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Willy Rizzo Seating

Italian, 1928-2013

Renowned Italian furniture designer Willy Rizzo is celebrated for having produced eye-catching, sensational showpieces that merged plush fabrics with wood, metal and glass. Influenced by European modernists and drawing on the spare forms and clean lines of the American mid-century modern style, Rizzo prized functionality and simplicity in his dazzling work.

Born in Naples, Rizzo never intended on designing furniture. Instead, he began pursuing photography at the age of 12. By the 1960s, he had become a notable photographer, having captured images of such celebrities as Marilyn Monroe, Fred Astaire and Spanish artist Salvador Dalí. His experience with furniture design came about inadvertently when he moved to Rome in 1966. There, Rizzo rented an apartment with his wife Elsa that he described as "practically uninhabitable." Dissatisfied with the Scandinavian furniture options on offer, Rizzo built sofas, coffee tables and other furniture to suit the space's strong modern vibe. When his friends saw what he had accomplished, they were enamored by his furniture creations and commissioned him to build similar items for them.

The demand for Rizzo’s furniture grew from there. He established a production facility and workshop in Tivoli, just outside of Rome, which grew to house over 150 employees. There, finding inspiration in the work of iconic architects including Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, he created more than 30 unique furniture designs. Over the years he opened boutiques around the world to showcase and sell his furniture.

Rizzo prided himself on seamlessly blending the contemporary with the classic. “It was about creating something new for a traditional setting,” he said of his work. From his sleek sideboards to his low-profile side tables, elegant chairs and entire living room sets, Rizzo's style sensibility is evident throughout every detail of his designs.

Rizzo sold his company in 1978 and returned to photography. However, the presence of his furniture resonated into the new century and is sure to impact interior décor enthusiasts into the next. Over the years, high-profile collectors of Rizzo’s work have included French actress Brigitte Bardot, Salvador Dalí and American musician Lenny Kravitz.

On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage Willy Rizzo tables, lighting, seating and storage pieces.

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Creator: Willy Rizzo
chairs Willy Rizzo
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Vezzano Sul Crostolo, IT
Set of 6 chairs designed by Willy Rizzo and produced by Mario Sabot 1970s. Brass-plated metal frame in good condition. Velvet fabric replaced.
Category

20th Century Italian Post-Modern Willy Rizzo Seating

Materials

Metal, Brass

Mid-Century Modern Vintage Four Dining Chairs Beech Blue Willy Rizzo, 1960s, Italy
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid-Century Modern vintage set of four ( 4 ) dining room chairs from brown stained beech and upholstered seats new covered with blue velvet by Willy Rizzo 1960s Italy. A beautiful s...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Rizzo Seating

Materials

Upholstery, Beech

Mid-century modern six wooden chairs by Willy Rizzo for Mario Sabot, Italy 1970s
By Willy Rizzo, Mario Sabot
Located in Nicolosi, IT
Mid-century modern six wooden chairs by Willy Rizzo for Mario Sabot, Italy 1970s Set of six chairs by Willy Rizzo for Mario Sabot, 1970s. The combination of clean lines, high-quality...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Rizzo Seating

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Four Willy Rizzo dining chairs
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Paris, FR
Four dining chairs designed by Willy Rizzo, circa 1970 Italy. Chrome structure. New Alcantara upholstery.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Willy Rizzo Seating

Materials

Chrome

Italian modern Beige fabric Modular sofa by Willy Rizzo for Sabot, 1970s
By Sabot, Willy Rizzo
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Beige fabric Modular sofa by Willy Rizzo for Sabot, 1970s Modular and corner sofa, fully padded and covered in brown-beige linen fabric. The sofa is composed of 3 simp...
Category

1970s Modern Vintage Willy Rizzo Seating

Materials

Fabric

Willy Rizzo for Mario Sabot, Collectible Dining Chairs, Set of Four
By Mario Sabot, Willy Rizzo
Located in Milano, IT
Willy Rizzo Design - Mario Sabot Dining Chairs - Collectible Space Age Furniture Four Space Age dining chairs designed by Willy Rizzo and manufactured by Mario Sabot. A complete set...
Category

1970s Italian Space Age Vintage Willy Rizzo Seating

Materials

Leather, Wood

Pair chairs in the style of Willy Rizzo
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Palermo, IT
Pair of chairs in the style of Willy Rizzo 1960s Products that reflect the age of the 20th century. Mid-centurymodern. Modernity for interior decora...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Willy Rizzo Seating

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Modular Sofa group, designed by Willy Rizzo. Italy, Mario Sabot, 1969.
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Berlin, Berlin
A fully restored 'Super-C' modular sofa group by Willy Rizzo consisting of three separate modules (one corner module and 2 double seat modules). The frame has been fully restored inc...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Rizzo Seating

Materials

Velvet

Rare 'Super C' modular sofa in original black leather by Willy Rizzo. Signed!
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Buggenhout, Oost-Vlaanderen
Crazy vintage & modular ‘Super C’ in its original black leather. Matching set & signed! A very rare find on the market! Designed & produced by Willy Rizzo Italy. This sofa is the ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Willy Rizzo Seating

Materials

Leather, Faux Leather

Eight Exquisite Willy Rizzo SQ-BR Square Chairs, 1970, Published Casa Vogue
By Willy Rizzo
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Authentic early 1970's produced SQ-BR Square chairs by Willy Rizzo A large set of 6 SQ Square dining chairs and 2 rare matching SQ-BR armrest din...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Rizzo Seating

Materials

Stainless Steel

Willy Rizzo Dining Chairs for Mario Sabon
By Mario Sabot, Willy Rizzo
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Unique Willy Rizzo for Mario Sabot set off four dining chairs made of curved wood lacquered in black shiny colour and leather padded cushions, custom made for these chairs, and hold ...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Rizzo Seating

Materials

Leather, Wood

Willy Rizzo Canape Super C
By Willy Rizzo
Located in PARIS, FR
Rizzo loved the simplicity and purity of Rationalism and was heavily inspired by the Bauhaus aesthetic. Informed by his photographer’s eye, he sought visual...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Willy Rizzo Seating

Materials

Animal Skin, Suede

Selection of Willy Rizzo sofas available, we can restore, choose your own fabric.
By Willy Rizzo
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
This iconic sofa was designed by Willy Rizzo in 1969 and is published in many of the interior design journals of the period. This design was illustrated in Casa Vogue's feature on Rizzo's own home in St Tropez,France in their October 1974 issue. The sofa is finished in brown suede. We have a further selection of these Willy Rizzo sofas...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Rizzo Seating

Materials

Suede, Wood

Willy Rizzo C2 70s Production Chromed Steel Frame Gray Vintage Leather Set of 4
By Willy Rizzo
Located in IT
Willy Rizzo chairs C2 70s production with chromed steel frame and gray vintage leather seats. Set of 4 chairs. The seat has been re upholstered with vintage leather. The chairs are in excellent condition, the steel shows only light signs of use. Set of 4 chairs. Measurements: L seat 45 cm, total P 55 cm, H 83 cm, seat P 41...
Category

Late 20th Century European Modern Willy Rizzo Seating

Materials

Steel

Willy Rizzo for Mario Sabot Sectional Corner Sofa in White Upholstery
By Mario Sabot, Willy Rizzo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Willy Rizzo for Mario Sabot, sectional corner sofa, fabric, ultrasuede, wood, Italy, 1970s. This rare sofa is designed by Willy Rizzo and consists of a three-seater, two-seater, a...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Rizzo Seating

Materials

Fabric, Ultrasuede, Wood

Willy Rizzo for Mario Sabot Sectional Corner Sofa in Green Velvet
By Mario Sabot, Willy Rizzo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Willy Rizzo for Mario Sabot, sectional corner sofa, Kvadrat Harald 3 - 0952, wood, Italy, 1970s. This rare sofa is designed by Willy Rizzo in the 1970s...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Rizzo Seating

Materials

Wood, Velvet

Superb Pair of Suede Willy Rizzo Lounge Chairs, Signed Studio Willy Rizzo, 1969
By Willy Rizzo
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Extremely rare pair of signed Willy Rizzo lounge chairs finished in suede with stainless steel bases. These are very early examples which were produced by the 'Studio Willy Rizzo' in Rome in 1969, recognised by the Willy Rizzo signature in the fabric. Original Signed early period Willy Rizzo lounge chairs are very rare, 95% of the output of this design were produced as either two, three or four-seat sofas and the individual lounge chairs are very rarely seen on the market today. This iconic design featured prominently in the prestigious Italian design periodical 'Casa Vogue' throughout the early to mid-1970s including a feature on Rizzo ad Elsa Martinelli's own home in St Tropez, France in the October 1974 issue which illustrates this design. Please see image 4. These rare chairs have had their upholstery completely renovated including new seat support strapping, new foam and suede upholstery to the original specifications. The Willy Rizzo signatures from the original upholstery have been carefully cut from the original worn fabric and sown to the underside of each chair to maintain the authenticity. Photos of the restoration process are available on request. Please see image 10 as an example. Literature:- CASA VOGUE, October 1974 (features this design in the home of Elsa Martinelli and Willy Rizzo in St Tropez,France). See image 4 CASA VOGUE , JUNE 1975 CASA VOGUE, September 1975, Please see IMAGE 9 CASA VOGUE, November 1976, Please see IMAGE 8 Willy Rizzo is best known as a photographer. He began his illustrious 20 year career with Paris Match in 1948 which lead to him photographing some of the greatest names of the period. Rizzo was married to italian actress Elsa Martinelli,which gave him unparalleled access to the star names of the period and his cornucopia of sitters would include among others Brigitte Bardot, Sofia Loren...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Rizzo Seating

Materials

Stainless Steel

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Mario Sabot, Set of 6 Chairs in Lacquered Wood and Steel , Italy
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Set of 5 Willy Rizzo chairs in Chrome and Leather for Cidue, Italy, 1970s
By Cidue, Willy Rizzo
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Willy Rizzo fro sabot dining chairs, set of six, Italy 1970s
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Located in Ceglie Messapica, IT
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Willy Rizzo seating for sale on 1stDibs.

Willy Rizzo seating are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Willy Rizzo seating, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original seating by Willy Rizzo were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider seating by Carlo Bartoli, Mobil Girgi, and Vittorio Introini. Prices for Willy Rizzo seating can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,850 and can go as high as $29,800, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,400.

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