Whether they’re adorned with understated floral patterns or colorful prints that draw on the wonders of the animal kingdom, vintage Roberto Cavalli dresses and evening gowns, shirts and skirts are unapologetically exuberant. All of the seductive garments crafted at the luxury fashion house have long been associated with extravagance and red-carpet sophistication, and their stories begin in Central Italy.
Roberto Cavalli was born in Florence, Tuscany, in 1940 into an already artistically rich family — his mother was a tailor, and his grandfather, Giuseppe Rossi, was a member of an Italian art movement called Macchiaioli that shared common ground with Impressionist painters. Cavalli was creative at the onset and focused on textiles at the Florence Academy of Art. He garnered some high-profile attention with bold prints on knitwear.
After he patented an experimental and revolutionary process that saw him printing on lightweight leather, Cavalli secured commissions from major fashion houses such as Hermès and Pierre Cardin. He explored integrating handmade ornamentation in his designs and found limitless inspiration in the majestic creatures of the jungle.
In the early 1970s Cavalli unveiled his first namesake collection in Paris and the Sala Bianca of Palazzo Pitti in Florence. He then opened his inaugural boutique in France’s Saint-Tropez in 1972. While the designer’s printed denim offerings were deemed unsophisticated by the day’s couturiers — they looked down upon the material — Cavalli’s form-fitting, sensual cuts, innovative patchwork and obvious dedication to impeccable craftsmanship found admirers in the likes of Sophia Loren and Brigitte Bardot.
In 1980 Cavalli married former beauty pageant contestant Eva Düringer, who became his trusted business partner. Now a signature of the label, the pair introduced their first sand-blasted jeans in 1994 and later opened boutiques in Venice and elsewhere.
Cavalli’s designs sold all over the world, and the brand’s success helped pave the way for the introduction of a line called Just Cavalli that targeted younger consumers and RC Menswear to complement the array of day dresses, shoes, lingerie and coats and outerwear that were offered in his popular boutiques.
In 2005 Cavalli was asked to help reinvigorate Playboy’s iconic bunny costumes and, in 2006, model Kate Moss starred in his spring/summer ad campaign. A year later, Cavalli created an exclusive collection for H&M and designed costuming for Jennifer Lopez concerts as well as the Spice Girls.
Sicilian designer Fausto Puglisi was appointed creative consultant in 2020 at the Roberto Cavalli brand, which is now owned by Vision Investments.
Find vintage Roberto Cavalli clothing, accessories, handbags and purses and more on 1stDibs.
$159Sale Price / set|33% Off
Roberto Cavalli Set of Porcelain Box and Tray
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Roberto Cavalli Casa Dark Lady series set of round porcelain box and tray decorated with rose / Made in Limoges France Original mark on the underside box: diameter 4.5 inches, height...
Porcelain
$159Sale Price / set|33% Off
Roberto Cavalli Set of 2 Porcelain Trays
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Roberto Cavalli Casa Dark Lady series set of 2 porcelain trays decorated with rose / Made in Limoges France Original mark on the underside Length 4.7 inches, width 3.5 inches, height...
Porcelain
Tall Signed Roberto Cavalli Amethyst Murano Glass Tazza
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in Troy, MI
Found in Italy, this circa 2010 Murano glass tazza is marked Roberto Cavalli on the base. This pale amethyst tazza is over 12” high and 15” diameter...
Murano Glass
$239Sale Price / set|33% Off
Roberto Cavalli Set of 3 Porcelain Trays
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Roberto Cavalli Casa Dark Lady series set of 3 porcelain trays decorated with rose / Made in Limoges France Original mark on the underside Large tray: length 4.7 inches, width 3.5 in...
Porcelain
$1,790Sale Price|20% Off
H 6.3 in W 9.45 in D 5.71 in
Luciano Gaspari Salviati Signed Murano Purple Pink Blue Sommerso Art Glass Bowl
By Luciano Gaspari, Salviati
Located in Barcelona, ES
Outstanding hand blown Murano Art glass bowl in shades of purple pink and blue. Italy, 1960s. Manufactured By Luciano Gaspari for Salviati. Signed underneath. This beautiful bowl has...
Glass, Sommerso, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass
Pair of Tazzas, France Empire Period
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Tazzas from the late part of the Empire period. Made in Red French Marble with a bowl in dark patinated bronze. Base decorated with gilt bronze.
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Swedish Porphyry Tazza, 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The turned base and stem with shallow bowl top. Shows signs of expert repair.
$950 / set
H 1 in Dm 10.75 in
Minton Porcelain "English Rose" Pattern Part Dinner Service, 20th Century
By Minton
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A Minton porcelain 'English Rose' pattern part dinner service 20th century. Comprising nine dinner plates 10¾ in. (27.3 cm.) diameter. Nine 6 1/8 in.(15.5cm.) bread and butter...
Porcelain
Italian Neoclassic Egyptian Style Bronze Tazza
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Neo-classic (19th Cent) "Grand Tour" bronze tazza resting on 4 sphinx figures over a rosso antico marble base.
Marble, Bronze
Vintage Large Art Glass Bowl Tazza Centerpiece Bowl in Brass Stand
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Vintage Large Art Glass Bowl Tazza Centerpiece Bowl in Brass Stand Clear classical hand blown glass bowl fitting in an exquisite brass base. It is most likely dating from the Mid-Ce...
Brass
$2,100 / set
H 1 in Dm 9 in
Copeland Spode Dessert Set 8 Plates, 2 Square Plates Blue w/ Florals Butterfly
By Copeland Spode
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This set of 8 Copeland Spode dessert plates is accompanied by 2 matching square serving plates- Perfect for a cheese and fruit course as well as d...
Porcelain
$10,009 / set
H 1.97 in W 14.18 in D 11.82 in
Dali 1977 Porcelain Dinner Service for 12 "Mermaids, Coral and Ant" n°520/1000
By Salvador Dalí
Located in Paris, FR
Salvador Dalí (1904-1989) world-famous Spanish painter, graphic artist, and sculptor of surrealism designed this ceramic edition painted porcelain with 24-karat gold trim, complete dinner service for 12. Limited edition, plates are signed, on the front and back, and inscribed number 520/1000. Porcelain Brand Schirnding Porzellan AG in Bavaria Germany Each piece is decorated with mermaids flanked by red coral, Dali's signatures, and small symbolic depictions of a fisherman, an ant, a snail, a sailboat, a nude maiden, and a bird, with gilded rims, comprising 79 pieces: 12 dinner plates: diameter 24,5 cm 12 dessert plates: diameter 20 cm 12 soup plates: height 4 cm, diameter 23 cm 12 broth cups...
Porcelain
$2,590 / set
H 4.93 in Dm 4.22 in
Signed Cenedese Pair of Midcentury 1970 Italian Black & Clear Murano Glass Vases
By Antonio da Ros, Cenedese
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Antonio da Ros for Cenedese signed pair of large and heavy vintage Mid-Century modern Italian Murano round, circular glass vases or oversized tealight / candle holders, circa 1965-19...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Midcentury Murano Glass Vase
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960 We offer this rare elegant and vintage hand blown glass vase was created in Italy. The vase exhibits wonderful shapes, forms and different shade colorations. This artful i...
Murano Glass
$7,500
H 5 in Dm 4.75 in
19th Century Russian Dore Bronze Mounted Amethyst Crystal Scalloped Rim Tazza
Located in New York, NY
A fantastic quality 19th century Russian Empire period Dore bronze mounted amethyst crystal scalloped rim tazza/cache-pot. The crystal is of a beautiful rich amethyst purple color. The crystal is beautifully hand-cut and shaped with a scalloped rim. The crystal is mounted on an incredible dore bronze base with the finest quality. The base is all hand-burnished and matted with an acanthus leaf design and is resting on a square plinth with an acanthus leaf border. The Crystal is easily attributable to the Imperial Russian Glass...
Crystal, Bronze
Murano Blue Glass Centerpiece
By Creart
Located in Milan, IT
This majestic centerpiece makes a beautiful addition to any table. Its round base is in 24k gold plated brass supports a striking multicolored striking sculptural piece of Murano gla...
Gold, Brass