Salterini Rocking Chairs
The postwar boom in prosperity and leisure time led to the expansion of homes in America to include patios, which needed to be furnished with stylish outdoor furniture. Launched in 1934, Salterini offered some of the most exquisite, high-end outdoor furniture of the mid-century period.
While John B. Salterini designed ornate wrought-iron garden furniture for patios and lawns, he specifically sought to match the forms of indoor furniture and also advocated the use of his furniture indoors “because it brings into your home the freshness and gaiety of a flowery summer garden” (per his print advertisements).
After emigrating from Italy to New York, Salterini worked in journalism at first, editing a newspaper in Syracuse. When he moved to New York City, he worked in glass manufacturing and then entered into the production of wrought-iron furniture as a partner in Salterini & Gallo. When that company shuttered, he launched his own eponymous firm in 1934.
Over the course of his career, Salterini designed a wide range of furniture, from tables and chairs to chaise longues, ottomans and benches. And his influences were equally wide as well. His work is often identified as mid-century modern — the Clamshell line, designed for Salterini’s company by like-minded Italian architect and industrial designer Maurizio Tempestini, boasts soft curves and cocoon-like shells that strike a sharp contrast with the solidity of wrought iron and resemble the zany chair designs emerging during the postwar period from designers like Pierre Paulin and Arne Jacobsen.
The furniture from John B. Salterini Company also combined organic and geometric forms, one of the mid-century design movement’s defining features. But Salterini was equally influenced by the Gothic Revival and Art Deco movements, incorporating their signature flourishes like intricate lace-like patterns, delicate vine leaves and protruding scrolls into his French Provincial Group’s glass-topped tables and chairs. One of his most ornate and ostentatious designs is the Peacock double chaise longue, with its elaborate spokes and arching back.
Wrought iron was considered the best material for outdoor use because of its comparative lightness and pliability to other metals. The term “wrought” means made by hand, as opposed to “cast” iron, which was made using molds. Salterini’s high-end handcrafted furniture, with names like Park Avenue Group — promoted for indoor use and photographed as such for the firm’s catalogues — attracted wealthy buyers from across the country. They were drawn to his ability to make a metal like wrought iron look almost ethereal and elegant, and the way he incorporated the popular styles and design principles of the day into his pieces. That Salterini’s garden furniture can be used indoors and look completely natural is a rare feat.
Find vintage Salterini lounge chairs, tables, patio and garden furniture, and more on 1stDibs.
1960s American Victorian Vintage Salterini Rocking Chairs
Iron
1940s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Salterini Rocking Chairs
Wrought Iron
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Salterini Rocking Chairs
Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Salterini Rocking Chairs
Wrought Iron
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Salterini Rocking Chairs
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Salterini Rocking Chairs
Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Salterini Rocking Chairs
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Salterini Rocking Chairs
Steel, Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Salterini Rocking Chairs
Wrought Iron
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Salterini Rocking Chairs
Iron
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Salterini Rocking Chairs
Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century Victorian Salterini Rocking Chairs
Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Salterini Rocking Chairs
Metal, Wrought Iron
1950s American Vintage Salterini Rocking Chairs
Wrought Iron
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Salterini Rocking Chairs
Iron
Salterini rocking chairs for sale on 1stDibs.
- How do you identify Salterini?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertSeptember 23, 2024To identify Salterini, examine the furniture for a maker's marking. Tables usually bear the Salterini name along the sides of their tops. On chairs, you can typically locate these markings on the underside of the seat. Online reference guides can help you determine the age and style of your furniture, or you can consult a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer for help with the identification process. On 1stDibs, find a variety of Salterini furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertJune 6, 2024To identify Salterini furniture, first look for the brand's logo, which should be stamped into the piece in an inconspicuous place. Since this mark has changed over the years, you can compare the stamp on your piece to images shared on trusted online resources to determine its approximate age. Other signs that a particular item is a Salterini include indentations that suggest a piece was hammered by hand and stylistic flourishes such as delicate S-like scrolls on armrests and legs and the maker's signature detail, a tightly woven basketweave effect. If you need help identifying a particular piece, seek the help of a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer. Shop an assortment of Salterini furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 4, 2024To identify Salterini patio furniture, first try to locate a maker's mark. Most tables show off the full maker's name along the sides of their tops. On chairs, look under the seat and on the legs for the Salterini name. To date your furniture and learn its style name, consult reference guides published on trusted websites. Another option is to have a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer assist you with the identification process. On 1stDibs, shop a range of Salterini patio furniture.