Willy Rizzo Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
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
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 Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Steel
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Willy Rizzo office chairs and desk chairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Willy Rizzo office chairs and desk chairs 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 office chairs and desk chairs, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original office chairs and desk chairs by Willy Rizzo were created in the modern style in europe during the late 20th century. Prices for Willy Rizzo office chairs and desk chairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $3,058 and can go as high as $4,396, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,727.