Nerone and Patuzzi furniture is a shining example of the experimental side of mid-century modern design. While the style is known mainly for its clean lines and simple forms, this Italian duo showcased how artistic it could be. Together, they designed beautiful abstract and figurative sculptures, as well as sculptural coffee tables and wall lights.
Gianni Patuzzi (1932–2022) and Giovanni Ceccarelli (1937–1996), who went by the name Nerone, worked together under the NP2 Group. They met while they were both students at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia and were acquainted again in Turin in 1959. The two struck up a fruitful partnership, and in 1962, they started the NP2 Group out of a studio in the Borgaro Torinese northwest of the city.
The idea behind the NP2 group was to integrate art with architecture and furniture making, bringing it out of museums and making it more accessible. The studio of the two young designers quickly became an exciting hub of innovation, attracting talented designers and artists like Marcel Breuer and Emilio Vedova.
In 1964, Nerone’s younger brother, Piercarlo Ceccarelli, joined the NP2 Group as a manager and administrator. Ceccarelli was instrumental in creating relationships with galleries, showrooms and architects throughout Europe and the United States. The group began receiving both public and private commissions.
By the late 1960s, the work of Nerone and Patuzzi was being exhibited around the world, earning recognition and awards. Their designs included everything from furniture and fittings to monumental sculptures. They utilized a wide range of techniques, including woodworking, metalworking and marble engraving.
Around this time, Nerone and Patuzzi began working on individual side projects, but they continued collaborating as the NP2 Group until 1974.
In an interview with the European Parliamentary Research Service in 2016, Patuzzi reflected fondly on his time collaborating with Nerone, remembering that they worked hard but with great enthusiasm.
On 1stDibs, find Nerone and Patuzzi decorative objects, tables, lighting and more.
Sculptural Bar by Nerone & Patuzzi - Gruppo NP2, Italy 1960s
By Gruppo NP2, Nerone Giovanni Ceccarelli, Nerone and Patuzzi, Giancarlo Patuzzi
Located in Rotterdam, ZH
Sculptural Bar by Nerone & Patuzzi for Gruppo NP2, Italy, 1960s. Unique and monumental piece, exclusively made for a villa in Turin during the 1960s. Executed from richly stained, ca...
Marble
Vintage Italian World Globe Dry Bar, 1960s
Located in Miami, FL
This vintage 1960s Italian dry bar is perfect for adding a touch of classic European flair to your home. The globe design is made of wood, giving it an authentic and timeless look. T...
Wood
$2,092
H 38.19 in W 61.03 in D 20.87 in
Vintage Italian Tito Agnoli style bamboo & rattan tiki cocktail bar, 1960s / 70s
Located in Hastings, GB
Vintage Italian Tito Agnoli style bamboo & rattan tiki cocktail bar, 1960s / early 1970s. Black formica top; shelving & bottle holders inside. In good vintage condition. Plea...
Bamboo, Rattan, Formica
$2,554
H 27.96 in W 37.8 in D 18.9 in
Italian Dry Bar by Angelo Mangiarotti for Molteni in Wood and Marble, 1960s
By Molteni & C, Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Argelato, BO
Angelo Mangiarotti, rare and refined Dry Bar / Sideboard in wood and marble made for Molteni. It is a functional piece of furniture, capable of holding large quantities of bottles, b...
Marble
Aldo Tura Dry Bar, Italy 1960s
Located in New York, NY
Bar cabinet by Aldo Tura (1909-1963) with goat parchment-covered fronts and straight side panels as a base. The bar cabinet offers plenty of storage space with five drawers, a hinged...
Brass
$10,448
H 77.56 in W 48.04 in D 27.56 in
Mid-Century Modern Bar Cabinet in Wood, Mirror and Glass, Italy, 1960s
Located in Rome, IT
Mid-Century Modern Italian bar cabinet in rosewood and glass with the peculiarity of being composed of two separate units. The larger one is a wall unit characterized at the top ...
Metal, Brass
Bar Cabinet by Torbjørn Afdal for Bruksbo, Norway, 1960s
By Reno Wahl Iversen, Dyrlund
Located in Karlstad, SE
Sophisticated foldable bar cabinet designed by Torbjørn Afdal for Bruksbo in the 1960s. Crafted in richly grained rosewood, the cabinet features a clever fold-out construction that d...
Brass
Aldo Tura Bar Cabinet Brown Goatskin, Italy, 1960s
By Aldo Tura
Located in Munich, DE
Aldo Tura goatskin bar cabinet, Italy, circa 1960. This beautiful small cabinet was illuminated and mirrored inside with three glass shelves, excellent original vintage condition. M...
Brass
Tito Agnoli Wicker and Teak Circular Bar Cart for Bonacina, Italy 1960s
By Tito Agnoli, Bonacina
Located in Milan, IT
Tito Agnoli Wicker and Teak Circular Bar Cart for Bonacina, Italy 1960s
Metal
$4,644Sale Price|20% Off
H 44.49 in W 47.25 in D 13.78 in
20th Century Italian Design Central Bar Cabinet, 1950s / 1960s
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Beautiful and rare Italian design bar cabinet 1960s. Made of fine wood. This rare bar cabinet was made to be placed in the center of the room. On the front it is only decorative with...
Teak
Mid-Century Modern Rattan Tiki Bar, Hand-Crafted, Italy, Circa 1960s
Located in Winter Park, FL
An authentic Mid-Century Modern vintage Italian rattan tiki bar. Produced in Italy during the 1950s-1960s, this iconic organic design is often associated with the Italian Riviera sty...
Bamboo, Rattan, Plastic
Original 1960s Dry Bar by Erik Buch
By Erik Buch
Located in Paris, FR
Original Danish rosewood dry bar designed by Erik Buch (1923-1982). The outside of the bar is made from rosewood with a very nice grain, and the inside is partly in rosewood and the...
Chrome
$14,803
H 55.12 in W 57.88 in D 20.48 in
Mid-Century Bar Cabinet by Aldo Tura, Wood & Goatskin, Italy, 1960s
By Aldo Tura
Located in Berlin, DE
Mid-Century bar cabinet by Aldo Tura. Made from wood with laquered goatskin. Inside we find an illuminated mirrored compartment to store bottles and glasses. Good condition. The cabi...
Goatskin, Wood
Sold
H 41.34 in W 77.96 in D 49.22 in
Unique Nerone e Patuzzi Bar for Gruppo NP2 with Three Wooden Panels, Italy 1976
By Nerone and Patuzzi, Gruppo NP2
Located in Hellouw, NL
A commanding presence within the visual language of 1970s Italian design; this bar by Nerone and Patuzzi reflects the bold sculptural energy of Gruppo NP2. Designed in 1976 and signe...
Wood