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.
1960 Lino Sabattini Christofle Design Silver Metal Paperweight
By Lino Sabattini, Christofle
Located in Brescia, IT
Paperweight Lino Sabattini for Christofle France 1960 Silver Metal Mark manufacture impressed Very good condiction
Metal
Lino SABATTINI designer paperweight in silver-plated metal, Italy, 1970s/1980s
By Lino Sabattini
Located in Torino, IT
Paperweight, holder business cards, design Lino SABATTINI for Sabattini Silverware silver-plated metal, engraved with the name by actor José Ferrer. Italy, 1970s/80s ORIGIN Italy P...
Metal, Silver Plate
Lino Sabattini Paperweight for Christofle, Gallia Collection, c. 1960, France.
By Lino Sabattini
Located in Brussels, BE
Lino Sabattini stone-shaped paperweight for Christofle, Gallia Collection, circa 1960, France. Silver-plated metal. Signed : Christofle France, Coll. Gallia. Dimensions: 12 cm W, 7...
Metal
"Germoglio" Lino Sabattini Italian Design 1970s Silver Vase
By Lino Sabattini
Located in Brescia, IT
"Germoglio" Vases design Lino Sabattini 1979 Silver metal Excellent condiction.
Metal
Lino Sabattini 'Cardinale' Bud Vase Design for Christofle
By Lino Sabattini
Located in Sharon, CT
The largest (14.5") version of this classic silver plated brass vase designed by Lino Sabattini for Christofle. Fully signed on bottom.
Silver Plate
Millefiori Paperweight Murano Italian Art Glass Paperweight, 1960s
By Formia Murano
Located in Antwerp, BE
Murano midcentury modern 1960s Millefiori flower, green, blue, red, white murine Italian Art Glass paperweight.
Art Glass, Murrine
$2,501 / set
H 12.21 in W 5.12 in D 3.94 in
Two 1980s Iconic Lino Sabattini Minimalist Silver Plated Chandeliers
By Sabattini Argenteria, Lino Sabattini
Located in Aci Castello, IT
Two silver plated candle holders designed by Lino Sabattini and manufactured by Sabattini Argenteria in the Eighties. They have been manufactured in Italy marked on a side, they are ...
Silver Plate
$145
H 2.25 in W 2.25 in D 1.75 in
1970s Gunnar Cyrén for Dansk Silver Plate Elephant Figurine Paperweight
By Gunnar Cyren
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Dansk Mid-Century Silver Plate Animal Elephant Figurine Paperweight. Vintage Dansk silver plate elephant figurine paper weight. Marked Dansk Designs Japan. Dimensions: 1.75ʺW × 2.25ʺ...
Silver Plate
$395
H 8.47 in W 2.09 in D 1.19 in
Silver Plated 'Giselle' Soliflor Vase Candlestick by Lino Sabattini. Italy 1970s
By Danese Milano, Lino Sabattini, Sabattini Argenteria, Christofle, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Malmö, SE
Silver plated Mid-Century 'Giselle' soliflor vase or candlestick. Designed by Lino Sabattini and produced by Sabattini in Italy, 1970s. Good original condition, but with some scratc...
Stainless Steel
$261Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.94 in Dm 4.14 in
Murano Glass Bullicante Paperweight by Cenedese, Italy, 1980s
By Cenedese
Located in Glasgow, GB
This large Murano glass and gold bullicante paperweight by Cenedese was crafted in Italy around the 1980s and exemplifies the technical precision associated with the Venetian glass t...
Gold Leaf
Lino Sabattini Silver plated "Persepolis" Vase
By Lino Sabattini
Located in Chicago, IL
Lino Sabattini Silver plated "Persepolis" Vase made in Italy,1960 Stamped lower right side: Lino Sabattini etched signature Persepolis B/237 COLLEZIONE SABATTINI BREGNANO ITALY D...
Metal
Daum France Crystal Owl Paperweight Sculpture, circa 1960
By Daum
Located in Atlanta, GA
Daum, France, created this adorable crystal owl figurine paperweight or ornamental sculpture by hand in the late 1960s. The sculpture features a lovely night owl with dimensional car...
Crystal
$525
H 4.25 in W 12.75 in D 15.75 in
Lino Sabattini Silverplate Rocking Fruit Bowl, Modernist Design, Italy c.1960s
By Lino Sabattini
Located in Oakland, CA
Rocking silver plate fruit bowl by Italian Industrial Designer Lino Sabattini (1926-2016). The circular bowl has continuous rounded handles that run end to end along the bottom of th...
Silver Plate
$1,200
H 9.85 in W 13.39 in D 5.52 in
Huge "Tasca" Porcelain Vase by Lino Sabattini for Rosenthal, Italy, 1980s
By Rosenthal, Lino Sabattini
Located in Milan, IT
Huge "Tasca" porcelain vase by Lino Sabattini for Rosenthal. Matte finish and still contemporary shape.
Porcelain
$557
H 1.78 in W 14.57 in D 4.93 in
A 1960s Iconic Lino Sabattini for Christofle Minimalist Silver Plated Bowl
By Christofle, Lino Sabattini
Located in Aci Castello, IT
An high quality silver plated oval bowl designed by Lino Sabattini, it has been made in France by Christofle world famous manufacturer in the Sixties. It's in very good conditions an...
Silver Plate
Postmodern Tusca Vase by Lino Sabattini for Rosenthal, 1980s
By Lino Sabattini
Located in Uppsala, Uppsala
This is the smallest model of the Tusca vase series, designed by Lino Sabattini and produced by Rosenthal in the 1980s. The white porcelain vase features a silver coloured motif and ...
Porcelain
$580Sale Price|30% Off
H 10.63 in Dm 4.14 in
Lino Sabattini Made in Italy Decorative Box in Silver Metal, 1960s
By Lino Sabattini
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian Mid-Century Modern design cylindrical container for breadsticks or decorative box in silver metal designed by Lino Sabattini, engraved Sabattini Made in Italy under the base,...
Metal, Silver Plate
Daum Crystal Cat Paperweight Sculpture, France circa 1960
By Daum
Located in Atlanta, GA
Daum, France, created this adorable crystal kitty cat figurine paperweight or ornamental sculpture by hand in the late 1960s. The sculpture features a lovely cat with dimensional car...
Crystal
Lino Sabattini, Silvered Desktop Accessory Tray, Italy, Midcentury
By Lino Sabattini
Located in New York, NY
This sleek, midcentury tray was designed by Lino Sabattini and made of silvered metal for Christofle.
Metal