Juxtaposing sleek curves with angular, geometric shapes, the sophisticated minimalism of Paolo Piva’s furniture made him one of the most significant mid-century modern designers. Using understated, classic materials such as patent leather and glass, he created furniture that is as timeless as the buildings he designed as an internationally renowned architect. Piva’s armchairs, floor lamps and other furniture pieces were built to withstand changing tastes.
Born in 1950 in Adria in northern Italy, Piva pursued his career in design and architecture at the International University of the Arts in Venice under renowned architect Carlo Scarpa. While a student, he also worked with the Akademie für Angewandte Kunst in Vienna and the Institute of History and Architecture in Venice to create a major exhibition on Viennese architecture during the socialist period.
Gaining notice during his graduate studies in Rome, Piva established himself as an up-and-coming architect. In 1980, he emerged on the international scene with an acclaimed design for the Kuwait Embassy in Qatar, which led to design commissions for buildings and factories across Western Europe. At the same time, Piva began designing furniture that reflected the clean lines and artful forms of his building style. His most popular piece was the Pyramid coffee table, with inverted pyramids supporting a glass top.
A lifelong academic, Piva began teaching at the Akademie für Angewandte Kunst in 1988, becoming a full professor in 1991. He also collaborated with top brands, including Poliform, de Sede, B&B Italia, Wittmann and Riva 1920, designing center tables, club chairs and other furniture items. He continued his design pursuits throughout his life, traveling to conferences and exhibitions internationally up until his death in 2017.
Piva gained a nomination for the Compasso d’Oro award in 1987 and was one of the architects selected to design the Science and Technology Park in Vienna in 1995. His work has been exhibited at Galerie Ulysses in Vienna and the Architekturgalerie München in Munich, as well as in the VI Mostra internazionale di Architettura della Biennale di Buenos Aires.
On 1stDibs, delve into the graceful simplicity and elegant geometry of Paolo Piva’s lighting, tables, seating, and other furniture and collectibles.
Colibri floor lamp by Franca Helg, Paolo Piva and Franco Albini for Sirrah
By Paolo Piva, Franca Helg, Antonio Piva and Franco Albini, Sirrah
Located in Athens, Attiki
Italian postmodern floor lamp 1980 designed by Antonio Piva, Franco Albini and Franca Helg in a design studio created by Franco Albini in 1930, today known as "Studio Albini Associat...
Iron
$3,000Sale Price / set|40% Off
1980s, Floor Lamp Meridiana ' Terra ' by Paolo Piva, Italy
By Stefano Cevoli, Paolo Piva
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
Giant oversize Meridiana Terra floor lamp measure up against Meridiana table lamp. The table one ( Vermezzo MI ) with similar motif come with order. Rated at 20 watts. Togle swit...
Brass, Steel
Halogen Floor and Table Lamp from Stephano Cevoli Gold-Plated, 1980s, Italy
By Stefano Cevoli, Paolo Piva
Located in Rijssen, NL
Minimalist, modern, tall and elegant counterweight halogen floor and wall lamp designed in 1983 by Paolo Francesco Piva. With high quality material and great attention to detail. ...
Gold
Herda Brass Halogen Swing Arm Floor Lamp, Mid-Century, 1980s
By Herda
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice Brass Floor lamp . Ideal reading light . Adjustable in height , Because its swing arm ,light in every direction you want . Halogen .comes with a good working dimmer .i Als...
Brass
$2,518
H 9.85 in Dm 17.72 in
Ceiling Lamp AS41Z by Franco Albini, Franca Helg & Antonio Piva for Sirrah, 1970
By Franca Helg, Antonio Piva and Franco Albini, Sirrah
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Ceiling lamp No. designed by Franco Albini, Franca Helg and Antonio Piva and manufactured by Sirrah in 1969. The model is a part of the AM/AS series that includes table lamps, wall ...
Metal
Hala Zeist Halogen Arch Floor lamp 1980s Holland
By Hala Zeist
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice Hala Zeist Arch Floor lamp . Halogen 12 volt 50 watt signed , Post Modern in style . Polish Aluminum . good condition . comes with a good working dimmer .
Aluminum
$1,995Sale Price|33% Off
H 75 in W 7.5 in D 13 in
1980s Gianfranco Frattini 'Adonis' Tall Halogen Floor Lamp, Italy
By Luci Italia, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
Tall halogen floor lamp with adjustable pierced metal grill inside glass shade to dampen light output sideways. Very accurate original foot dimmer to f...
Metal
$1,294
H 69.69 in W 35.44 in D 7.88 in
Vintage "Yuki" floor lamp by Paolo Francesco Piva for Stefano Cevoli, 1980
By Stefano Cevoli
Located in Den Haag, NL
Lamp produced in the 1980s by Stefano Cevoli based on a design by Paolo Francesco Piva. model Yuki Hemispherical base in black painted metal. Double stem in black painted metal that ...
Metal
$2,400Sale Price|40% Off
H 74 in W 12.5 in D 12 in
Halogen Torchiere Floor Lamp , Silver plated , Glass & Marble , Italia , 1980s
By Artemide
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
Thick glass panel mounted on a sturdy silver plated structure . Finely selected marble base . Extremely well made with high quality material. Measure 74 inches high. Halogen light bulb rated at 500 watts maximum. Foot dimmer...
Marble, Silver
$647
H 20.87 in Dm 4.53 in
Italian" Meridiana" Table Lamp by Paolo Francesco Piva for Stefano Cevoli, 1980s
By Stefano Cevoli
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Italian" Meridiana" Table Lamp by Paolo Francesco Piva for Stefano Cevoli, 1980s Wear consistent with age and use Italian Vintage - Mid Century - Decoration Postmodern adjustable d...
Metal
$4,400
H 21.26 in W 12.21 in D 15.36 in
Franco Albini, Franca Helg & Antonio Piva "AM/AS" Table Lamp, Italy 1960s
By Franca Helg, Antonio Piva and Franco Albini, Sirrah
Located in Utrecht, NL
Minimal in form from concept to design, this historical lamp emerged from a traditional Italian craftsmanship practice. Using modern, artisanal materials for the design the designers...
Metal
$688
H 12.6 in W 5.91 in D 4.73 in
Stefano Cevoli Midcentury Gold-Plated Metal Italian Table Lamp 'Meridiana' 1980s
By Stefano Cevoli, Paolo Piva
Located in Roma, IT
Amazing midcentury 'Meridiana' gold-plated metal halogen table lamp. This fantastic piece was designed by Paolo Francesco Piva for Stefano Cevoli in Italy during the 1980s. This M...
Metal
Stefano Cevoli desk lamp Meridiana by Paolo Piva black chrome
By Stefano Cevoli, Paolo Piva
Located in DOORWERTH, NL
Table lamp from the 1980ies. Designed in 1983 by Paolo Piva for Stefano Cevoli. This lamp has an internal 220V to 12V transformator. To be used in the US it will need an external 11...
Metal
Paulo Piva Meridiana Desk or Table Lamp for Stefano Cevoli
By Stefano Cevoli, Paolo Piva
Located in Miami, FL
Postmodern table desk or task lamp, articulating and adjustable design rendered in gunmetal gray metal and plastic, designed by Paolo Piva for St...
Metal
1980s Floor lamp, Italy
Located in Praha, CZ
- good original condition with minor signs of use - 1x bulbs E12 - E14 - US wiring compatible - dimmable
Chrome
Sold
H 18.9 in W 10.63 in D 10.63 in
Open floor lamp designed by Paolo Piva and produced by Lumenform in 1970.
By Paolo Piva, Lumenform
Located in Ravenna, IT
Open floor lamp designed by Paolo Piva and produced for Lumenform in the 1970s. Of Venetian descent, Piva stated that at the core of his work every object should possess great elegan...
Metal
Floor Lamp Meridiana S. Cevoli Aluminium Italy 1980s
By Paolo Piva
Located in Milano, IT
Reflected light floor lamp with adjustable inclination stem and adjustable diffuser; enamelled metal and aluminium.
Metal, Aluminum
1980s Gold-Plated Halogen Floor Lamp ' Yuki ' from Stephano Cevoli , Italia
By Stefano Cevoli, Paolo Piva
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
Minimalist, modern, tall and elegant counterweight halogen floor lamp designed in 1983 by Paolo Francesco Piva for Stefano Cevoli . Well made with prime quality material and great a...
Gold
Sold
H 42.92 in W 8.27 in D 8.27 in
Paolo Piva Open White Metal Floor Lamp for Lumenform, 1970s, Italy
By Paolo Piva, Lumenform
Located in The Hague, NL
Open table lamp designed by paolo piva for the italian manufacturer lumenform, 1970 italy. The model is made of a mesh structure in white metal with an inverted pyramid-shaped plas...
Metal
Sold
H 70.08 in W 35.44 in D 7.49 in
Paolo Francesco Piva Metal Italian "Yuky" Floor Lamp for Stefano Cevoli, 1980s
By Stefano Cevoli, Paolo Piva
Located in Roma, IT
Midcentury metal floor lamp, designed by Paolo Francesco Piva for Stefano Cevoli in the 1980s. This Minimalist, modern, tall and elegant counterweight halogen floor and wall lamp ...
Metal
1980s Italian Halogen Floor Lamp 'Yuki' from Stephano Cevoli
By Paolo Piva, Stefano Cevoli
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
Minimalist, modern, tall and elegant counterweight halogen floor lamp designed in 1983 by Paolo Francesco Piva. Well made with prime quality material and great attention to detail...
Steel
Gold-Plated Halogen Floor Lamp, Yuki from Stephano Cevoli, 1980s, Italia
By Stefano Cevoli, Paolo Piva
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
Minimalist, modern, tall and elegant counterweight halogen floor lamp designed in 1983 by Paolo Francesco Piva. Well made with prime quality material and great attention to detail...
Gold
Sold
H 7.09 in Dm 68.12 in
Halogen Floor and Table Lamp from Stephano Cevoli Gold-Plated, 1980s, Italy
By Stefano Cevoli, Paolo Piva
Located in Rijssen, NL
Minimalist, modern, tall and elegant counterweight halogen floor and wall lamp designed in 1983 by Paolo Francesco Piva. With high quality material and great attention to detail. ...
Gold
2 Italian Halogen Floor Lamp 'Yuki' from Stephano Cevoli, 1983
By Stefano Cevoli, Paolo Piva
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
Minimalist, modern, tall and elegant counterweight halogen floor lamp designed in 1983 by Paolo Francesco Piva. Well made with prime quality material and great attention to detail...
Steel
Gold-Plated Halogen Floor Lamp, Yuki from Stephano Cevoli, 1980s, Italia
By Stefano Cevoli, Paolo Piva
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
Minimalist, modern, tall and elegant counterweight halogen floor lamp designed in 1983 by Paolo Francesco Piva. Well made with prime quality material and great attention to detail. ...
Gold
Pair of Paolo Francesco Piva Articulating Floor Lamps for Stafano Cevoli in Gray
By Stefano Cevoli, Paolo Piva
Located in Astoria, NY
A modern pair of sleek "Yuky" articulating and adjustable Italian floor lamps with gray finish by Paolo Francesco Piva, Studio Dada, for Stefano Cevoli. The lamps have an on and off ...
Metal
Vintage "Yuky" Floor Lamp
By Stefano Cevoli, Paolo Piva
Located in Wilton, CT
1983 Design by Paolo Francesco Piva, Studio Dada, for Stefano Cevoli, Italy. This counter poised balancing act of Italian design says it all. Fully adjustable.