Mid-Century Modern Salterini Tempestini Wrought Iron Nesting Patio Side Tables
View Similar Items
Mid-Century Modern Salterini Tempestini Wrought Iron Nesting Patio Side Tables
About the Item
- Creator:John Salterini (Designer),Maurizio Tempestini (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 19 in (48.26 cm)Width: 18.5 in (46.99 cm)Depth: 12.5 in (31.75 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 3
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Philadelphia, PA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU127327517993
John Salterini
While John B. Salterini designed ornate wrought-iron garden furniture for patios and lawns, he specifically sought to match the forms of indoor furniture and also advocated the use of his furniture indoors “because it brings into your home the freshness and gaiety of a flowery summer garden” (per his print advertisements).
After emigrating from Italy to New York, Salterini worked in journalism at first, editing a newspaper in Syracuse. When he moved to New York City, he worked in glass manufacturing and then entered into the production of wrought-iron furniture as a partner in Salterini & Gallo. When that company shuttered, he launched his own eponymous firm in 1934, eventually offering some of the most exquisite, high-end outdoor furniture of the mid-century period.
Over the course of his career, Salterini designed a wide range of furniture, from tables and chairs to chaise longues, ottomans and benches. And his influences were equally wide as well. His work is often identified as mid-century modern — the Clamshell line, designed for Salterini’s company by like-minded Italian architect and industrial designer Maurizio Tempestini, boasts soft curves and cocoon-like shells that strike a sharp contrast with the solidity of wrought iron and resemble the zany chair designs emerging during the postwar period from designers like Pierre Paulin and Arne Jacobsen.
The furniture from John B. Salterini Company also combined organic and geometric forms, one of the mid-century design movement’s defining features. But Salterini was equally influenced by the Gothic Revival and Art Deco movements, incorporating their signature flourishes like intricate lace-like patterns, delicate vine leaves and protruding scrolls into his French Provincial Group’s glass-topped tables and chairs. One of his most ornate and ostentatious designs is the Peacock double chaise longue, with its elaborate spokes and arching back.
The postwar boom in prosperity and leisure time led to the expansion of the home to include patios, which needed to be furnished with stylish outdoor furniture.
Wrought iron was considered the best material for outdoor use because of its comparative lightness and pliability to other metals. The term “wrought” means made by hand, as opposed to “cast” iron, which was made using molds. Salterini’s high-end handcrafted furniture, with names like Park Avenue Group — promoted for indoor use and photographed as such for the firm’s catalogues — attracted wealthy buyers from across the country. They were drawn to his ability to make a metal like wrought iron look almost ethereal and elegant, and the way he incorporated the popular styles and design principles of the day into his pieces. That Salterini’s garden furniture can be used indoors and look completely natural is a rare feat.
Find vintage John B. Salterini outdoor furniture on 1stDibs.
Maurizio Tempestini
Italian architect and furniture designer Maurizio Tempestini is well-known among vintage outdoor furniture aficionados for his sculptural Clamshell line and other elegant mid-century modern furnishings for patios and gardens.
Born in Florence in 1908, Tempestini completed his studies in Industrial Decoration at the Porta Romana Art Institute in 1929. His career as an interior architect and furniture and lighting designer flourished during the early 1930s. It was during this time Tempestini was also active as a set designer for several Italian theater productions, including Mario Massa’s Osteria degli immortali and Luigi Bonelli’s comedy Il Gigli.
Tempestini then turned his attention from the stage to designing furniture and decorative objects. He crafted pieces for ceramics factory Cantagalli in Florence, as well as for Murano glass manufacturers Seguso and Cappellin.
In 1934, Tempestini worked on the external renovation of the Palazzo delle Esposizioni at the Parterre di San Gallo in Florence for the Littoriali Exhibition. Later, in 1938, he formed a studio with architects Nello Baroni and Pietro Porcinai before cofounding the legendary postwar Italian lighting maker Arteluce with designer and engineer Gino Sarfatti in 1939.
During the 1950s, Tempestini designed lighting fixtures for Lightolier and began to collaborate with Brooklyn, New York’s John B. Salterini Company. Salterini was an Italian emigree who initially worked in journalism before becoming an eminent producer of high-end wrought-iron furniture.
Tempestini’s modernist outdoor furniture for Salterini resembled indoor seating manufactured by the likes of Knoll or Artifort — his chairs and other seating boasted organic curves and seductive, unconventional shapes. His work complemented Salterini’s own handmade designs, which reflected Gothic Revival and Art Deco influences. Together the designers produced successful lines of garden and patio furniture for Salterini’s eponymous firm.
Tempestini’s name soon became widely known in the United States. His designs were first introduced to the American public in 1951 through Gimbels Department Store and Suniland Furniture in Houston, Texas. Today his bold and stylish patio furniture remains sought after by collectors everywhere.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Maurizio Tempestini garden elements, lounge chairs and tables.
- Midcentury Danish Modern Rosewood and Chrome Nesting Tables or Side TablesLocated in Philadelphia, PAA sleek and modern set of nesting tables circa 1960s. These feature gorgeous rosewood with thin modern chrome framing.Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Nesting Tables and Stacking Tables
MaterialsChrome
- Mid Century Modern Dark Rattan & Glass Side Table or End Table after AlbiniBy Franco AlbiniLocated in Philadelphia, PAA vintage handmade side table in the style of Franco Albini. It features dark stained rattan with a clear glass inserted top.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
MaterialsRattan, Glass
- Pair Tempestini - Salterini "Radar" White Enamel Iron Chairs 1950s Mid-CenturyLocated in Philadelphia, PAPair of Salterini Radar chairs in white enameled wrought iron. A fine pair of the iconic model designed by Maurizio Tempestini, for Salterini....Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsWrought Iron
- Maurice Villency Post-Modern Trio 3 Faux Coral Stone Round Nesting Tables 1970sBy Maurice VillencyLocated in Philadelphia, PAA very cool set of three Post-Modern, Faux Coral or Fossil Stone, composition made, round nesting tables. Made and retailed by Maurice Villency in the late 1970s or early 80s, this s...Category
Vintage 1970s Post-Modern Nesting Tables and Stacking Tables
MaterialsComposition
- Les Prismatiques Pair of Triangular Lucite and Glass Nesting Tables Post-ModernBy Les PrismatiquesLocated in Philadelphia, PAThese stunning lucite and glass tables were made in the 1990s by manufacturer Les Prismatiques. Shaped like rounded triangles, each table is made of 1.5 inch thick lucite and 3/4 inc...Category
1990s American Post-Modern Nesting Tables and Stacking Tables
MaterialsGlass, Lucite
- Mid-Century Modern Plaster Rock and Glass Square Side Table Table by SirmosBy SirmosLocated in Philadelphia, PAA sculptural faux rock formation table made by Sirmos in the 1970s. It features a plaster molded rock formation base with a clear glass top.Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
MaterialsGlass, Plaster
- 2 Sets of Three Wrought Iron Nesting Tables by Tempestini for SalteriniBy Salterini, Maurizio TempestiniLocated in New York, NYMatched sets of three graduated nesting tables of wrought iron, and metal mesh, designed by Maurizio Tempestini, for Salterini. The tables are all structurally sound and sturdy, some...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsWrought Iron
- 2 Sets of 2 Wrought Iron Patio Garden Nesting Tables Attributed to SalteriniBy SalteriniLocated in New York, NYOffered are a total of 4 tables, comprised of 2 sets of 2 nesting tables. The tables are structurally sound and sturdy, both show cosmetic wear to the paint finish, see images. Price...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsWrought Iron
- Mid-Century Modern Milo Baughman Style Nesting TablesBy Milo BaughmanLocated in Brooklyn, NYElegant set of three vintage modern stacking tables feature a sleek circular chrome frame with vertical supports. Stylish design allows each table to sit comfortably on top of each o...Category
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Nesting Tables and Stacking Tables
MaterialsChrome
$550 Sale Price / set26% Off - Nesting Garden Patio Poolside Tables of Wrought Iron and Glass att. to SalteriniBy SalteriniLocated in New York, NYChic three piece set of graduated nesting tables having decorative wrought iron frames and glass insert tops. The tables are structurally sound and sturdy, free of damage, or repairs...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsWrought Iron
- Nest of 3 Art Deco Mid Century Wrought Iron Patio Garden Tables by SalteriniBy Salterini, Woodard Furniture Co.Located in New York, NYChic set of three graduated size nesting tables in wrought iron, attributed to Salterini. The tables feature a decorative flowing wave like repeat as vertical supports, which support...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsWrought Iron
- Set Russell Woodard Wrought Iron Nesting Stacking Side Tables Mid-Century ModernBy Russell WoodardLocated in Wayne, NJVintage Russell woodard stackable wrought iron table set of 3. The large measures 16.38" high, 19.63" deep and 19.63" wide. The medium measures 15.13" high, 16" wide, 16" deep. The s...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsWrought Iron
$700 Sale Price / set28% Off