Italian sculptor, furniture designer and maestro d’arte e mestiere (master of art and craft) Giuseppe Rivadossi is considered one of the 20th century’s leading woodworkers. His hand-carved, mid-century modern furniture — as well as the work of Officina Rivadossi, the firm he cofounded — has been described as poetic, ancient, ethereal and soulful.
Rivadossi was born in 1935 in Monteclana di Nave, where he still lives and works today. He began woodworking at an early age, learning the craft from his father, who founded a carpentry business in 1920. In 1962, Rivadossi took over his father’s workshop and transformed it into an artistic atelier, creating sculptural furniture and objets d’art.
Toward the late 1960s, Rivadossi’s friends and fellow woodworking artists encouraged him to exhibit his wooden sculptures at shows throughout Italy. In 1968, he participated in his first sculpture exhibition, which led to others throughout the 1970s, such as the Triennale di Milano in 1974 and the Biennale di Mentone in 1976. That same year, Rivadossi and several collaborators established Officina Rivadossi, which specialized in wooden objects, sculptures and modern furniture. Pieces included walnut dining room tables, oak sideboards and architectonic dining chairs and armchairs suitable for the home or office.
From the 1980s through the 2000s, Rivadossi’s designs took on a more organic, architectural approach. For instance, his Custodia Lombarda cabinet comprises two doors with hand-carved latticework that gradually reduces size. His decorative boxes with grooved textures, geometric patterns and curved forms also double as desktop sculptures.
In 2013, Officina Rivadossi evolved to become Habito di Giuseppe Rivadossi, which Rivadossi runs with his two sons Emanuele and Clemente. Since then, the furniture firm has shown at numerous exhibitions, including Salone del Mobile di Milano, the London Design Festival, PAD Paris and BRAFA Art Fair, in Brussels. Also, in 2018, Rivadossi received the prestigious Maestro d’Arte e Mestiere award at the Triennale di Milano.
On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage and contemporary Officina Rivadossi case pieces, tables and dining chairs.
Pair of solid wood stools by Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi, Italy
By Giuseppe Rivadossi, Officina Rivadossi
Located in Argelato, BO
Rare pair of solid wood stools by Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi, Italy, 1970s. These are sculptural works, created by one of the most sophisticated Italian manufacturers...
Wood
$4,109Sale Price / set|20% Off
Giuseppe Rivadossi Set of Two Stools in Oak Wood by Officina Rivadossi 1970s
By Giuseppe Rivadossi, Officina Rivadossi
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Set of two stools in oak wood designed by Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi, 1970ca. These rare stools have a peculiar structure with visible interlocks that join each compo...
Oak
$42,000 / set
H 30 in W 23.75 in D 21 in
Six Dining Chairs by Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi
By Giuseppe Rivadossi
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare set of chip carved dining chairs by Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi. These stack laminated solid wood chairs have hand carved seats and backs. Wonderful scale and be...
Hardwood
$2,857 / set
H 18.51 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Rare Pair of Stools by Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig for Gino Maggioni, Italy 40s
By Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig, Gino Maggioni
Located in Lucija, SI
Rare pair of "Rationalist" stools designed by the Italian architect Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig in the Art Decò period and made by the Maggioni factory. These stools with an elegant ...
Rope, Plywood
Pair of Compas Wood Counter Stools, Italy
By Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Jean Prouvé
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Pair of compas counter stools or high chairs, wood and rope. In the mood of Pierre Jeanneret, Chandigarh, Le Corbusier, Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand, Gio Ponti, Osvaldo Borsani.
Wood, Rope
$2,040 / set
H 17.72 in W 18.9 in D 18.9 in
Set of two Stools Plywood designed by Gerd Lange for Thonet, 1970s
By Thonet, Gerd Lange
Located in Antwerp, BE
Set of 2 stools designed by Gerd Lange. Gerd Lange is one of the most influential German furniture designers of the 1970s and 1980s. He was known for his extremely down-to-earth, fun...
Metal
Set of 5 Danish Mid-Century Oak Stacking Stools, 1970s
Located in Nørre Aaby, DK
A distinctive set of five Danish mid-century stacking stools from the 1970s, crafted in stained oak. Each stool has been newly upholstered in a different fabric colour, creating a pl...
Fabric, Oak
$2,967 / set
H 20.48 in W 20.48 in D 16.54 in
Giuseppe Pagano Pair of Italian Oak and Woven Rope Stools, Italy, 1940s
By Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig
Located in Roma, IT
Marvelous and unique pair of stools entirely crafted in solid oak and completed by beautifully hand-woven rope seats. These refined stools were designed by the mastery of Giuseppe Pa...
Rope, Wood, Oak
Alpine Style Chalet Stools in Wood, set of 11 - 1970s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
These elegant and charming stools are touchingly simple. Made entirely of light-colored solid softwood, equipped with spacers, and offering a fine and elegant silhouette, the stools...
Oak
$5,571 / set
H 39.38 in W 16.93 in D 19.69 in
Six High-Back Dining Chairs in the Style of Giuseppe Rivadossi, Italy
By Giuseppe Rivadossi
Located in Hellouw, NL
Introducing a sculptural set of six high-back dining chairs, reminiscent of the raw elegance often found in Italian Brutalism. Executed in the style of Giuseppe Rivadossi, these chai...
Wood
set of 6 Brutalist Solid Oak stools 1970s Holland
Located in Den Haag, NL
Set of 6 Solid Oak bar stools . Very nice warm Brown color . Heavy and sturdy , Ready for the next 50 years . 1970s Holland
Oak
$3,085
H 17.33 in W 20.87 in D 13.59 in
Mid-Century Modern Pair of 2 Stools by Giuseppe Rivadossi, Italy, 1980s
By Giuseppe Rivadossi
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern pair of 2 stools by Giuseppe Rivadossi, Italy,1980s.
Leather, Wood
$4,712
H 32.29 in W 74.41 in D 32.29 in
Three-seater Sofa by Giuseppe Rivadossi in Slavonian Oak and Leather, Italy 1960
By Giuseppe Rivadossi
Located in Hellouw, NL
Giuseppe Rivadossi, an esteemed Italian artist and craftsman, is renowned for creating furniture that harmonizes functionality with artistic expression. His works, deeply rooted in t...
Leather, Oak
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi Rare Bench in Oak
By Giuseppe Rivadossi, Officina Rivadossi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi, bench, oak, Italy, design 1980s This lovely bench is a design by Giuseppe Rivadossi. The material used to make this piece is oak, which sh...
Oak
$2,200
H 35.04 in W 20.67 in D 20.48 in
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi Dining Chair in Walnut
By Officina Rivadossi, Giuseppe Rivadossi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi, dining chair, walnut, leather, Italy, 1970s An exceptional chair by the Italian sculptor and designer Giuseppe Rivadossi, featuring a high...
Leather, Walnut
$9,300
H 31.7 in W 32.88 in D 27.17 in
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi 'Rocca' Lounge Chair in Walnut
By Officina Rivadossi, Giuseppe Rivadossi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi, 'Rocca' lounge chair, walnut, Italy, 1970s Giuseppe Rivadossi’s Rocca chair is a prime example of Italian craftsmanship from the second ...
Walnut
$16,342 / set
H 33.47 in W 19.3 in D 17.72 in
Set of Eight Rivadossi Dining Chairs with Carved Backrests in Slavonian Oak
By Officina Rivadossi, Giuseppe Rivadossi
Located in Hellouw, NL
A set of eight Rivadossi chairs, crafted in Slavonian oak during the 1970s, showcasing an impressive patina that speaks to their history. These pieces embody a unique balance between...
Oak