Poltronova is known for embracing the creativity that opposites can introduce to a space. Its radical modernist furniture and lighting fixtures are simultaneously grounded in classic aesthetics and inspired by what were then new and provocative artistic movements in mid-century Italy, when the company was founded. This tension resulted in unique and extraordinary pieces at the manufacturer, from eccentric, glove-shaped armchairs to striking dining tables that feature a mix of materials and textures.
Italian designer Sergio Cammilli founded Poltronova in Tuscany in 1957. That same year, it won the Compasso d’Oro for the Panchetto chair designed by Luciano Nustrini. Revolutionary Italian architect Ettore Sottsass — a maestro of postmodern design who would later establish the Memphis Group — came on board as an art director in 1958. Poltronova manufactured many of his furniture and ceramic designs. Sottsass’s lighting, seating and other works for Poltronova showcase the designer’s bold experimentation with solid wood, glass, metal and laminate materials.
Other established names in Italian furniture design collaborated with Poltronova’s Sottsass and Cammilli, including Giovanni Michelucci, Gae Aulenti and Angelo Mangiarotti. However, the company truly set itself apart in its collaborations with Superstudio and Archizoom Associati, groups that were part of an irreverent, avant-garde movement in art and design that took shape during the 1960s in Florence, Turin and Milan. Collectives associated with the movement — which would one day be called Italian Radical design — drew on Pop art and minimalism and explored working with unconventional materials to create colorful, quirky and uniquely shaped objects and furnishings. At the time, Poltronova also worked with up-and-coming names in the art world, like painter Max Ernst and sculptor Mario Ceroli.
Poltronova showcased its groundbreaking designs in many exhibitions, such as “La Casa Abitata,” which was held in Florence in 1965. At Milan's Eurodomus trade show in 1970, Poltronova debuted an entire bedroom collection designed by Sottsass — including his sensuous Ultrafragola mirror. The brand’s furnishings were included in a 1972 exhibition at New York’s Museum of Modern Art called "Italy: The New Domestic Landscape," and in 1977, Poltronova again won the Compasso d’Oro for a book called Fare Mobili con Poltronova (Making Furniture with Poltronova).
Poltronova's enduring and acclaimed furniture designs came to be loved far outside Italy. During the 1960s, importer Charles Stendig represented the company and helped introduce it to the American market.
In 2005, Poltronova established the Centro Studi Poltronova to recreate some of the company's iconic furniture. The brand has also recently collaborated with English architect Nigel Coates, who worked with a Poltronova master craftsman in Italy to design a series of limited-edition furniture in 2011, including the Domo chair.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Poltronova tables, seating, storage cabinets and more.
Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltronova 'Saratoga' Cabinet
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli, Poltronova
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltronova 'Saratoga', cabinet, polyester lacquered wood, Italy, 1964. Chest of drawers made in a reflective polyester lacquer. The Vignelli's were kn...
Wood, Lacquer
Radical Design Kubirolo Cabinets by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy, 1960s
By Poltronova, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Milan, IT
Scarce set of 7 Kubirolo modular shelving system by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova. The elements can be positioned in several ways, from full horizontal to vertical, creating differe...
Plastic, Wood
Torbecchia sideboard by Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova
By Poltronova, Giovanni Michelucci
Located in Ravenna, IT
Furniture designed by Michelucci and manufactured by Poltronova. The cabinet consists of two lower hinged doors, which can be opened by a handle, and two upper hinged doors, which ca...
Walnut
Serena Cabinet by Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova 1950s Italy
By Poltronova, Giovanni Michelucci
Located in London, London
Serena cabinet with drawers by Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova Walnut A sculptural and subtly architectural cabinet designed by Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova in the 1950s. ...
Walnut
Baule Asso di Fiori Annabella by Mario Ceroli for Poltronova
By Poltronova, Mario Ceroli
Located in Ravenna, IT
Trunk designed by Mario Ceroli for Poltronova in 1974. Firebranded "Ceroli Poltronova." The beauty of this object lies in the workmanship of the wood and the apparent simplicity of t...
Wood, Pine
Angelo Mangiarotti Aluminium Cabinet Multiuse by Poltronova 1965
By Poltronova, Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Aachen, NW
This rare Aluminum cabinet from the Multiuse series, which can be also used as a bookcase, was designed by Angelo Mangiarotti in 1965 and was produce...
Aluminum
$11,000
H 39.38 in W 50.4 in D 23.63 in
Giovanni Michelucci Serena Chest of Drawers for Poltronova, 1955
By Poltronova, Giovanni Michelucci
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
The Serena chest of drawers was designed by Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova in 1955. Made in walnut wood, it features six drawers — four smaller above and two larger below. Signed...
Walnut
Italian Wood Cabinet, 1960s
Located in Palermo, PA
Italian wood cabinet, 1960s. Dimensions: H= 83 cm; W= 130 cm; D= 43 cm.
Wood
$2,995
H 56 in W 51.25 in D 21 in
Ettore Sottsass Style Postmodern Magenta and Orange Lacquered Cabinet
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Postmodern magenta and orange lacquered cabinet, bookcase, or bar cabinet In the manner of Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano USA, Circa 1980s Measures: 51.25"W x 2...
Wood, Lacquer
$2,744Sale Price|20% Off
H 46.46 in W 41.74 in D 15.75 in
Angelo Mangiarotti Italian Wood Bookcases Shelves Cavalletto Model for Agapecasa
By Angelo Mangiarotti, AgapeCasa
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
A furnishing system made entirely of wood, designed by Angelo Mangiarotti in 1953. Its distinctive feature is a trestle in the shape of an upturned “V”, which means it is superimposable by means of a siply gravity joint, and whose special perimeter section can accomodate bookshelves on which closed containers...
Wood
Italian mid-century modern wooden bar cabinet, 1950s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century modern wooden bar cabinet, 1950s Bar cabinet with a dark wood structure. The front is composed of nine square yellow lacquered wooden panels, each featuring a rai...
Wood
1960s Italian Cabinet
Located in Praha, CZ
- Good original condition with minor signs of use
Wood
$7,200Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 33 in W 40.25 in D 19 in
Guido Faleschini for Mariani Leather and Suede Wrapped Marble Topped Cabinets
By Guido Faleschini, i4 Mariani
Located in Culver City, CA
This pair of cabinet / drybar pair are absolutely stunning! Designed by Guido Faleschini for Mariani in the late 60's, the front of these cabinets is wrapped in a chocolate leather, with chrome drawer and door pulls, with shiny chrome accents; while the sides and the finished backs of the cabinets are wrapped in a slightly lighter chocolate suede (actual leather and suede). The icing on the cake are the marble tops, almost onyx looking, a cream and yellow, heavily veined marble with bullnose finish. These cabinets absolutely ooze Italian mid century modern luxury down to every detail. These cabinets can be placed together to create a wonderful dry bar area that feature an abundance of storage for your every need. These cabinets can be seen in our Fall Palm Springs Modernism booth alongside a Vladimir Kagan cloud sofa, a pair of Pierre Paulin Groovy chairs...
Marble, Chrome
$5,078
H 28.35 in W 93.12 in D 19.1 in
Large KW85 Sideboard by Martin Visser for 'T Spectrum, the Netherlands
By Martin Visser, 't Spectrum Bergeijk
Located in Steenwijk, NL
This minimalistic and modernist sideboard, model KW85, was designed by Martin Visser for ’t Spectrum in the Netherlands in 1965. It is made from black lacquered veneer wood and has w...
Metal
$14,400
H 55.12 in W 53.15 in D 18.9 in
Angelo Mangiarotti for Sorgente dei Mobili Cabinet in Mahogany & Grasscloth
By La Sorgente Dei Mobili, Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Angelo Mangiarotti for Sorgente dei Mobili, cabinet, mahogany, grasscloth, Italy, 1960s This outstanding sideboard, dating back to the 1960s, is a design by Angelo Mangiarotti produ...
Grasscloth, Mahogany
Futura Bar Cabinet by Jorgen Hansen and Jens Thuesen for Romweber
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in West Chester, PA
A rare and exquisite Jorgen Hansen and Jens Thuesen "Futura Bar Cabinet" for Romweber Furniture Co. circa 1959. The unique deep relief propeller sculpted so...
Brass
$4,494
H 61.03 in W 65.75 in D 19.69 in
"Torbecchia" wooden sideboard by Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova, Italy, 1970
By Poltronova, Giovanni Michelucci
Located in Argelato, BO
This sideboard is an iconic piece of Italian design from the 1960s, designed by architect Giovanni Michelucci in 1964 for Poltronova. It is part of the "Torbecchia" series, a project...
Wood
$3,548
H 28.94 in W 100.79 in D 17.13 in
Italian modern Sideboard Parioli by Stoppino and Acerbis for Acerbis, 1980s
By Acerbis Design, Lodovico Acerbis, Giotto Stoppino
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Sideboard Parioli by Giotto Stoppino and Marco Acerbis for Acerbis, 1980s Sideboard mod. Parioli composed of 4 modules with solid wood structure with matt black finis...
Aluminum
Angelo Mangiarotti Cabinet in Wood and Aluminium
By Angelo Mangiarotti, Poltronova
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Angelo Mangiarotti for Poltronova, wall unit from 'Multiuse Series', exotic wood, aluminum, Italy, 1965 Beautiful bookcase or cabinet of the 'Multiuse Series' that Mangiarotti desig...
Aluminum
Franco Raggi Black Canton Cabinet in Wood by Poltronova 1987
By Franco Raggi, Poltronova
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Canton cabinet with a structure in black lacquered wood and two frontal doors in smoked glass with metal handles and an inner shelf. Designed by Franco Raggi in 1987 for Poltronova,...
Metal
Angelo Mangiarotti Multiuse cabinets Poltronova Italy 1965
By Angelo Mangiarotti, Poltronova
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Fantastic and versatile pair of Multiuse cabinets designed by Angelo Mangiarotti and manufactured by Poltronova in Italy in 1965. The cabinets offers endless possibilities, functioni...
Aluminum
Sold
H 38.78 in W 50.4 in D 22.84 in
Mobile 'Torbecchia' di Giovanni Michelucci per Poltronova Anni 60-70
By Giovanni Michelucci, Poltronova
Located in Milano, IT
Mobile credenza ad ante battenti e cassetti a vista, progettato da Michelucci nel 1964; legno impiallacciato noce. Buone condizioni originali.
Walnut
Sold
H 60.63 in W 66.15 in D 18.51 in
Torbecchia Credenza by Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova in Walnut, Italy, 1964
By Giovanni Michelucci, Poltronova
Located in Uithoorn, NL
High 'Torbecchia' Credenza by Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova in Walnut, Italy, 1964 Lovely version of a the high 'Torbecchia' in excellent condition. No damages and no discolour...
Steel
Sold
H 33.27 in W 78.55 in D 21.07 in
Mobile 'Torbecchia' Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova 1960s-70s
By Giovanni Michelucci, Poltronova
Located in Milano, IT
Sideboard with hinged doors and exposed drawers, designed by Michelucci in 1964; walnut veneered wood.
Walnut
Poltronova Torbecchia Walnut cabinet, Italy 1960s-1970s
By Giovanni Michelucci, Poltronova
Located in Milano, IT
Sideboard designed by Michelucci in 1964; walnut veneered wood.
Walnut
Poltronova Torbecchia Walnut cabinet, Italy 1964
By Giovanni Michelucci, Poltronova
Located in Milano, IT
Furniture designed by Michelucci in 1964 in walnut veneered wood.
Walnut
Angelo Mangiarotti Multiuse Cabinet for Poltronova, circa 1965
By Angelo Mangiarotti, Poltronova
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Angelo Mangiarotti multiuse exotic wood cabinet for Poltronova, circa 1965.
Aluminum
Giovanni Michelucci Walnut Credenza
By Giovanni Michelucci, Poltronova
Located in Dronten, NL
Cabinet from the Torbecchia series, designed by brutalist architect Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova, 1964. Walnut structure with four doors and two drawers. This architectural p...
Walnut
Angelo Mangiarotti Multiuse Cabinet for Poltronova, circa 1965
By Angelo Mangiarotti, Poltronova
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Angelo Mangiarotti Multiuse cabinet for Poltronova, Italy, circa 1965. The exotic wood has been professionally restored.
Aluminum
Sold
H 68.12 in W 25.2 in D 11.82 in
Cabinet "Mobile Pensile Tempus" by Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova, 1965
By Poltronova, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Berlin, DE
Wall Mounted Cabinet "Mobile Pensile Tempus" by Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova, 1965
Wood, Mirror