Collectors of vintage mid-century modern furniture will find that the work of Italian designer Vittorio Dassi is elegant and sculptural, brimming with all of the clean, angular lines and pleasing symmetry associated with the best of the era’s offerings. While Dassi's name is less known to enthusiasts of the period’s furniture than the likes of Ico and Luisa Parisi, Franco Albini and other leading lights of mid-20th century Italian design, his case pieces, tables and seating will prove no less worthy of hunting down at today's flea markets and online marketplaces.
Wood was Dassi's preferred material — he favored rosewood, mahogany, walnut and other species for his covetable desks and wall units, which frequently featured decorative flourishes such as glass inlays, while a sideboard or buffet’s fronts might boast hand-carved geometric cutouts in lieu of brass door handles.
While little is known about Dassi's early life, it is believed that his career in furniture design began in 1940 at his family's company Dassi Mobili Moderni, in Lissone, Italy. Shortly thereafter, he took over managing the company from his father.
While Dassi produced dry bars and other case pieces during the 1950s that featured the motifs and ornament that are today attributed to the Art Deco movement, he created sumptuous mahogany nightstands topped with black glass and minimalist teak coffee tables that better represented the forward-looking spirit of mid-century modernism. His wall units of the era for Mobili Cantù are works of art — crafted in walnut and featuring birch veneers and high-gloss lacquer finishes as well as a single door front decorated with an abstract painting or otherwise provocative illustration, these structures would undoubtedly prove quite impressive to the likes of Poul Cadovius and George Nelson.
Dassi often collaborated with Italian architect, editor and furniture designer Gio Ponti. Ponti designed thousands of furnishings and products — from cabinets, mirrors and chairs to ceramics and coffeemakers — and his buildings, including the brawny Pirelli Tower (1956) in his native Milan, and the castle-like Denver Art Museum (1971), were erected in 14 countries. A collaboration between Dassi and Ponti of note is the pair’s work on the Hotel Royal in Naples — Ponti was commissioned to design the hotel and he partnered with Dassi to design the hotel's furnishings.
Today, Dassi Mobili Moderni S.R.L. is still in operation in Lissone.
Find vintage Vittorio Dassi furniture on 1stDibs.
Vittorio Dassi Mid-Century Modern Italian Mahogany Cabinet Bar, 1950s
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Puglia, Puglia
This bar cabinet was designed by the famous Italian design Vittorio Dassi, Italy, 1950. The cabinet is covered in herringbone mahogany with maple inlays and glass top, the central in...
Marble, Brass
$1,375Sale Price|20% Off
Vittorio Dassi 1950s Green Velvet Sagomata Bench and Lacquered Feet Gio Ponti
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Shaped stool from 1950 Production Vittorio Dassi , lacquered feet and green velvet fabric
Velvet
Dining Chairs Attributed to Vittorio Dassi for Dassi, 1950s, Set of 6
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Set of six chairs attributed to Vittorio Dassi, 1950s. Ebonized beech structure, green leatherette seat and backrest, brass tips. Piece attributed to the above designer. It has no h...
Faux Leather, Beech
Vittorio Dassi Rosewood Sideboard with Black Glass Top, Italian, 1940
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Premariacco, IT
An important and refined Italian sideboard from the 1940s, attributed to Vittorio Dassi, exemplifying the elegant Italian design of the period. A piece of furniture with a striking...
Brass
$4,398 / set
Vintage Italian chairs by Vittorio Dassi, 1950
By Vittorio Dassi, Dassi Mobili Moderni
Located in Premariacco, IT
An exquisite set of six Italian chairs from the 1950s, attributed to Vittorio Dassi, characterized by an elegant and sculptural design that perfectly embodies postwar Italian design....
Hide, Wood
$8,535Sale Price / set|20% Off
Dining Table and Eight Chairs by Vittorio Dassi, 1950s
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Budapest, HU
Table and eight chairs designed by the Italian artist Vittorio Dassi in 1950. Table with a green glass top, a lower shelf, drawer chest on one side, and mirrored and decorated, close...
Glass, Maple, Walnut
Demilune Console – By Vittorio Dassi – 1940s
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Roma, RM
Demilune Console – By Vittorio Dassi – 1940s Wood-veneered structure with a demilune top. Central tapered pedestal featuring a fluted motif and ebonized details. Marble top.
Marble
$5,216Sale Price|20% Off
Midcentury Mahogany Dining Table by Vittorio Dassi, Italy
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
Fabulous large professionally restored dining table produced in Italy in the 1950s. The base is made in walnut and the legs has brass caps and fi...
Brass
$1,826Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Dassi Armchairs 1950 Italy Green Velvet White Lacquered Wooden Feet
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Pair of tasteful articulated Armchairs, forest green velvet fabric and white lacquered wooden feet, Dassi manufacture
Velvet, Lacquer
Italian Palisander Satined Glass Sideboard, Manufactured by Dassi Lissone, 1953
By Ico Parisi, Vittorio Dassi
Located in Wolfurt, AT
Sideboard - Design by Alessandro, Vittorio and Plinio Dassi, manufactured by Dassi Lissone in Italy, 1953. This sideboard is made out of Palisander and has a second level out of sati...
Glass, Palisander
Vittorio Dassi Mid-Century Modern Italian Sideboard, 1950
By Vittorio Dassi, Dassi Mobili Moderni
Located in Puglia, Puglia
This sideboard was designed by the famous Italian design Vittorio Dassi, produced by the homonymous company: Dassi Lissone Milan, Italy, 1950s, the furniture is in walnut and green g...
Brass
Six of Edmondo Palutari for Dassi Mid-Century Italian Teak Dining Chairs, 1950s
By Vittorio Dassi, Edmondo Palutari
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Six beautiful chairs designed by Edmondo Palutari for Dassi, the chairs are in teak and have been restored and covered with a new hemp fabric, similar to the original, Italy, 1950s.
Hemp, Teak
Italian Mid-Century Side-Tables/ Night Stands by Vittorio Dassi, 1950's
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in North Miami, FL
Stunning Side-Tables or Night Stands designed by Vittorio & Plinio Dassi in the 1950s. Its aesthetic uniqueness is given by the original sculptural shape design of the drawers and la...
Glass, Mirror, Walnut
Vittorio Dassi Palisander Dining Table with Marbleized Glass Top
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Hanover, MA
1950's Italian Rosewood Dining Table by Vittorio Dassi. The top is a single piece of glass which has the original reverse-paint marbelized finish the colors of creme brule. A...
Palisander
$11,840Sale Price|20% Off
Unique Rosewood Cabinet by Vittorio Dassi with Painting by Pietro Toppi, 1955
By Vittorio Dassi, Consorzio Esposizione Mobili Cantù
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Stunning unique rosewood storage cabinet designed by Vittorio Dassi, Italy with unique hand painted panel signed by the famous Italian artist Pietro Toppi. This cabinet was clearly a...
Brass
Vittorio Dassi Walnut, Sycamore & Brass Credenza, Sideboard Italy 1960
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Miami, FL
Vittorio DASSI long credenza, buffet, sideboard with 5 doors made in the 1960s. Sycamore and walnut with beveled green glass tops. In good original condition Brass ornaments on the d...
Sycamore, Walnut, Glass
Italian Mid-Century Sideboard or Credenza by Vittorio Dassi, 1950's
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in North Miami, FL
Stunning Sideboard and/or credenza designed by Vittorio & Plinio Dassi in the 1950s. Its aesthetic uniqueness is given by the original sculptural shape design of the drawers and lat...
Glass, Wood
Italian Mid Century Leather Desk Armchair designed by Vittorio Dassi, 1950s
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Traversetolo, IT
This elegant Italian Mid-Century desk armchair, designed by Vittorio Dassi and produced during the 1950s, reflects the refined balance between sculptural design and everyday function...
Brass
Vintage Console Table by Vittorio Dassi, Wood & Glass, Italy
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage consolle by Vittorio Dassi realized in 1950s. Metal, wood, brass and glass. Very good condition.
Metal
$14,000Sale Price|37% Off
La Permanente Mobili Cantù Italian Teak Walnut Glass Modular Sideboard 1950s
By Vittorio Dassi, La Permanente Mobili Cantù
Located in Camden, ME
Permanente Mobili Cantù Italian Sideboard with Glass Shelves, circa 1955 An exceptionally well-executed sideboard produced by Permanente Mobili Cantù, one of the most respected cabi...
Bronze
Vittorio Dassi Mid Century Italian Teak Dining Chairs - Set of 4
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Vittorio Dassi Mid Century Italian Teak Dining Chairs - Set of 4 Each chair measures: 22.75 wide x 23 deep x 35.75 inches high, with a seat height of 19 and arm height/chair clearan...
Upholstery, Teak
Vittorio Dassi Midcentury Italian Modern Walnut Room Divider/ Buffet / Credenza
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Queens, NY
Midcentury Italian Modern buffet / room divider / credenza with a walnut case featuring three upper drawers with brass drawer pulls over three hinged cabinets with decorative geometr...
Metal, Brass
Italian Mid-Century Walnut & Maple Sideboard by Vittorio Dassi, 1950s
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Mid-Century (1950s) walnut & maple sideboard with and open bottom shelf below 2 Pair of doors centering a carved relief panel above a blue & gold painted shelf with a...
Glass, Maple, Paint, Walnut
Large Italian Executive Desk by Vittorio Dassi
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Red Lion, PA
This stunning and impressive Italian executive desk is one of the masterpieces of the Italian designer Vittorio Dassi, a model type produced in Italy in the 1950s and specifically de...
Brass
Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Table by Vittorio Dassi, 1950s
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Traversetolo, IT
This masterpiece has been manufactured by Vittorio Dassi in 1950 and is a magnificent example of the Italian design of the period. It composed of precious mahogany wood, fine colored...
Marble
$4,742Sale Price / set|27% Off
Vittorio Dassi Maple Wood and Velvet Midcentury Dinning Room Chairs, 1950
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Roma, Lazio
Set with six chairs in beautiful 1950 Design, with straight legs and very shaped backrest. Originality and style for these chairs designed for classy furnishings. The six chairs hav...
Velvet, Maple
Italian Showcase Cabinet by Vittorio Dassi, 1950s
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Brussels, BE
Italian Showcase cabinet by Vittorio Dassi, 1950s.
Glass, Wood
$11,262 / set
Set of six “bridge” armchairs – Vittorio Dassi 1960
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Girona, Girona
Set of 6 ‘bridge’ armchairs, in solid stained and satin varnished mahogany, new fillings and upholstery in beige curly fabric. Attributed to Vittorio Dassi , Italy circa 1960
Fabric, Mahogany
Pallissandro Alps Green Marble Base Ceramic Table Attributed to Vittorio Dassi
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Rosewood table with glass top and green alpi marble base by Vittorio Dassi For Dassi, 1950s. Rosewood table designed by Vittorio Dassi in the 1950s....
Marble, Brass
$1,380 / set
Italian c. 1940's Pair Of Side Tales By Dassi
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in London, GB
A pair of Italian c.1940's bedside tables by V.Dassi in ash and clear top glass shelve with a blue glass at the bottom
Glass, Ash
$4,742Sale Price|46% Off
Modular Sideboard with 3 Bodies on Legs attributed to Vittorio Dassi, Set of 3
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Modular sideboard attributed to Vittorio Dassi, 1950s. Rosewood structure, brass hardware, aqua green decorated glass top with solid rosewood frame. Each of the three modules has a p...
Brass