Willy Rizzo Scrivania Desk
View Similar Items
Willy Rizzo Scrivania Desk
About the Item
- Creator:Willy Rizzo (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 29.5 in (74.93 cm)Width: 60 in (152.4 cm)Depth: 27.75 in (70.49 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s-1970s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:San Francisco, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU81281341130
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.
- English Mahogany Ship's DeskLocated in San Francisco, CAMahogany ship's desk with inset black leather sloped writing surface, opening to reveal a fitted interior with three drawers and separate drawer for ink and quills...Category
Antique 19th Century English Desks
MaterialsLeather, Mahogany
- Italian Parquetry Inlaid Writing Table Desk, 18th CenturyLocated in San Francisco, CAAn exceptional parquetry inlaid writing table with Neoclassical designs, inlay with satinwood, black walnut, and fruitwood. Having a single center drawer, and supported on tapering l...Category
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsFruitwood, Satinwood, Walnut
- 18th Century English Walnut Writing Table Desk / Dressing TableLocated in San Francisco, CAAn attractive English walnut writing table or dressing table with brass hardware. Solid walnut and walnut veneer over solid oak secondary wood. Having burl walnut drawer fronts with...Category
Antique 18th Century English Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Spanish Walnut Library Table Desk with Two Drawers, 18th CenturyLocated in San Francisco, CAAn exuberant library table or desk having a walnut molded edge around the top, two drawers, and fluidly carved legs and support braces. Spanish, 18th century.Category
Antique Early 18th Century Spanish Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsWood
$7,520 Sale Price20% Off - 18th Century French Louis XVI Walnut Writing Table or Desk, Circa 1780Located in San Francisco, CAA Louis XVI carved walnut writing table with a tooled inset brown leather top, standing on elegant cabriole legs ending on cloven hoof feet. Having single center drawer with a decora...Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsLeather, Walnut
$2,890 Sale Price31% Off - Mixed Woods Marquetry Inlaid Writing Table, Northern Italian, Late 18th CenturyLocated in San Francisco, CAFine Magilini style walnut and intricately inlaid fruitwood, walnut, black walnut, satinwood and rosewood center or writing table with one drawer on elegant tapering legs. Beautiful ...Category
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsWalnut
- Scrivania Desk by Willy Rizzo circa 1972By Willy RizzoLocated in Saint-Ouen, IDFGreat desk designed by Willy Rizzo and made in 1972, made of chromed steel feet, walnut drawers, brushed steel and smoked glass top. Signed on the side and dated on the bottom. “2...Category
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsSteel
- Scrivania Brass & Lacquer Signed Writing Desk by Willy Rizzo, Italy, ca. 1972By Willy RizzoLocated in Geneva, CHBeautiful elegant brass and dark brown lacquered wood desk "Scrivania" signed on the bottom of the base and on the side of the lacquer Willy Rizzo Italy ca. 1972 Good vintage conditi...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Willy Rizzo L Shaped Burl Wood Executive DeskBy Willy RizzoLocated in Fulton, CASigned burl wood "L" shaped executive desk by Willy Rizzo. Circa. 1960's 70's. Exceptional burl-wood construction. Bookshelf / storage to left side. Five drawers to right side with p...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsBurl
- Willy Rizzo Fiorentina Model Steel and Brass Crystal Top Table, 1970sBy Willy RizzoLocated in ITFiorentina Model table by Willy Rizzo, Italy, 1970s. Steel and brass structure, glass top. Size: 101 x 204 cm, H 75 cm. A video is available upon request. Good conditions, wears cohe...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Tables
MaterialsBrass, Steel
- Scrivania Anni 80By Non-Standard Furniture and LightingLocated in Milano, ITScrivania con cassetti laterali in legno rivestito in formica, metallo smaltato. Una simpatica scrivania che ricorda le linee del Gruppo Memphis degli anni 80, con i suoi colori acce...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsMetal
$1,648 - scrivania in radica design - 1950 - mid century - desk - designLocated in Milano, MIscrivania in radica design - 1950 - mid century - desk - design Caratteristiche Produzione: italiana Periodo: 1950 - 1959 Paese produzione: Italia Essenza principale: radi...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsWood