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.
Square Bar Cart in Solid Brass with Smoked Glass, Willy Rizzo, Italy, 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Roma, IT
Spectacular Italian bar cart in solid brass and smoked glass. This incredibly stylish and unique trolley was produced in Italy during the 1970s and is attributed to the mastery of Wi...
Metal, Brass, Chrome
Italian Mid-Century Bamboo and Rattan Serving Bar Cart or Trolley, 1970
By Franco Albini
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Italian Mid-Century Bamboo and Rattan Serving Bar Cart or Trolley, 1970 Gorgeous bar cart or trolley made of curved bamboo and rattan during the Italian mid-century in the 1960s. Th...
Bamboo, Rattan
Italian Design Mid-Century Bar Cart, 1950s
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Rare 1950s Italian desgin serving bar cart. Made of beech wood equipped with two glass shelves and brass wheels for convenient movement. Perfect for serving drinks to your guests. Vi...
Glass, Beech
Mid-Century Modern Bar Cart by Cesare Lacca, Walnut & Glass, Italy
By Cassina, Cesare Lacca
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian bar cart made of hand crafted polished Walnut, designed by Cesare Lacca and produced by Cassina, enhanced by detailed wood carvings, in good cond...
Metal, Chrome
Mid-Century Bar Cart by Cesare Lacca, Walnut & Glass, Italy, 1940s
By Cesare Lacca, Cassina
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A light-brown, vintage Mid-Century modern Italian bar cart made of hand crafted polished Walnut, designed by Cesare Lacca and produced by Cassina, enhanced by detailed wood carvings,...
Metal, Chrome
$4,065
H 25.99 in W 29.93 in D 17.33 in
Neoclassical Style Brass Bar Cart with Removable Glass Tray By Maison Baguès
By Maison Baguès
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This beautiful bar cart is made of brass with removable glass trays and bottles holder on the bottom shelf. This is a French work by famous Maison Baguès, circa 1940.
Brass
$1,171
H 29.53 in W 27.56 in D 18.51 in
Italian Midcentury Serving Bar Cart or Trolley with Teak Trays, 1970s
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Classic serving cart, bar or trolley from the Italian mid-century, 1970s of great quality. The base of the trolley is made of black metal with two beautiful teak wood veneer shelves....
Metal
$753Sale Price|30% Off
H 22.84 in W 21.07 in D 15.16 in
Italian Solid Brass Trolley with Wheels and Glass Tops 1970s Bar Cart
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Italian solid brass trolley with wheels and glass tops 1970s bar cart.
Brass
Brass and Steel Bar Cart
By Maison Jansen
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Mid-Century Modern four-tier rolling serving trolley in the style of Maison Jansen. Elegant Neoclassical brass medallion accented frame with two floating clear glass shelves....
Brass, Steel
$1,004Sale Price|43% Off
H 28.35 in W 29.14 in D 16.93 in
Italian Chromed Metal and Glass Bar Cart, 1980s
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
we offer you this refined bar cart made in Italy around the 80s. Characterized by a chromed metal structure and two glass shelves. In the lower part a divider in the top allows the s...
Metal
$3,108Sale Price|20% Off
H 28.75 in W 30.12 in D 18.12 in
Italian Wood, Brass and Glass Bar Cart, circa 1950
By Gio Ponti
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice bar cart is made of wood, brass and glass. This is an Italian piece in the style of Gio Ponti, circa 1950.
Brass
Solid Brass and Glass Mid-Century Modern Bar Cart
By Aldo Tura, Maison Jansen
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern Art Deco solid brass and glass bar cart. Outstanding clockwork quality craftsmanship.
Brass
Space Age Vintage Red Orange Plastic Bar Cart, 1970s, Germany
Located in Vienna, AT
Space Age vintage red orange plastic bar cart or serving table or side table 1970s Germany. A wonderful bar cart or serving table from plastic circu...
Plastic
Sold
H 28.35 in W 29.14 in D 17.33 in
Willy Rizzo Serving Bar Cart in Chrome, Brass, Smoked Glass, w/ Tray, Italy 1970
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Roma, IT
Spectacular Italian serving bar cart with removable top tray, made in a combination of chrome, brass, and smoked glass. This unique cart was produced in Italy during the 1970s and is...
Brass, Chrome, Metal
Bar set attributed to Willy Rizzo, 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in bruxelles, BE
The set includes a cabinet with 3 illuminated shelves in suede, chrome metal and brass. It also includes a countertop in suede, chromed metal with a mirrored top, a new refrigerator ...
Metal, Brass
Bar set with 2 stools in the style to Willy Rizzo, 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in bruxelles, BE
The set includes a cabinet with 3 illuminated shelves in suede, chromed metal and brass. It also includes a counter in suede, chromed metal with a mirrored top, a fridge and a glass...
Metal, Brass
Bar set with 2 stools by Willy Rizzo, 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in bruxelles, BE
The set includes a cabinet with 3 illuminated shelves in suede, chromed metal and brass. It also includes a counter in suede, chromed metal with a mirrored top, a fridge and a glass...
Metal, Brass
Bar set with 2 stools by Willy Rizzo, 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in bruxelles, BE
The set includes a cabinet with 3 illuminated shelves in suede, chromed metal and brass. It also includes a counter in suede, chromed metal with a mirrored top, a fridge and a glass...
Metal, Brass
Bar set with 2 stools attributed to Willy Rizzo, 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in bruxelles, BE
The set includes a cabinet with 3 illuminated shelves in black suede, chromed metal and brass, one of the sides at the back is mirrored glass. It also includes a suede and brass countertop...
Metal, Brass
Bar set with 2 stools by Willy Rizzo, 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in bruxelles, BE
The set includes a cabinet with 3 illuminated shelves in leather, chromed metal and brass. It also includes a counter in leather, chromed metal, brass with a mirrored top, a fridge ...
Metal, Brass
Bar set with 2 stools by Willy Rizzo, 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in bruxelles, BE
The set includes a cabinet with 3 illuminated shelves in suede, chromed metal and brass. It also includes a counter in suede, chromed metal with a mirrored top, a fridge and a glass...
Metal, Brass
Sold
H 14.97 in W 66.15 in D 27.56 in
1970s Italian Willy Rizzo for Cidue Extendable Dry Bar Cocktail Coffee Table
By Cidue, Willy Rizzo
Located in London, England
1970s Italian Willy Rizzo for Cidue rectangular extendable coffee table with a concealed chrome dry bar within it. This well-made, stylish and functional coffee table is made with a brown glass surface with matching solid brown laminate on the sides and on the plinth base. The corners and sides are all edged with chromed steel with a hint of bronze edging. Both sides of the coffee table pull open to reveal the stainless steel bar space inside where bottles, glasses and cocktail shakers can...
Metal, Stainless Steel, Chrome
Willy Rizzo Iconic 'Trg' Revolving Cocktail Table
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Rome, IT
Willy Rizzo, coffee table, metal and lacquer, 1970s, Italy. Rotating and hinged design opens to reveal illuminated bar. This iconic cocktail table is designed by Willy Rizzo. His c...
Wood
Sold
H 14.97 in W 66.15 in D 27.37 in
1975 Willy Rizzo "table bar" with stunning tortoise shell effect glass
By Willy Rizzo
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Beautiful Willy Rizzo "table bar" made of stainless steel with the stunning and extremely rare mottled tortoise shell pattern glass sliding top...
Stainless Steel