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Willy Rizzo Sofas

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 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 Sofas

Materials

Wood, Velvet

Divano Super C di Willy Rizzo modulare in pelle di cinghiale 6 moduli
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Ghedi, IT
Prodotta dall’Atelier Willy Rizzo, questa composizione modulare incarna lo stile sofisticato e glamour tipico del designer italiano, noto per i suoi arredi che fondono linee pulite c...
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Willy Rizzo Sofas

Materials

Leather

Italian modern Beige fabric Modular sofa by Willy Rizzo for Sabot, 1970s
By Willy Rizzo, Sabot
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 Sofas

Materials

Fabric

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 Sofas

Materials

Suede, Wood

Willy Rizzo for Mario Sabot Sectional Corner Sofa in White Upholstery
By Willy Rizzo, Mario Sabot
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 Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Ultrasuede, Wood

Willy Rizzo Super C Sofa Set with Wood Base and Ultra-suede Upholstery, 1969
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Cheyenne, WY
This modular sofa set designed by Willy Rizzo features one three-seater module and two single-seat modules, upholstered with camel ultra-suede. The modular aspect of Rizzo’s design a...
Category

1660s Italian Antique Willy Rizzo Sofas

Materials

Ultrasuede, Wood

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Willy Rizzo Three-Seat Sofa
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H 31 in W 83 in D 43 in

Willy Rizzo sofas for sale on 1stDibs.

Willy Rizzo sofas 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 Willy Rizzo sofas, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original sofas by Willy Rizzo were created in the mid-century modern style in italy during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider sofas by Giancarlo Piretti, Vittorio Introini, and Massimo Vignelli. Prices for Willy Rizzo sofas can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $6,500 and can go as high as $24,600, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $12,800.

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