Vico Magistretti Center Tables
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.
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Creator: Vico Magistretti
Sindbad Table Vico Magistretti Cassina Italian Modern Design
By Vico Magistretti, Cassina
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Sindbad coffee table
Designed by Vico Magistretti for Cassina. Half oval shaped table designed for center table. Used as low console table put in front of the wall. Probably it can be used as TV side...
Category
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Center Tables
Materials
Wood
Vico Magistretti Arcadia White Rectangular Coffee Table by Artemide 1970s
By Vico Magistretti, Artemide
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
Arcadia 100 low coffee table with a rectangular shape (the squareshaped model 80 also exists) designed in 1969 by the famous Italian designer Vico Magistretti and produced by Artemide starting from 1970.
The coffee table is made of reinforced resin.
More exactly the material used is called GRP (Glass fibre Reinforced Plastic), a very resistant thermosetting plastic material consisting of a thick meshwork of glass fibres impregnated with polyester resin.
The item is characterized by its S-shaped legs typical of the Magistretti's design poetics (shapes used in many other furnishings from the Selene chair to the Chimera lamp...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Center Tables
Materials
Plastic
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Located in Conversano, IT
Stunning and iconic "Arcadia 80" coffee table, like other pieces designed by Magistretti and produced during these years by Artemide as part of the resin furniture series, introduces a new aesthetic strictly connected to production technology. Produced in two sizes, Arcadia is made of GRP, glassfiber reinforced plastic, a thermosetting plastic material consisting of a dense weave of fiberglass impregnated with polyester resins. Arcadia belongs to the objects designed by Magistretti based on the "resistance by form" system, a method of conferring rigidity to plastic materials through the geometric configuration imposed on them-a concept already explored in other projects, from the Selene chair to the Chimera lamp, the Stadio table, and others. The performance of GRP, particularly its high resistance to impact, bending, scratching, and high temperatures, along with its stability against weather agents, makes it suitable for outdoor use as well. Minor signs of time are present.
Bibliography: Maria Teresa Feraboli, Vico Magistretti, series I maestri del Design, Il Sole 24 Ore editions, Milan 2011, model referenced and reproduced on page 50; Artemide S.p.A., 1976 catalog, page 130.
Product Name: "Arcadia 80" Coffee Table by Vico Magistretti for Artemide
Designer: Vico Magistretti
Design Year: 1970s
Style: Innovative design based on an aesthetic tied to production technology
Main Materials: GRP (Glassfiber Reinforced Plastic), a thermosetting plastic composed of fiberglass impregnated with polyester resin
Distinctive Design: "Resistance by form" system that gives structural integrity to plastics through geometric configuration. Simple and elegant lines, typical of Magistretti's design, following a similar conceptual approach to the Selene chair and Chimera lamp
Dimensions: Height 40 cm - Width 80 cm - Length 80 cm
Comfort: Perfect balance between aesthetics and functionality
Typical Use: Ideal for both indoor and outdoor environments due to GRP's resistance to impact, scratches, bending, high temperatures, and atmospheric agents
Design Icon: A distinctive example of 1970s Italian design, with an innovative aesthetic that harnesses the potential of new materials
Versatility: Suitable for domestic or public spaces, both indoors and outdoors
Current Condition: Recognized design icon, featured in historic collections and catalogs
Additional Notes: Cited in Maria Teresa Feraboli's bibliography Vico Magistretti, series I maestri del Design, Il Sole 24 Ore editions, Milan 2011, page 50. Also featured in Artemide S.p.A.'s 1976 catalog, page 130.
Vico Magistretti (1920-2006) was one of the most influential Italian designers and architects of the 20th century, known for his contribution to industrial design and modern architecture. Born in Milan and graduated from the Politecnico di Milano in 1945, he developed a style based on simplicity, elegance, and functionality, reducing objects to their essential forms without sacrificing beauty or comfort. Throughout his career, he collaborated with companies like Cassina, Artemide, and Oluce, creating iconic pieces such as the Atollo lamp, the Carimate chair, and the Maralunga sofa, which became symbols of Italian design. He received numerous accolades, including several Compasso d'Oro awards, and his works are exhibited in prestigious museums such as the MoMA in New York. His legacy lies in his ability to blend innovation and craftsmanship, influencing generations of designers through both his work and his teaching.
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Vico Magistretti center tables for sale on 1stDibs.
Vico Magistretti center tables are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Vico Magistretti center tables, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original center tables 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 center tables by Romeo Rega, Afra & Tobia Scarpa, and Saporiti Italia. Prices for Vico Magistretti center tables can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,500 and can go as high as $2,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,500.
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Questions About Vico Magistretti Center Tables
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The 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.