableware. He also served as an apprentice of sorts to the expatriate German ceramist Roland Hettner, who taught Sabattini about fluidity of form and showed him how shapes derive from the behavior of materials.
At age 30, Sabattini opened a studio in Milan, and his work quickly came to the attention of Gio Ponti, who decided to publish it in Domus, the Italian design legend's influential design and architecture magazine. Ponti also arranged for Sabattini’s creations to be included in a 1956 exhibition of contemporary Italian design in Paris. The principals of Christofle, the revered French silverware maker, were so impressed that they hired the young designer as the firm’s artistic director, a post he held until 1963. Sabattini, who would also go on to design ceramic wares for Rosenthal, returned home to open Argenteria Sabattini in Bregnano, a company still in business today.
A designer with a questing curiosity and ever-evolving aesthetic sensibility, Sabattini couldn’t be pinned down to one particular style. His best-known work, the Como coffee and tea service of 1956, has an elegant, attenuated and energetic form; his Stairs coffee and tea service (1971), meanwhile, is a clever group of simple columnar shapes in stepped heights, which nest together in a compact arrangement. Other Sabattini pieces have dramatic angles, or sweeping, wing-like flourishes, or consist of perforated ovoids somehow reminiscent of sculptures by Brancusi. In any style, Sabattini produced objects of singular fascination.
Find a range of vintage Lino Sabattini vases and other decorative objects on 1stDibs.
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Spherical in signature silver plate engraved under the base
By Lino Sabattini
Located in Catania, IT
Spherical in signature silver plate engraved under the base. In good condition with small wear caused by years and use. In an old windmill on the lake meets Rolando Hettner, a disp...
Silver Plate
Sabattini Italy production in years 50 jewelry box
By Lino Sabattini
Located in Biella, IT
Sabattini Italy production in years 50 jewelry box in stainless steel with top in plexiglass, very elegant. Lino Sabattini is an old-time craftsman. His objects, characterised by a...
Stainless Steel
Italian Alabaster Marble Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
An Italian dark brown alabaster marble jewelry box with a blue matte metal hinge. Box can hold jewelry or other small items. A great piece for a...
Marble, Alabaster, Metal
Vintage Italian Music Box Footed Wooden Inlaid Jewelry Box Made in Italy
By Casa Di Sorrento
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Italian large footed music box in pink color with top finely hand painted and wood inlaid with Italian lute and foliages floral decor, brass hardware, 2 compartiment inside a...
Wood
Italian Murano Faceted Glass & Brass Hinged Box / Jewelry Box
Located in North Miami, FL
This beautiful hinged Murano glass box in pristine clear faceted glass and brass trim and original decorative key and tassel. It is a wonderful desk or...
Crystal, Metal
Art Deco Box in Silver Plate 1950s
Located in Meer, VAN
Wonderful art deco box in silver plate, mid 20th century. This is a fine art deco style decorative silver plated box with a very distinct sunburst design. Great as a decorative box...
Silver Plate
Italian Leather Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
An Italian tan leather jewelry box with gold embossed fleur-de-lis design on top, circa mid-20th century, Italy. Box, with its demi-line (halfmoon) shape, has an all-tan leather exte...
Leather, Suede
Italian Leather Jewelry Box, Small
Located in New York, NY
A vintage Italian red burgundy leather jewelry box in a demi-lune (half-moon) shape, hand-applied gold embossing/tooling on top/lid, circa early to mid-20th century, Italy. Shown hol...
Foil
Italian Leather Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
An Italian blue and gold leather jewelry box with removable tray and key/lock, circa mid-20th century, Italy. Leather box is blue leather with decorative edge, gold embossed tooling ...
Brass
Italian Leather Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
An Italian leather box, circa mid-20th century, Italy. Leather is brown with gold tooling detail on top and around exterior edge. A great piece to hold jewelry (demonstrated) or smal...
Gold Leaf
Vintage Jewelry Music Box Hand-Made in Italy
By Reuge Ste-Croix
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Italian large footed music box in light gold color with top finely hand painted and wood inlaid with foliages floral decor, brass hardware. Small Vintage Italian handcrafted ...
Fruitwood
Italian Leather Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
An oval Italian rich dark brown leather jewelry box with gold embossed design, circa mid-20th century, 1940s - 1950s, Italy. Box, with its oval shape, has a dark brown leather exteri...
Leather, Silk
Octagonal Jewelry Music Box, Made in Italy
By Reuge Ste-Croix
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Elegant octagonal wooden music box in thuya wood. Thuya tree is famous for rich gold and brown shades of its grain and unique exotic fragrance, simila...
Fruitwood
Vintage Jewelry Music Box Made in Italy by Reuge
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Elegant vintage footed wooden music box with top finely hand painted and inlaid with foliages floral decor. Vintage Italian wooden music box with marquetry inlay featuring a lute and flowers. Marquetry is the art of creating decorative designs using different materials, commonly thin pieces of wood. Handcrafted Jewelry music box, made in Italy with lacquered finish, wood Inlay, red felt lined with hinged lid. The music box has a Swiss Reuge music box...
Fruitwood
Lino Sabattini Made in Italy Box Container in Silver Metal, 1960s
By Lino Sabattini
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian Mid-Century Modern design decorative box, tea box or jewelry box in silver metal and plexiglass cover designed by Lino Sabattini, engraved Sabattini made in Italy under the b...
Metal, Silver Plate