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.
Vintage Tray and Bucket Ice Lino Sabattini Italy 1970, 2 Pieces
By Lino Sabattini
Located in Biella, IT
Lino Sabattini Italy design years ’60’70 tray and bucket ice in silverplate. All signed.
Metal
Italian Silver Candle Holder by Sabattini, 1950s
By Lino Sabattini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful Italian silver candle holder made in 1950s.
Silver
Candle Holder 002
Located in Ridgewood, NY
Candle holder for 2 candles. At the intersection of art, craft, and design, Concrete Poetics' debut collection of hand-cast cement sculptural furniture and accessories streamlines v...
Concrete, Cement
Vintage Small Wooden Florentine Gilt Tray, Italy 1950s
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Amazing Smal Italian Florentine tray. Manufactured in Florence, Italy. Hand-painted in gold and brown shades. Wooden tray is in a good condit...
Wood
$905
H 0.99 in W 19.3 in D 11.42 in
Mid-century Lucite and Brass Serving Tray by Guzzini, Italy, 1970s
Located in Palermo, IT
Mid-century Lucite and brass serving tray by Guzzini, Italy, 1970s Intact and in good condition. Width 49 cm Depth 29 cm Height 2.5 cm
Brass
$724Sale Price|20% Off
H 0.79 in W 23.04 in D 14.49 in
Hollywood Regency Italian Tray in Brass Faux Bamboo and Fumè Glass, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
A splendid midcentury golden serving tray, in brass faux bamboo and fumè glass. This vintage tray is made in Italy, and datable between the 1960s and the 1970s; a functional serving ...
Brass
$1,200
H 24.81 in W 15.36 in D 11.03 in
1950s Danish Modern Candle Stand by Lysberg Hansen Royal Court Supplier
By Lysberg, Hansen & Therp
Located in København K, 84
Beautiful Mid-Century Modern candle stand from the renowned swedish and danish Royal court supplier Lysberg Hansen & Therp in central Copenhagen 1950s. The console table is super ele...
Brass
$2,063
H 31.5 in W 25.99 in D 25.99 in
1970s Italian Tortoiseshell Bakelite Lucite Folding Tray Table by Willy Rizzo
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Nicolosi, IT
Elegant Italian folding tray table from the 1970s, attributable to the style of Willy Rizzo, featuring a tortoiseshell-effect Bakelite tray top and a folding metal base. The piece co...
Metal, Chrome
Antique Ebony Tray Table with Glass Top- 3 Pieces
Located in Malibu, CA
19th century ebonized paper mâché tray which fits into the elegant wood tray table. The paper mache tray has gilt edges & mother of pearl inlay. There is an custom glass top, all...
Glass, Hardwood
Scandinavian Modern Brass Candle Holder by Vallonmässing, Sweden
Located in Turku, Finland
Swedish Scandinavian Modern brass candle holder by Vallonmässing, Sweden, dated and numbered 119/1987. Made of cast brass, with a simple sculptural design consisting of five candle h...
Brass
$298
H 0.79 in W 18.12 in D 18.12 in
Decorative golden steel tray Mid-Century Modern Production Italy 1970/80
Located in Palermo, IT
Round decorative tray, made of steel with a gold finish. The tray features a vintage design. It is decorated with three illustrations of skeleton keys. One of the keys has a small ta...
Steel
$1,432
H 9.45 in W 24.02 in D 13.98 in
Red Plastic Space Age Vintage Tray Bed Table Luigi Massoni Guzzini, 1970s, Italy
By Luigi Massoni, Guzzini
Located in Vienna, AT
Space Age red vintage tray or breakfast table Model pepito from plastic designed by Luigi Massoni Grafico Studio Zeto for Guzzini 1970s Italy. Perfect to use as foldable breakfast bed table or tray or as computer table...
Plastic
$745
H 1.58 in W 9.85 in D 14.18 in
Vintage Gucci Polished Wood Serving Tray, Italy, circa 1970s–1980s - 15 in
By Gucci
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
An elegant vintage Gucci serving and decorative tray, crafted in richly grained dark wood with a high-polished finish. The restrained rectangular design is accented by a gold-tone GU...
Wood
Vintage Italian Jansen Style Brass Tray Table
By Maison Jansen
Located in North Miami, FL
This all brass tray table and folding base in the style of Jansen from the 1970s was found in Italy. Great entertaining table or as a side table, easy to store if not needed. This it...
Brass
Lino Sabattini Side Tables Silver Plated, Italy, 1970
By Lino Sabattini
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Nice pair of cubic side tables designed and manufactured by Lin Sabattini, Italy 1970. These tables have silver plated metal frames and glass tops. The frames have a nice patina from...
Metal
Lino Sabattini Side Tables, Italy, 1970s
By Lino Sabattini
Located in Greding, DE
Pair of cubic side tables with glass tops and plexiglass shelves by Lino Sabattini. Label on the metal frame.
Metal
Lino Sabattini Side Tables, Italy, 1970s
By Lino Sabattini
Located in Greding, DE
Pair of cubic side tables with glass tops and plexiglass shelves by Lino Sabattini. Label on the metal frame.
Metal
Lino Sabattini Side Tables Silver Plated, Italy, 1970
By Lino Sabattini
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Nice pair of cubic side tables designed and manufactured by Lin Sabattini, Italy, 1970. These tables have silver plated metal frames and glass tops. The frames have a nice patina fro...
Silver