Vintage Pair of Table Lamps Willy Rizzo, Italy, 1970s

About the Item

Vintage pair of table lamps is an original design work realized in the 1970s by Willy Rizzo (Naples, 1928 - Paris, 2013). Made in Italy. Steel and marble. Total dimensions: 55 x 20 x 20 cm. Very good conditions. Willy Rizzo (Naples, 1928 - Paris, 2013). Willy Rizzo began his career in Paris, where he photographed stars and starlets for Ciné Mondial Movie, Point de Vue, and also Image du Monde. He covers the Nuremberg trials and produces large reports, particularly in Tunisia on the Mareth line. In 1947, the British agency Blackstar sent him to the United States to photograph what amazes him: from a distributor of pantyhose in Nylons to the drive-in of cinemas. But he prefers women, fashion and moves to Los Angeles. Max Corre, with whom he had collaborated on France Dimanche, calls him to announce that Jean Prouvost is creating a great magazine in Paris, so he returns to Paris and meets Hervé Mille. This is the beginning of the Paris Match adventure that still lasts. The reportage on Maria Callas inspired Hergé who in the work "les bijou de la Castafiore" creates his character: the photographer from Paris Flash, Walter Rizzoto, is him and his friend Walter Carone. In 1959, he becomes the artistic director of Marie Claire and collaborates with the main fashion magazines including Vogue.

Creator:
Willy Rizzo (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 7.88 in (20 cm)Width: 7.88 in (20 cm)Depth: 7.88 in (20 cm)
Sold As:
Set of 2
Materials and Techniques:
Marble,Steel
Place of Origin:
Italy
Period:
1970-1979
Date of Manufacture:
1970s
Condition:
Insurance may be requested by customers as additional service, contact us for more information.
Seller Location:
Roma, IT
Reference Number:
Seller: M-1180871stDibs: LU2698323364882
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Shop All Willy Rizzo

Willy Rizzo

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.