Skip to main content

Vico Magistretti Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Italian, 1920-2006

As one of the founding fathers of modern Italian design, prolific architect and industrial designer Ludovico Magistretti (known by his nickname Vico) was guided by his philosophy, “There is no excuse for bad design.” His architectural projects are widely revered, and an ingenious meld of form and function can be found in his stylish and deceptively simple table lamps, sofas, armchairs and other mid-century furnishings.

Born in Milan, Magistretti followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather (both architects) to study architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan. At the outbreak of World War II, he fled to Switzerland, and it was there he met his role model and mentor, renowned humanist architect Ernesto Nathan Rogers. Magistretti was inspired by Rogers’s vision to revive postwar Italy, and they collaborated on several reconstruction projects. Among Magistretti’s first architectural designs is a “poetic” round church, which he created for the QT8, an experimental Milanese neighborhood.

When Magistretti returned to Milan in 1945, he worked at his father’s architectural firm. It wasn’t until the early 1950s that he expanded his talents into design while working with furniture artisans.

In the 1960s, Magistretti began his 30-year working relationship with famed entrepreneur Cesare Cassina of the Cassina furniture manufacturing company. In their design approach, the two men shared a vision of the relationship between modernity and tradition and enjoyed a close bond (Magistretti designed Cassina’s luxurious villa in 1965). However, their friendship was not without contention.

Legend has it that upon seeing the prototype for Magistretti’s Maralunga sofa, Cassina hated it so much that he punched it, breaking the back of the sofa, which crumpled into itself.

“Right, great, it looks perfect to me like that,” an unfazed Magistretti allegedly responded, and the Maralunga’s slumped, adjustable-height backrest was born. Incidentally, the Maralunga sofa won Italy’s Compasso d’Oro award as did his Eclisse lamp for Artemide and his Atollo lamp for Oluce.

Magistretti died in 2006, but his designs live on in galleries, museums and private residences and offices around the world.

Find a range of vintage Vico Magistretti furniture and lighting on 1stDibs.

to
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
372
545
409
404
348
Creator: Vico Magistretti
Monumental Vico Magistretti Magellano Silver Plate Flower Vase, 1971
Monumental Vico Magistretti Magellano Silver Plate Flower Vase, 1971

Monumental Vico Magistretti Magellano Silver Plate Flower Vase, 1971

By Vico Magistretti, Bacci

Located in Milan, IT

Monumental Magellano Silver Plate Vase by Vico Magisitretti for Bacci Italy 1971. Modernist covered bowl composed of a polished silver plate, a metal hemispherical base, and a geome...

Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Silver Plate

Related Items
Wonderful Monumental European Sterling Silver Bridal Basket Cobalt Blue Glass
Wonderful Monumental European Sterling Silver Bridal Basket Cobalt Blue Glass

Wonderful Monumental European Sterling Silver Bridal Basket Cobalt Blue Glass

Located in Roslyn, NY

A rare and wonderful monumental large European sterling silver pierced bridal basket with open work handle inset with a beautiful cobalt blue glass.

Category

20th Century German Vico Magistretti Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

American Victorian Silver Plate Centerpiece
American Victorian Silver Plate Centerpiece

American Victorian Silver Plate Centerpiece

Located in Queens, NY

American Victorian silver plate round scalloped shaped bowl with beaded top rim.  

Category

Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Vico Magistretti Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Silver

Murano Dino Martens Orange Iridescent Italian Art Glass Monumental Flower Vase
Murano Dino Martens Orange Iridescent Italian Art Glass Monumental Flower Vase

Murano Dino Martens Orange Iridescent Italian Art Glass Monumental Flower Vase

By Dino Martens, Aureliano Toso

Located in Kissimmee, FL

Beautiful, rare and large, vintage Murano hand blown orange "A Mace" Italian art glass flower vase with iridescent surface. The vase is documented to designer Dino Martens for the Au...

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vico Magistretti Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso

A Bezalel silver-plated Passover plate, Jerusalem, circa 1920 Judaica
A Bezalel silver-plated Passover plate, Jerusalem, circa 1920 Judaica

A Bezalel silver-plated Passover plate, Jerusalem, circa 1920 Judaica

Located in New York, NY

A Bezalel silver Passover plate early 20th century the outer border with five vignettes relating to the story of Passover, the rim with five vignettes designed by Ze'ev Raban. alter...

Category

Early 20th Century Vico Magistretti Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Monumental 18" Da Ros Cenedese Turquoise & Yellow Sommerso Murano Glass Vase
Monumental 18" Da Ros Cenedese Turquoise & Yellow Sommerso Murano Glass Vase

Monumental 18" Da Ros Cenedese Turquoise & Yellow Sommerso Murano Glass Vase

By Antonio da Ros, Cenedese

Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern

Monumental 18 inch / 45cm tall rare Mid-Century Modern vase by Antonio da Ros for Cenedese circa 1963-67. Stunning vintage piece of Italian yellow & turquoise uranium Murano glas...

Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Silver Plated Candelabra by Mesa
Silver Plated Candelabra by Mesa

Silver Plated Candelabra by Mesa

$1,794

H 20.01 in Dm 12.49 in

Silver Plated Candelabra by Mesa

Located in Torino, IT

A silver plated candelabra designed and produced in Italy by Mesa. Stamped on the bottom.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Vico Magistretti Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Silver Plate

Murano AVeM Red Millefiori Flowers Silver Flecks Italian Art Glass Flower Vase
Murano AVeM Red Millefiori Flowers Silver Flecks Italian Art Glass Flower Vase

Murano AVeM Red Millefiori Flowers Silver Flecks Italian Art Glass Flower Vase

By Giulio Radi, Arte Vetraria Muranese (AVEM)

Located in Kissimmee, FL

Beautiful and unusual, vintage Murano hand blown red, silver, and very large millefiori flower murrines Italian art glass flower vase. The piece is attributed to the A.Ve.M. (Arte Ve...

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vico Magistretti Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Silver Leaf

Modern Monumental Blue White Yellow Green Orange Murrine Huge Murano Glass Vase
Modern Monumental Blue White Yellow Green Orange Murrine Huge Murano Glass Vase

Modern Monumental Blue White Yellow Green Orange Murrine Huge Murano Glass Vase

Located in New York, NY

A striking huge Murano glass vase, impressive in size, a Work of Art in blown overlaid Murano glass worked like a modern painting with a sophisticated extensive swirling organic deco...

Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine

Silver Plated Large Lidded Pumpkin Punch Bowl , Container
Silver Plated Large Lidded Pumpkin Punch Bowl , Container

Silver Plated Large Lidded Pumpkin Punch Bowl , Container

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Just in! This very large Silver Plated Lidded Pumpkin Container, it could be a punch bow, but here is no indentation for the ladle. The Silver plating is in pristine, condition, ther...

Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Silver Plate

Old English Silver Plated Handled Decorative Vase
Old English Silver Plated Handled Decorative Vase

Old English Silver Plated Handled Decorative Vase

Located in Tarry Town, NY

Old English silver plated / gold wash interior side handles decorative vase with exterior deign details. The vase is in great condition. Minor wear ...

Category

1870s English Antique Vico Magistretti Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Gold, Silver Plate

Murano Red Silver Flecks Iridescent Italian Art Glass Scallop Rim Flower Vase
Murano Red Silver Flecks Iridescent Italian Art Glass Scallop Rim Flower Vase

Murano Red Silver Flecks Iridescent Italian Art Glass Scallop Rim Flower Vase

By Arte Vetraria Muranese (AVEM), Barovier&Toso

Located in Kissimmee, FL

Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown deep red, silver flecks, controlled bubbles Italian art glass flower vase. Created in the manner of the Barovier e Toso and Arte Vetraria Muranese...

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vico Magistretti Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Silver Leaf

Monumental Fratelli Cacchione Sterling Silver Centerpiece, Milan, Italy, 1960s
Monumental Fratelli Cacchione Sterling Silver Centerpiece, Milan, Italy, 1960s

Monumental Fratelli Cacchione Sterling Silver Centerpiece, Milan, Italy, 1960s

Located in New York, NY

Magnificent reticulated Italian sterling silver centerpiece by the renown Fratelli Cacchione Silversmiths. 20th Century This spectacular centerpiec...

Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vico Magistretti Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Sterling Silver

Vico Magistretti serveware, ceramics, silver and glass for sale on 1stDibs.

Vico Magistretti serveware, ceramics, silver and glass are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of plastic and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Vico Magistretti serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original serveware, ceramics, silver and glass by Vico Magistretti were created in the mid-century modern style in italy during the 1980s. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider serveware, ceramics, silver and glass by Alessandro Albrizzi, Guzzini, and Tommaso Barbi. Prices for Vico Magistretti serveware, ceramics, silver and glass can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,200 and can go as high as $1,200, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,200.
Questions About Vico Magistretti Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    The Carimate chair for Cassina is one of the most celebrated pieces of Vico Magistretti but this designer is also well known for the Eclipse Table Lamp, Selene Stacking Chair, Chimera Lamp and more. He is seen as one of Italy’s most influential industrial designers, furniture designers and architects. Shop a collection of Magistretti furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.