Milanese designer and architect Achille Castiglioni sought to inject personality into all of his work, and found deep inspiration in everyday objects. A legend of Italian mid-century modernism, he created iconic, universally loved table lamps, chairs and other lighting and furniture with his likeminded brothers during the postwar years.
There was the Snoopy lamp, which brings to mind the unmistakable Peanuts character, while the shape of a common street lamp inspired the design behind the Arco floor lamp. Elsewhere, the Toio floor lamp — a provocative fixture in any living room — was made with automotive parts as well as run-of-the-mill recreational gear.
Castiglioni studied the classics at Liceo Classico Giuseppe Parini, art at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera and finally architecture and design at the Polytechnic University of Milan. After graduating in 1944, Castiglioni began working with his brothers Pier Giacomo and Livio at the studio they cofounded with classmate Luigi Caccia Dominioni.
Livio left to pursue lighting design and sound technology, leaving Achille and Pier Giacomo to continue to collaborate on various projects. One such design was the iconic Taraxacum hanging lamp for FLOS which featured a resin “cocoon” created with sprayed plastic polymers that protects its steel core and allows for the diffusion of light.
Castiglioni won Italy’s highest award for industrial design — the Compasso d’Oro — seven times, and the Museum of Modern Art was home to his first individual retrospective in the United States. Castiglioni later taught at the Polytechnic University of Turin and at Polytechnic in Milan.
Castiglioni’s designs remain timeless. Some of them can be found in Tokyo’s Living Design Center Ozone, the Triennale di Milano and the Hangaram Art Museum at the Seoul Arts Center.
Find vintage Achille Castiglioni lighting, seating, tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Zanotta Servietto Towel Rack with Black Steel Frame by Achille Castiglioni
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Servietto Towel Rack with Black Steel Frame by Achille Castiglioni Polypropylene base and steel frame, painted in the colours: black or white. Additional Information: ...
Steel
Zanotta Servonotte Clothes Stand in Black Steel Frame by Achille Castiglioni
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Zanotta Servonotte Clothes Stand in Black Steel Frame by Achille Castiglioni Clothes-stand. Base in black or white painted polypropylene. Painted steel frame. Colours: black or whi...
Steel
Servietto towel rack Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, Italy
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Ravenna, IT
Servietto towel rack designed by Achille Castiglioni and produced in Italy by Zanotta starting in 1986. Black-painted steel frame with two towel arms branching off from the main body...
Steel
$1,029 / item
H 33.27 in W 27.56 in D 7.88 in
“Marblelous Rack” Black Marquina Marble and Brass Minimalist Towel Rack
By Josep Vila Capdevila
Located in Terrassa, Catalonia
The Marblelous Rack is a minimalist style towel rack consisting of a treated Marquina marble base and a solid brass structure, manufactured according to traditional methods. Josep Vi...
Marble, Brass
ClassiCon Black Usha Umbrella Stand in Steel by Eckart Muthesius
By Eckart Muthesius
Located in New York, NY
It is a sign of a most mature culture when articles of everyday use also come to catch the aesthetic eye. Coiling upwards like a snake at a snake-charming is Eckart Muthesius‘ spiral...
Steel
Vintage Italian Brass Towel Rack, Multi-Tiered, 1960s, Good Condition
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
1858 Vintage Italian multi tiered brass towel/comforter rack
Brass
1970s Italian Hollywood Regency Golden Brass Towel Rack Rail
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful Italian golden brass towel rack or quilt stand with decorated top and base. A great piece that perfectly adds to every home decor the typical glitz, glamour, and gold of Ho...
Brass
$2,190 / item
H 70.48 in W 108.67 in D 7.88 in
Zanotta Servento Screen in Red Steel Post with Canvas by Achille Castiglioni
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Servento Screen in Red Steel Post with Canvas by Achille Castiglioni Base in black, white or red painted polypropylene. Steel support rod, painted in the shade black, whit...
Steel
$1,429
H 34.26 in W 25.2 in D 5.91 in
1970s Vintage Polished Brass Towel Rack with Modern Geometric Design
Located in Marbella, ES
An elegant vintage towel rack crafted from polished brass, its clean lines and balanced proportions evoke mid-century modern design. Its architectural form, with horizontal bars and ...
Bronze
$3,800
H 70.86 in W 94.5 in D 7.87 in
Achille Castiglioni Zanotta Room Divider Paravent Black, Italy 1980
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Vienna, AT
Achille Castiglioni Zanotta Room Divider Paravent Black, Italy Beautiful space screen designed by Achille Castiglioni. It's all black with black gaze, black steel columns and black...
Steel
Rack Marble Towel Holder by Joseph Vila Capdevila
Located in Geneve, CH
Rack towel holder by Joseph Vila Capdevila Material: Carrara marble, brass Dimensions: 70 x 84.5 x 20 cm Weight: 13.2 kg Aparentment is a space for creation and innovation, experimenting with materials with the goal to develop robust, lasting and timeless designs. Aparentment collections feature...
Marble, Brass
Black Post Modern Castiglioni Memphis Style Umbrella Stand, Italy, 1980s
By Zanotta, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Memphis Group
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful black umbrella stand from the 1980s. Very solid, made of metal and plastic, in very good condition. In the style of Servopluvio by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni / Za...
Metal
$362Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.03 in W 18.12 in D 1.19 in
Towel Rack, Rattan-Bamboo, Italy 1960, Bohemian Style
By Adrien Audoux and Frida Minnet
Located in Herentals, BE
Beautiful Italian, mid-century towel rack in rattan-bamboo. Perfect for the kitchen or bathroom. The height of the rack is 28 cm, the width 46 cm and the depth 3 cm. There are 2 s...
Bamboo, Rattan
Makio Hasuike Towel Rack or Coat Rack for Gedy, Italy, 1970s
Located in Dronten, NL
An elegant and highly functional towel rack or coat rack designed by Makio Hasuike for Gedy, exemplifying the designer's refined approach to everyday objects. Combining clean geometr...
Steel
Fish-headed Towel Rack, France, 1970s
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Twisted metal wall-mounted towel rack with decorative bracket, made in France in the 1970s. This vintage towel rack is distinguished by its elegant twisted metal ring and its wall b...
Metal
Servomuto 80s mod. Servonotte design A. Castiglioni for Zanotta
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Black steel servomuto with plastic inserts, Servonotte model. Design Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta. CONDITION: In good condition, may show signs of wear given by time. DIMENSIONS...
Steel
Sold
H 33.86 in Dm 19.69 in
Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Zanotta Servomuto Table, Italy 1970s
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Naples, IT
Servomuto coffee table is a practical and understated side table designed by Achille Castiglioni in 1974 for the Servi series by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni. Zanotta's Servo...
Plastic
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H 51.97 in W 16.93 in D 8.27 in
Italian modern valet stand Servonotte 36 Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1980s
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern valet stand Servietto 36 Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1980s Valet stand mod. 36, also called Servonotte, with central structure i...
Metal
Sold
H 33.86 in W 12.6 in D 7.88 in
Italian modern Valet stand Servietto 36 by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta 1980s
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Valet stand Servietto 36 by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1980s Elegant and sober valet stand mod. 36, also called Servietto, with...
Metal
Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta Servopluvio, Italy, 1960
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Naples, IT
Servopluvio is an essential and intelligent umbrella stand, designed by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni in 1961 for the Servi series. It consists of a basin to collect water, a ...
Plastic
Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta Servomuto Mod.36, Italy 1970s
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Naples, IT
Rare and not in production Servomuto mod. n.36 Zanotta, by A.Castiglioni years 90, base in prolipopilene, support structure in painted aluminium, black colour intact and original, wi...
Plastic
Sold
H 25.2 in W 33.86 in
Pair of Midcentury Easels for Leonardo Table by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Milano, IT
Table easels, Zanotta, Cavalletti Leonardo (pair), Achille Castiglioni, 1979. The trestles are in natural evaporated beechwood, adjustable in height. The height of the trestles, whic...
Wood