Poltronova is known for embracing the creativity that opposites can introduce to a space. Its radical modernist furniture and lighting fixtures are simultaneously grounded in classic aesthetics and inspired by what were then new and provocative artistic movements in mid-century Italy, when the company was founded. This tension resulted in unique and extraordinary pieces at the manufacturer, from eccentric, glove-shaped armchairs to striking dining tables that feature a mix of materials and textures.
Italian designer Sergio Cammilli founded Poltronova in Tuscany in 1957. That same year, it won the Compasso d’Oro for the Panchetto chair designed by Luciano Nustrini. Revolutionary Italian architect Ettore Sottsass — a maestro of postmodern design who would later establish the Memphis Group — came on board as an art director in 1958. Poltronova manufactured many of his furniture and ceramic designs. Sottsass’s lighting, seating and other works for Poltronova showcase the designer’s bold experimentation with solid wood, glass, metal and laminate materials.
Other established names in Italian furniture design collaborated with Poltronova’s Sottsass and Cammilli, including Giovanni Michelucci, Gae Aulenti and Angelo Mangiarotti. However, the company truly set itself apart in its collaborations with Superstudio and Archizoom Associati, groups that were part of an irreverent, avant-garde movement in art and design that took shape during the 1960s in Florence, Turin and Milan. Collectives associated with the movement — which would one day be called Italian Radical design — drew on Pop art and minimalism and explored working with unconventional materials to create colorful, quirky and uniquely shaped objects and furnishings. At the time, Poltronova also worked with up-and-coming names in the art world, like painter Max Ernst and sculptor Mario Ceroli.
Poltronova showcased its groundbreaking designs in many exhibitions, such as “La Casa Abitata,” which was held in Florence in 1965. At Milan's Eurodomus trade show in 1970, Poltronova debuted an entire bedroom collection designed by Sottsass — including his sensuous Ultrafragola mirror. The brand’s furnishings were included in a 1972 exhibition at New York’s Museum of Modern Art called "Italy: The New Domestic Landscape," and in 1977, Poltronova again won the Compasso d’Oro for a book called Fare Mobili con Poltronova (Making Furniture with Poltronova).
Poltronova's enduring and acclaimed furniture designs came to be loved far outside Italy. During the 1960s, importer Charles Stendig represented the company and helped introduce it to the American market.
In 2005, Poltronova established the Centro Studi Poltronova to recreate some of the company's iconic furniture. The brand has also recently collaborated with English architect Nigel Coates, who worked with a Poltronova master craftsman in Italy to design a series of limited-edition furniture in 2011, including the Domo chair.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Poltronova tables, seating, storage cabinets and more.
Mario Ceroli for Poltronova Double Bed "Mouth of Truth," Italy 197
By Mario Ceroli, Poltronova
Located in Naples, IT
Beautiful, rare and original bed Mod. "The Mouth of Truth" designed in 1972 by Mario Ceroli as part of the "Furniture in the Valley" series, inspired by the metaphysical works of Gi...
Wood
20th Century, Mario Ceroli for Poltronova Wooden Bed mod. Bocca della Verità
By Poltronova, Mario Ceroli
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Mario Ceroli (born 1938) is a renowned Italian sculptor and set designer known for his iconic, stylized human figures and objects crafted from raw, unpainted wood (pine). Emerging in...
Wood
"Annabella" Cradle by Mario Ceroli for Poltronova, Italy, 1973
By Mario Ceroli, Poltronova
Located in Milan, IT
"Annabella" cradle by Mario Ceroli for Poltronova. Red pine structure creating a sculptural object.
Pine
Italian modern daybed sofa Locus Solus by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova, 1970s
By Gae Aulenti, Poltronova
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern daybed sofa Locus Solus by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova, 1970s Daybed mod. Locus Solus with patina chromed metal structure. The structure is entirely in tubular, which i...
Metal
Red "Galassia" wooden Bed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy 1963
By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova
Located in Argelato, BO
Rare and spectacular Galassia post-Modern bed in painted wood, designed by the great Italian architect and designer Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova. Bibliography: Domus 407 (October ...
Wood
$1,520Sale Price|20% Off
Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova Wooden Umbrella Stand
By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Wooden umbrella stand by the famous Ettore Sottsass Ettore Sottsass (1917–2007) was an Italian architect and designer, best known for founding the Memphis Group in the 1980s, which...
Wool
Italian mid-century modern bed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, 1960s
By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century modern bed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, 1960s Single bed or daybed entirely made of wood. The structures of the headboard and back are made up of rectangula...
Metal
Facendo Mobili Con Poltrona
By Poltronova
Located in New York, NY
Second edition of this compendium of radical and post-modern design produced by the Tuscan-based firm Poltronova from its early collaborations with Ettore Sottsass, who became Art Director in 1958, through the heyday of 1960’s anti-design and to the mid-1970s. Features work by both Old Guard masters and emerging leaders of the Radical Movement including (in addition to Sottsass) Archizoom, Superstudio, Sergio Asti, Gae Aulenti, Angelo Mangiarotti, Allesandro Mendini, Massimo and Lella Vignelli, Gianni Ruffi, Giovanni Michelucchi, Gianfranco Fini, Mario Ceroli, Ugo Nespolo, Roberto Barni, Paolo Portoghesi, Gino Marotta, and the group De Pas, D’Urbino, and Lomazzi. Written by Pier Carlo Santini and published by Artigraf Edizioni in 1996, following its initial run in 1977. 4to, 181 pages with text in Italian; stiff printed wraps with printed brown paper dust jacket. Fully illustrated, primarily in black-and-white. Includes artist biographies. A scarce and significant resource chronicling the contribution of this avant-garde design firm. A crisp, collectible copy with only minor bumping to the dust jacket and extremities. From the estate of design guru Jim Walrod...
Paper
Italian mid century solid wood Califfo bed, Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova 1960s
By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid century solid wood Califfo bed, Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova 1960s. Califfo model bed with structure entirely of solid wood in French or queen size. Rectangular section...
Hardwood
Italian red wooden umbrella stand by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, 1950s
By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian red wooden umbrella stand by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, 1950s. Umbrella stand in red painted wood, with a geometric tower shape design, with a square base, with a wooden...
Wood
Pier Carlo Santini Facendo Mobili Con Poltronova Artigraf Edition 1996 Florence
By Poltronova
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Large format softcover in brown paper printed dustwrapper. Facendo mobili con Archizoom, Asti, Aulenti, Ceroli, De Pas d'Urbino Lomazzi, Ernst, Fini, Mangiarotti, Marotta, Mendini, Michelucci, Nespolo, Portoghesi, Ruffi, Sottsass, Superstudio, Vignelli. Profusely illustrated with more than 500 images (photographs and drawings). Text in Italian. Poltronova, printed by Artigraf - Firenze in 1996 (texts by Pier Carlo Santini) Profusely illustrated with more than 500 images (photographs and drawings). Text in Italian, 21 x 30 cm, 180 pages. Santini was born in Lucca on 20 April 1924. After the interval of the war, he attended the Faculty of Letters of the University of Pisa graduating in 1951 under the guidance of Carlo Ludovico Raggianti, with a thesis on Giambologna, worthy of praise and the dignity of publication. From 1952 to 1957 he was editor of "SeleArte", a bimonthly training and information of the artistic disciplines, commissioned by Ragghianti and published by Adriano Olivetti. In 1957 he moved to Milan, to the editorial office of "Comunità" to assume the responsibility of the architecture section. In this period he conceived and produced the first monographs of living architects: Moretti, Figini...
Paper
Magratiga lectern produced by Poltronova in 1990
By Poltronova
Located in Ravenna, IT
Magratiga lectern produced by Poltronova in 1990. Its curved raw sheet metal frame supports a wooden top from which a stem light sprouts. The present object is a Prototype 0, making ...
Steel
Coat Rack Cessato Allarme Model by De Pas, D'Urbino and Lomazzi for Poltronova
By Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi, Poltronova
Located in Asti, Piemonte
The base and the head are in cast aluminum, the structure is in iron and the cones in aluminum. Water-based paint finish. Cessato Allarme coat rack, created in 1986 by the De Pa...
Aluminum, Iron
$2,500
H 44 in W 63 in D 82 in
Gae Aulenti Style Tubular Metal Queen Sized Bed Frame and Headboard, Italy 1970s
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Vintage Italian bed frame and headboard in red tubular metal. Fits EU King, US Queen can be used without issue. Scuffs and scratches to me...
Steel
$2,995
H 66.75 in W 44.75 in D 23.75 in
Rare French Brass Swinging Bassinet or Baby Cradle for Antique Bisque Dolls
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This antique brass baby cradle is a beautifully crafted decorative piece, with solid brass birds that stand on top of the piece, perfect for collectors of vintage furnishings and do...
Brass
Sculptural Mid Century Modern Italian Brass Bed circa 1970s
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sculptural Mid Century Modern Brass Bed, probably Italian, circa 1970s. It can accommodate a queen size mattress. Here are the detailed measurements: 47.5" headboard height Overall w...
Metal, Brass
1970s Italian Brass Bed by Luciano Frigerio
By Luciano Frigerio
Located in London, London
Bed frame. By Luciano Frigerio. Brass. Hammered brass details. Bed head and foot joined by steel side stretchers. Internal measurement...
Brass, Steel
$6,957
H 35.04 in W 69.3 in D 83.08 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian Bronze Queen Size Bed by Luciano Frigerio, 1970s
By Luciano Frigerio, Frigerio Di Desio
Located in Prato, IT
Mid-Century Modern Italian bronze bed by Luciano Frigerio for "Frigerio Di Desio". The bed needs a bed-net and a mattress cm.165 width and cm. 190 length. The alternative solution i...
Metal, Brass, Bronze
Osvaldo Borsani Brass Double Bed, Italy, 1960s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Brussels, BE
Osvaldo Borsani brass double bed, Italy, 1960s.
Brass
Art Deco Umbrella Stand - Chestnut Wooden Umbrella Stand - France 1930s
Located in ROUEN, Normandie
Art Deco Umbrella Stand - Chestnut Wooden Umbrella Stand - France 1930s Very decorative and elegant umbrella stand. French Art Deco piece from the 1930s. Geometric shapes giving i...
Wood, Chestnut, Fruitwood, Nutwood
Scandinavian Designer Ecological Baby Crib Cradle Bassinet
Located in Paris, FR
This special Baby Cradle Crib has a very smooth swing and is composed by a light carrycot that can be lifted from the swing structure and easily transported by hand.The carrycot stru...
Birch, Wool, Cotton
$2,995
H 30.32 in W 70.08 in D 90.56 in
Bed Double Leather Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Wave Model Midcentury Italy 80s
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Palermo, IT
The "Vela" double bed, an icon of Italian design, created by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia around 1980. The bed features a metal frame with modern, minimalist lines. The gener...
Metal
$6,890
H 68.51 in W 55.12 in D 78.75 in
20th Century Full Bed, Original Four Fluted Poster Spanish Bed with Wood Slabs
Located in Miami, FL
20th century baroque bed, original Spanish bed. This queen-size 4-poster bed is hand carved with elaborate details, fluted turned post, 3D open spiral twist spindles, and Moorish ...
Walnut
20th Century Louis XVI Style Bed
Located in Berlin, DE
Unusual bed in Louis XVI style. Solid beechwood, finely engraved, with colored handpainting and gilded. Low feet and high head-part. (H-Kw-7).
Wood, Beech
$2,773Sale Price|30% Off
H 37.01 in W 67.72 in D 78.75 in
Mid-Century Modern Wooden Italian Bed Frame Made by Eugenio Gerli for Tecno
By Eugenio Gerli
Located in Sofia, BG
Italian wooden hand carved bed frame with metal frame made in 1967 by Eugenio Gerli for Tecno. Very good authentic condition with no restorations made.
Wood
Ettore Sottsass, Bed mod. Califfo, Prod. Poltronova, ca 1960
By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova
Located in Rivoli, IT
Caliph model bed with an all solid wood frame in a single square. Rectangular-section components with laths of various sizes throughout the headboard and backboard. Designed by Ettor...
Wood
Sold
H 22.05 in W 9.45 in D 9.45 in
Italian Modern Umbrella Stand Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy
By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova
Located in Lucija, SI
Very rare umbrella stand designed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova
Wood
Sold
H 32.68 in W 70.87 in D 81.5 in
Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova Italian Walnut Midcentury Bed 1960s
By Poltronova, Giovanni Michelucci
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian midcentury modern design walnut bed serie Serena designed by Giovanni Michelucci and produced by Poltronova including original Ondaflex single bedsprings, Italy 1964. G. Mich...
Metal
Sold
H 27.96 in W 18.9 in D 14.18 in
Giovanni Michelucci Poltronova Italian Wood Bedside Tables Nithg Stands 1960s
By Poltronova, Giovanni Michelucci
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Coppia comodini su ruote in legno di noce e dettagli in ottone della serie Serena disegnati da Giovanni Michelucci e prodotti da Poltronova dagli anni 60. Il top è composto da un ant...
Brass
Sold
H 7.88 in W 81.89 in D 70.87 in
Letto con comodini - mod. Stringa design Gae Aulenti per Poltronova
By Poltronova, Gae Aulenti
Located in Milano, IT
Unico e raro letto matrimoniale disegnato da Gae Aulenti nel 1972 per Poltronova. Il letto matrimoniale fa parte delle arredamento creato sotto il nome di "Gruppo Stringa". Il lett...
Metal
Sold
H 24.41 in W 9.85 in D 9.85 in
Italian Mid-Century Red Wooden Umbrella Stand by Sottsass for Poltronova, 1960s
By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century red wooden umbrella stand by Sottsass for Poltronova, 1960s Umbrella stand with a square base made up of several rectangular...
Wood
Wall Mounted Coat Rack in Walnut Wood by Poltronova 1960s Italy
By Poltronova
Located in Cascina, Pisa
A rectangular-shaped wall coat rack in walnut wood with six hooks (they are removable and they can be moved on the structure as preferred). Manufactured by Poltronova during the 196...
Metal
Sold
H 3.94 in W 59.06 in D 0.79 in
Ettore Sottsass Coat Racks in Wood and Metal Hooks by Poltonova 1950s Italy
By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Wall coat rack or hat rack with structure in wood and eight hooks in painted metal the round shape and the color (red and yellow) chosen for the hooks remind of little archery target...
Metal
Sold
H 70.87 in Dm 23.63 in L 70.87 in
Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova Iconic Ivory Coat Rack, Italy, 1965
By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova
Located in Naples, IT
Lovely example of Sottsass' iconic coat stand finished in the original ivory lacquer over a cascading spiraling form wooden structure. Sergio Cammilli's 'Poltronova' were at the forefront of cutting edge radical Italian design during this highly adventurous period giving Sottsass full support and a free reign to fully express himself. This collaboration led to the creation of some of Sottsass' most iconic and highly prized works, furniture for the 'Casa Fly,' the 'superboxes' series of cabinets, the highly futuristic 'il mobili grigi' series of furniture and lighting and the iconic 'ultrafragola...
Wood
Sold
H 90.56 in W 80.71 in D 68.9 in
Mario Ceroli Bocca Della Verità Wooden Bed Structure Poltronova Production, 1970
By Poltronova, Mario Ceroli
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Wooden bed structure model 'Bocca della Verità' designed by Mario Ceroli and produced by Poltronova, 1970, Italy (branded). Licterature: G. Gramign...
Wood
Ettore Sottsass Planter for Poltronova in Green Wood, 1961
By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova
Located in Milano, IT
Planter or umbrella stand designed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova in 1961. The flower holder is made of wood painted green. The product as you can see is in first patina. The prod...
Wood
Sold
H 9.45 in W 22.05 in D 9.45 in
Italian Umbrella-Stand in Painted Wood, by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, 1962
By Poltronova, Ettore Sottsass
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian umbrella-stand in red painted wood, designed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova in 1962; the umbrella-stand takes up the unique style of Ettore Sottsass, that is linear, minim...
Wood