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.
20th Century, Gio Ponti and Lino Sabattini Sculpture Maschera Cornuta, 1978
By Lino Sabattini, Gio Ponti
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Now thirty, Sabattini moved from Blevio to Milan, where he found a small laboratory with all the essential tools of his Craft. His contacts with “Domus” became more frequent. This be...
Metal
20th Century Gio Ponti and Lino Sabattini Sculpture La Luna Strega, 1978
By Lino Sabattini, Gio Ponti
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Now thirty, Sabattini moved from Blevio to Milan, where he found a small laboratory with all the essential tools of his craft. His contacts with “Domus” became more frequent. This be...
Metal
Gio Ponti Silver Metal Sculpture Model Hand 5 Fingers for Sabattini, Italy
By Gio Ponti, Lino Sabattini
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Silver metal model hand 5 fingers designed by Gio Ponti for Sabattini in 1978. Signed. Biography Architect, designer and artist, Gio Ponti (Milan 1891-1979) graduated in Milan in 19...
Metal
Gio Ponti Hand Sculpture by Sabattini
By Gio Ponti, Lino Sabattini
Located in Chicago, IL
Gio Ponti Hand Sculpture by Sabattini Silver-Plated Metal made in Italy 1978 Dimensions: 13½ h × 3¾ w × 3¼ d in
Metal, Silver Plate
20th Century Gio Ponti and Lino Sabattini Sculpture Hands, 1978
By Lino Sabattini, Gio Ponti
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Now thirty, Sabattini moved from Blevio to Milan, where he found a small laboratory with all the essential tools of his Craft. His contacts with “Domus” became more frequent. This be...
Metal
Silvered Metal Sculpture "Ex Voto per il diavolo" by Gio Ponti for Sabattini
By Lino Sabattini, Gio Ponti
Located in Rome, IT
Silvered metal sculpture "Ex Voto Per Il Diavolo" by the Italian designer Gio Ponti for Sabattini. Made in Italy in 1978. Signed and dated with engraved manufacturer's mark to rev...
Metal, Steel
Sculpture "Horned Mask" Silvered Metal by Gio Ponti for Sabattini, Italy 1978
By Gio Ponti, Sabattini Argenteria, Lino Sabattini
Located in Rome, IT
Wonderful a silver metal sculpture of horned mask (Maschera Cornuta) designed by Gio Ponti for Sabattini. Made in Italy in the 1978.
Metal
20th Century Gio Ponti and Lino Sabattini Sculpture Diavolo, 1978
By Gio Ponti, Lino Sabattini
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Now thirty, Sabattini moved from Blevio to Milan, where he found a small laboratory with all the essential tools of his craft. His contacts with “Domus” became more frequent. This be...
Metal
Silver Metal Sculpture Model Diavolo by Gio Ponti for Sabattini
By Lino Sabattini, Gio Ponti
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Sculpture depicting the devil designed by Gio Ponti and created by Lino Sabattini in 1978 in hallmarked silver metal. Biography Architect, designer and artist, Gio Ponti (Milan 1891...
Metal
$9,500
H 10 in W 8.2 in D 6.2 in
Gio Ponti Ceramic Sculpture" Il Pellegrino Stanco" for Richard Ginori, Milano
By Richard Ginori, Gio Ponti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great sample of one most important designers of the 20th century, Glazed ceramic, Gio Ponti, made for Richard Ginori and marked S Christoforo, Milano.
Ceramic
$176Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.7 in W 1.2 in D 1.2 in
Mid-20th Century Indonesian Hand-Carved Wooden Hand Sculpture
Located in Honolulu, HI
A captivating mid-20th century miniature hand-carved wooden sculpture originating from Indonesia. Meticulously hand-carved from dense tropical hardwood, this refined art object featu...
Hardwood
Lino Sabattini, candlestick
By Lino Sabattini
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Candlestick in silver metal, model Concerto di trombe, by Lino Sabattini for Christofle, Italy circa 1957.
Metal, Silver Plate
$2,010
H 14.57 in W 3.94 in D 2.76 in
"Horned Mask" Gio Ponti by Sabattini Silver Plated 1970s Italian Design
By Gio Ponti
Located in Brescia, IT
"Horned Mask" Gio Ponti by Sabattini, 1978 Openwork metal sheet.
Metal
Gio Ponti Horse Silver Sculpture with Lino Sabattini for Christofle
By Christofle, Lino Sabattini, Gio Ponti
Located in Hanover, MA
1978 Gio Ponti designed silver plated horse sculpture, titled "Cavallo", edition Lino Sabattini for Christofle, 2008. Very good condition. Comes with original Christofle box and non-...
Silver Plate
$2,306
H 13.59 in W 5.12 in D 2.76 in
Original 1978 Gio Ponti Hand Sculpture For Sabbatini *FREE WORLDWIDE DELIVERY
By Gio Ponti
Located in Portlaoise, IE
Considered by many as being one of the most important and influential designers and architects of the 20th century Acquired are delighted to offer for sale this original Gio Ponti ha...
Silver Plate
$1,500
H 1.25 in W 2 in D 4 in
Gio Ponti Richard Ginori I PELLEGRINI Turtle Figurine Designed Circa 1924 Italy
By Richard Ginori, Gio Ponti
Located in Palm Beach, FL
A very rare and unique turtle figurine designed by the legendary Italian architect and designer Gio Ponti for Richard Ginori. This design was first introduced by Gio Ponti for Richar...
Ceramic, Porcelain
$2,720
H 14.77 in W 3.94 in D 1.97 in
Gio Ponti for Argenteria Sabattini Italian Silver-Plated "Musk" Sculpture 1970s
By Gio Ponti, Sabattini Argenteria
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian sculpture ‘Cuckolded Mask” in silver-plated metal designed by Gio Ponti for Argenteria Sabattini with the manufacturer’s mark engraved, Italy 1970s Please note that the item...
Silver Plate
Gio Ponti Woman Sculpture in Terracotta 'Attr.'
By Gio Ponti
Located in Milano, IT
Rare terracotta sculpture attributed to the great designer Gio Ponti in the 1950s, fine Italian manufacture. The sculpture is intended to be hung on the wall, as the back is flat. ...
Terracotta
Abstract Geometric Silver-Plated Vase by Lino Sabattini
By Lino Sabattini
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A slick, curved silver-plated vase by Lino Sabattini. Signed "Lino Sabattini / Cormorano 1966/2000, Collezione Sabattini Italy" on the face of the piece; and stamped "Sabattini Made ...
Metal, Silver
$2,720 / set
H 0.99 in W 3 in D 2.01 in
Gio Ponti Green Ovoid Ceramic Glazed Shingles Tiles 100, by PdP Hotel Roma, 1964
By Gio Ponti
Located in Rome, IT
Exclusive group of 100 ovoid shingles tiles, glazed earthenware by Gio Ponti produced by Ceramica JOO for the wall decoration of the Hotel Parco dei Principi,Roma 1964 Measures: He...
Ceramic
$5,000
H 15.25 in W 9 in D 3.25 in
Gio Ponti Design for "Manifattura Rossi" A Bucchero Female Nude Sculpture
By Gio Ponti
Located in CH
Carlo Alberto Rossi (Gubbio, 1903–1970), Manifattura Rossi Female Sculpture after a Gio Ponti Drawing Signed C. A. Rossi, Circa 1940 A remarkable female nude sculpture executed in B...
Ceramic
Sold
H 14.97 in W 4.34 in D 2.37 in
Silver Metal Sculpture Model Maschera Cornuta by Gio Ponti for Sabbatini
By Gio Ponti, Lino Sabattini
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Sculpture in perforated plate and silver metal. Sabattini production. Signature under the base. Biography Architect, designer and artist, Gio Ponti (Milan 1891-1979) graduated in Mi...
Metal
Sold
H 14.97 in W 3.94 in
Rare Maschera Cornuta or Horned Mask by Gio Ponti for Sabattini, 1979, Italy
By Lino Sabattini, Gio Ponti
Located in München, BY
Amazing Mid-Century Modern Maschera Cornuta (Horned Mask) by Gio Ponti for Sabattini, Italy. The mask is marked on one side: Sabattini Italy Design Gio Pon...
Metal
Gio Ponti Silver Sculpture "Madre e Figlia" with Lino Sabattini
By Lino Sabattini, Gio Ponti
Located in Hanover, MA
La Familia sculpture in silver plated brass designed by Gio Ponti in 1978 and executed by Lino Sabattini. Produced one year before Ponti's death.
Silver Plate