Italian architect and furniture designer Maurizio Tempestini is well-known among vintage outdoor furniture aficionados for his sculptural Clamshell line and other elegant mid-century modern furnishings for patios and gardens.
Born in Florence in 1908, Tempestini completed his studies in Industrial Decoration at the Porta Romana Art Institute in 1929. His career as an interior architect and furniture and lighting designer flourished during the early 1930s. It was during this time Tempestini was also active as a set designer for several Italian theater productions, including Mario Massa’s Osteria degli immortali and Luigi Bonelli’s comedy Il Gigli.
Tempestini then turned his attention from the stage to designing furniture and decorative objects. He crafted pieces for ceramics factory Cantagalli in Florence, as well as for Murano glass manufacturers Seguso and Cappellin.
In 1934, Tempestini worked on the external renovation of the Palazzo delle Esposizioni at the Parterre di San Gallo in Florence for the Littoriali Exhibition. Later, in 1938, he formed a studio with architects Nello Baroni and Pietro Porcinai before cofounding the legendary postwar Italian lighting maker Arteluce with designer and engineer Gino Sarfatti in 1939.
During the 1950s, Tempestini designed lighting fixtures for Lightolier and began to collaborate with Brooklyn, New York’s John B. Salterini Company. Salterini was an Italian emigree who initially worked in journalism before becoming an eminent producer of high-end wrought-iron furniture.
Tempestini’s modernist outdoor furniture for Salterini resembled indoor seating manufactured by the likes of Knoll or Artifort — his chairs and other seating boasted organic curves and seductive, unconventional shapes. His work complemented Salterini’s own handmade designs, which reflected Gothic Revival and Art Deco influences. Together the designers produced successful lines of garden and patio furniture for Salterini’s eponymous firm.
Tempestini’s name soon became widely known in the United States. His designs were first introduced to the American public in 1951 through Gimbels Department Store and Suniland Furniture in Houston, Texas. Today his bold and stylish patio furniture remains sought after by collectors everywhere.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Maurizio Tempestini garden elements, lounge chairs and tables.
Mid-Century Brutalist Table Lamp by Maurizio Tempestini for Laurel Lamp Co.
By Maurizio Tempestini, Laurel Lamp Company
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Italian-American designer Maurizio Tempestini, this Mid-Century Brutalist table lamp for the Laurel Lamp Company is a masterful blend of sculptural artistry and functiona...
Metal
Maurizio Tempestini Mid-Century Modern Chrome Travertine "Geometric" Table Lamp
By Maurizio Tempestini, Oscar Niemeyer
Located in St. Louis, MO
1960s MCM Maurizio Tempestini sculptural and very architectural table lamp with angular chrome fins on travertine base. Three-light sockets, chain, plus inline switch.. Shade shown f...
Travertine, Chrome
Maurizio Tempestini for Laurel Adjustable Swedish Brass Desk Lamp, 1960s
By Maurizio Tempestini, Laurel Lamp Company
Located in Bainbridge, NY
American Mid Century Laurel lamp Co. D-747 swedish brass table lamp, 1960s. Featuring a sculpted curved Brass arm, adjustable 10D Brass domed mushroom shade with enameled Off White i...
Aluminum, Brass
Mid century Maurizio Tempestini, Laurel Brass Desk Lamp, Articulated
By Maurizio Tempestini, Laurel Lamp Company
Located in Miami, FL
Mid century Maurizio Tempestini, Laurel Brass Desk Lamp, Articulated Offered for sale is a 1950s Mid-century Modern articulated brass table l...
Brass
$6,280Sale Price|20% Off
A Good Pair of Italian Mid-Century Maurizio Tempestini Alabaster Lamps
By Maurizio Tempestini
Located in San Francisco, CA
a pair of Maurizio Tempestini (Italian, 1908-1960) mid-century modern alabaster table lamps in a sculpted flame design of polished white al...
Alabaster
Maurizio Tempestini Brass & Travertine "Geometric" Table Lamp, 1960s
By Maurizio Tempestini
Located in Buffalo, NY
Futurist Maurizio Tempestini angular brass table lamp with travertine base. Tall kite form structure in a patina'ed brass on a travertine base. Diagonal. Architectural. Rarity. 24H t...
Travertine, Brass
Pair of Sculptural Italian MCM Maurizio Tempestini White Alabaster "FLAME" Lamps
By Maurizio Tempestini
Located in St. Louis, MO
Pair of 1940s Mid-Century Modern Maurizio Tempestini (Italian, 1908-1960) designed, sculpted polished white Alabaster table lamps with flame design raised on oval ebonized wooden bas...
Alabaster, Brass
1950's Biomorphic Alabaster Table Lamp designed by Maurizio Tempestini
By Maurizio Tempestini
Located in Asbury Park, NJ
This is a beautiful 1950's biomorphic alabaster table lamp designed by Maurizio Tempestini & produced in Italy. It's in beautiful & fully functional condition. It measures 15" tall t...
Alabaster
Lamp by Maurizio Tempestini, Chrome With Black Base, C 1950, No Lamp Shade
By Maurizio Tempestini
Located in New York, NY
Single Laura lamp, circa 1950. Designed by Maurizio Tempestini. The lamp does not come with a lamp shade. Chrome curved shape on a black pedestal which is a very elegant design. The ...
Chrome
Mid-Century Italian Modern Travertine Stone Table Lamp
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dimensions 41in H x 4.50in W x 4.50in D Shade 11in H x 15in W x 15in D ________________________________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern f...
Travertine
Mid Century Lamp by Laurel
By Laurel Lamp Company
Located in New York, NY
Table lamp attributed to Laurel with a solid wood teardrop form body on metal base with faux wood cathedral cut out base. Clean, working condition, shows very minor cosmetic wear, no...
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Pair of French Table Lamps Alabaster
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Mid-Century Modern table lamps with lampshades in alabaster. The rectangular shades are formed by four alabaster plates. Stands in solid brass with new...
Alabaster, Brass
Italian Mid-Century Modern Travertine Lamp
Located in Palm Springs, CA
An Italian travertine lamp of obelisk form with new brass double cluster sockets and cloth cord. signed on a brass plaque "H.R." Base is 10" sq...
Travertine, Brass
$2,900 / set
H 16.5 in W 14.75 in D 5.5 in
Pair George Kovacs Mid-Century Modern Chrome and Travertine Desk or Table Lamps
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Beautiful pair of minimalist styled desk or table lamps manufactured by George Kovacs. These lamps have a cantilevered chrome body with quarter-round travertine stone accents. The la...
Travertine, Chrome
Atomic Brass Table Lamp, Switzerland, 1960s
Located in Aachen, NRW
Atomic brass table lamp with nine-glass globes. The globes are hand blown and fitted with a screwing device. High quality and in very good c...
Opaline Glass
Mid-Century Modern Chrome Globe Table Lamps
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nice Mid-Century Modern chrome globes arranged in spiral clusters table lamps.
Richard Barr Brutalist Table Lamp for Laurel Lamp Co.
By Richard Barr, Laurel Lamp Company
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Newly Rewired, New Custom Linen Shade
Brass
Mid Century Brass and Wood Cylinder Lamps attributed to Laurel, Pair
By Laurel Lamp Company
Located in Wichita, KS
Pair of Mid -Century Brass and Wood Cylinder Lamps attributed to Laurel, likely from the 1960's-1970's. They have a sleek, cylindrical design with a...
Brass
Richard Barr for Laurel Lighting Brutalist Table Lamp
By Richard Barr, Laurel Lamp Company
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Richard Barr Torch Cut and Welded Brutalist Table Lamp done for Laurel Lighting. In nice original condition with a shade that could be original to the lamp. Really great scale! St...
Metal
$1,862 / item
H 23.63 in Dm 14.57 in
Handmade geometric sand ceramic and brass table lamp, minimalist styled. Brazil
By Atelier BAM
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Minimalist-styled sand ceramic table lamp reveals the textures and colors gradian of its materials, handmade movements, and unexpected organic form. Slowly air-dried for more than 30 days, until it reaches a few hours into a low temperature hoven, to reach its final color and form. During all this process, the clay disc will take an unexpected organics movement in its form, almost like a living material, making each object unique in its details and colors. The brass part would be added at the end and tailored for each piece. The sculpture results in a process of hand modeling and details carving of grey...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern "Tulip" Table Lamp by Laurel Lamp Co.
By Laurel Lamp Company
Located in San Diego, CA
Highly desirable MCM "tulip" table lamp by Laurel Lamp Co., circa 1960s. There are three lamps available; they are in good vintage condition with no chips or cracks to the hand blow...
Metal
Maurizio Tempestini Sculptural Chrome and Black Table Lamp
By Laurel Lamp Company, Maurizio Tempestini
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Maurizio Tempestini designed lamp for Laurel Lamp Company. Stellar abstract chrome sculpture sitting atop a black base. The curves and chrome provide beautiful light play with its re...
Chrome
Pair Of Maurizio Tempestini Tall Brutalist Bronze Table Lamps
By Maurizio Tempestini
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
Pair of Maurizio Tempestini Brutalist Bronze Table Lamps. These tall lamps serve as an eye-catching addition to any space. Their unique geo...
Bronze
Majestic Brutalist Tall Lamp By Laurel Lighting 1970's in Bronze Finish
By Laurel Lamp Company, Maurizio Tempestini
Located in San Diego, CA
Majestic rare and beautiful tall lamp by Laurel lighting company, circa 1970's includes new lamp linen shade , perfect working condition and nice patina all original bronze finish , ...
Metal
Sold
H 96 in W 30 in D 30 in
Mid Century Modern Italian Tension Pole Lamp by Tempestini for Laurel! Teak 50s
By Laurel Lamp Company, Maurizio Tempestini
Located in Peoria, AZ
MAGNIFICENT Mid Century Tension Pole Lamp Maurizio Tempestini for Laurel Lamp Company! Incredible hand worked brass! Hand cut and formed teak trim! Exceeding rare! The finest mid century pole lamp in the world! This Italian brass & teak pole lamp...
Metal, Brass
Maurizio Tempestini, Table Lamps, Alabaster, Brass, Fabric, Italy, 1965
By Maurizio Tempestini
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of carved alabaster, white fabric and brass table lamps designed by Maurizio Tempestini, Italy, c. 1965. Overall Dimensions (inches): 29” H x 16” D Stated dimensions include ...
Alabaster, Brass
Brutalist Table Lamps by Maurizio Tempestini for Laurel Lighting
By Maurizio Tempestini, Laurel Lamp Company
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of mid-century modern table lamps designed by Maurizio Tempestini and manufactured by Laurel lighting. The table lamps featured a cubed faux bois column in a gold finish wi...
Aluminum, Steel
Maurizio Tempestini Modern Sculptural Steel Table Lamp
By Maurizio Tempestini
Located in Toledo, OH
Maurizio Tempestini sculptural steel modern table lamp. Three socket light cluster. Painted black on a travertine base. New shade and diffuser.
Steel
Sold
H 38.5 in W 9.5 in D 9.5 in
Vintage 70s Maurizio Tempestini for Laurel Bronze Table Lamps - a Pair
By Laurel Lamp Company, Maurizio Tempestini
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Spectacular pair of vintage 70s table lamps. Maurizio Tempestini for Laurel Brutalist design in bronze. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Bronze
Brutalist Vintage Table Lamp by Tempestini
By Laurel Lamp Company, Maurizio Tempestini
Located in Miami, FL
Brutalist vintage table lamp by Tempestini Large sculptural cast aluminum with bronze patina Metal base, Newly rewired Original shade shows minor cosmetic wear Shade: 21" Heigh...
Aluminum
Pair of Brutalist Lamps by Laurel Lamp Co.
By Maurizio Tempestini
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of Brutalist lamps by Laurel Lamp Co. Structure made of patinated metal with solid wood lacquered base, 1970s. Similar in style to lamps designed by Maurizio Tempestini. The b...
Metal, Bronze
Pair of Metal Brutalist Table Lamps Designed by Maurizio Tempestini
By Maurizio Tempestini
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of Brutalist lamps designed by Maurizio Tempestini. Structure made of patinated metal with solid wood lacquered base. EEUU, 1950s. Measures including screen: D 55 x 144 (H) ...
Metal
Maurizio Tempestini Sculptural Table Lamp, Italy, 1953
By Maurizio Tempestini
Located in Chicago, IL
Maurizio Tempestini for Lightolier table Lamp, Italy, 1953. Enameled steel sculpture on travertine base with original light diffuser and shade. Measures: 18 x 8 shade.
Travertine, Enamel, Steel