As one of the founding fathers of modern Italian design, prolific architect and industrial designer Ludovico Magistretti (known by his nickname Vico) was guided by his philosophy, “There is no excuse for bad design.” His architectural projects are widely revered, and an ingenious meld of form and function can be found in his stylish and deceptively simple table lamps, sofas, armchairs and other mid-century furnishings.
Born in Milan, Magistretti followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather (both architects) to study architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan. At the outbreak of World War II, he fled to Switzerland, and it was there he met his role model and mentor, renowned humanist architect Ernesto Nathan Rogers. Magistretti was inspired by Rogers’s vision to revive postwar Italy, and they collaborated on several reconstruction projects. Among Magistretti’s first architectural designs is a “poetic” round church, which he created for the QT8, an experimental Milanese neighborhood.
When Magistretti returned to Milan in 1945, he worked at his father’s architectural firm. It wasn’t until the early 1950s that he expanded his talents into design while working with furniture artisans.
In the 1960s, Magistretti began his 30-year working relationship with famed entrepreneur Cesare Cassina of the Cassina furniture manufacturing company. In their design approach, the two men shared a vision of the relationship between modernity and tradition and enjoyed a close bond (Magistretti designed Cassina’s luxurious villa in 1965). However, their friendship was not without contention.
Legend has it that upon seeing the prototype for Magistretti’s Maralunga sofa, Cassina hated it so much that he punched it, breaking the back of the sofa, which crumpled into itself.
“Right, great, it looks perfect to me like that,” an unfazed Magistretti allegedly responded, and the Maralunga’s slumped, adjustable-height backrest was born. Incidentally, the Maralunga sofa won Italy’s Compasso d’Oro award as did his Eclisse lamp for Artemide and his Atollo lamp for Oluce.
Magistretti died in 2006, but his designs live on in galleries, museums and private residences and offices around the world.
Find a range of vintage Vico Magistretti furniture and lighting on 1stDibs.
Space Age Red Plastic Vintage Chair Selene by Vico Magistretti, Italy
By Vico Magistretti
Located in Vienna, AT
Space Age red vintage plastic chair model Selene designed by Vico Magistretti 1968 for Artemide Milano, Italy. The chair shows a very good vintag...
Plastic
Selene Chairs by Vico Magistretti for Artemide, 8 Pcs
By Vico Magistretti, Artemide
Located in Renens, CH
Please note: price per item. The Selene chair was designed by Vico Magistretti during the 1960s, and has been featured in the MoMA New York. Origination...
Fiberglass
1969, Vico Magistretti for Artemide, Set of Four White Selene Chairs
By Vico Magistretti, Artemide
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This item is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beach, check last pictures on this listing and/or find more details on his family name plus eu, is for sale soon too. :-) Set of four Selene chairs...
Plastic
2000s Set of Three Vico Magistretti for DePadova "Cirene" Armchair Ebonized Wood
By Knoll, Vico Magistretti
Located in Philadelphia, PA
These are a set of three Cirene stackable Ebonized chairs, originally designed by Vico Magistretti in 1999. These particular examples were produced by DePadova for Knoll in Italy. Th...
Steel
$6,200 / set
H 29.14 in W 22.45 in D 18.9 in
Vico Magistretti “Carimate” Chairs for Cassina, Black, 1960, Set of 4
By Vico Magistretti, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" dining chairs for Cassina, black lacquered wood and straw seat, Italy, 1960, set of four. Vico Magistretti’s “Carimate 892/115” chair, crafted for Cassin...
Straw, Wood
$7,400 / set
H 29.34 in W 22.84 in D 18.9 in
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1960, Set of 4
By Vico Magistretti, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" dining chairs for Cassina, green lacquered wood and straw seat, Italy, 1960, set of four. The "Carimate" chair is one of Vico Magistretti’s most famous...
Straw, Wood
$3,700 / set
H 29.73 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Vico Magistretti "122" Chairs for Cassina, 1967, Set of 2
By Vico Magistretti, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Vico Magistretti "122" chairs for Cassina, black structure, Italy, 1967 set of two. The "122" chairs designed by Vico Magistretti in 1967 have a sculptural design, created with a wo...
Leather, Beech, Plywood
Maralunga Leather Armchair by Vico Magistretti for Cassina
By Vico Magistretti, Cassina
Located in New York, NY
Vico Magistretti designed this lounge chair for Cassina as part of his Maralunga Series in 1973. In 1979, the series won Italy's Compasso D'Oro award for Industrial Design. In its or...
Leather
$11,600 / set
H 29.14 in W 22.45 in D 18.9 in
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1960, Set of 8
By Vico Magistretti, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" dining chairs for Cassina, red lacquered wood and straw seat, Italy, 1960, set of eight. The "Carimate" chair is one of Vico Magistretti’s most famous ...
Straw, Wood
$5,000 / set
H 29.53 in W 19.69 in D 17.72 in
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1960, Set of 4
By Vico Magistretti, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" dining chairs for Cassina, green lacquered wood and straw seat, Italy, 1960, set of four. The "Carimate" chair is one of Vico Magistretti’s most famous c...
Straw, Wood
$2,716Sale Price|20% Off
H 39.38 in W 38.59 in D 37.41 in
Vico Magistretti — Maralunga Armchairs — Cassina
By Cassina, Vico Magistretti
Located in Budapest, HU
Vico Magistretti – Maralunga Armchairs for Cassina – Set of 2 Designed by the legendary Vico Magistretti for Cassina, this pair of Maralung...
Metal
$875 / set
H 29.53 in W 18.51 in D 19.69 in
Vico Magistretti Set of Two Red Selene Chairs by Artemide 1970s
By Vico Magistretti, Artemide
Located in Cascina, Pisa
A set of two Selene stackable chairs in red resin reinforced with fiberglass, designed by Vico Magistretti in 1967 and produced by Artemide Milano in the 1970s. The Selene chair was designed in 1967 by Magistretti to be produced in a plastic material, as he affirmed: "The seat and the back are simple curved surfaces. For me, the legs represented the real image of the piece, with as small a volume as that of any common wooden chair. I solved it by exploiting the molding of a plastic material formed by a simple 3-millimeter-thick sheet with a simple but very resistant "S" cross-section which inter-related the object with ordinary chairs without however the elephant legs so untypical of chairs. It was fun working with the model maker on the wood model." When produced in series, "a unit comes out of the machine every five minutes": Selene is the fruit of a single compression molding process on a pre-impregnated sheet (Ottagono 15 / 1969). Magistretti solves the problem of leg resistance by adopting an "S-shaped" configuration that confers resistance to a sheet only 3 millimeters thick. The formal and structural solution had already been previously adopted for the Chimera lamp (a self-supporting methacrylate sheet) and in developing the legs of the Demetrio table...
Plastic, Rubber
$5,800 / set
H 29.14 in W 22.45 in D 18.9 in
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1960, Set of 4
By Vico Magistretti, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" dining chairs for Cassina, red lacquered wood and straw seat, Italy, 1960, set of four. The "Carimate" chair is one of Vico Magistretti’s most famous c...
Straw, Wood
$2,981 / set
H 30.12 in W 19.69 in D 15.75 in
Vico Magistretti Set of Nine Red Selene Chairs by Heller 2002s
By Vico Magistretti, Heller
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Set of nine Selene stackable chairs in red polyester reinforced with fiberglass, designed by Vico Magistretti in 1967 and produced by Heller in 2002. The Selene chair was designed in 1967 by Magistretti to be produced in a plastic material, as he affirmed: "The seat and the back are simple curved surfaces. For me, the legs represented the real image of the piece, with as small a volume as that of any common wooden chair. I solved it by exploiting the molding of a plastic material formed by a simple 3-millimeter-thick sheet with a simple but very resistant "S" cross-section which inter-related the object with ordinary chairs without however the elephant legs so untypical of chairs. It was fun working with the model maker on the wood model." When produced in series, "a unit comes out of the machine every five minutes": Selene is the fruit of a single compression molding process on a pre-impregnated sheet (Ottagono 15 / 1969). Magistretti solves the problem of leg resistance by adopting an "S-shaped" configuration that confers resistance to a sheet only 3 millimeters thick. The formal and structural solution had already been previously adopted for the Chimera lamp (a self-supporting methacrylate sheet) and in developing the legs of the Demetrio table...
Plastic, Rubber
$2,900 / set
H 29.34 in W 22.84 in D 18.9 in
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1960, Set of 2
By Cassina, Vico Magistretti
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Vico magistretti "Carimate" dining chairs for Cassina, red lacquered wood and straw seat, Italy, 1960, set of two. The "Carimate" chair is one of Vico Magistretti’s most famous chai...
Straw, Wood
$1,754 / set
H 29.53 in W 18.51 in D 19.69 in
Vico Magistretti Set of Four Red Selene Chairs by Artemide 1970s
By Artemide, Vico Magistretti
Located in Cascina, Pisa
A set of two Selene stackable chairs in red resin reinforced with fiberglass, designed by Vico Magistretti in 1967 and produced by Artemide Milano in the 1970s. The Selene chair was designed in 1967 by Magistretti to be produced in a plastic material, as he affirmed: "The seat and the back are simple curved surfaces. For me, the legs represented the real image of the piece, with as small a volume as that of any common wooden chair. I solved it by exploiting the molding of a plastic material formed by a simple 3-millimeter-thick sheet with a simple but very resistant "S" cross-section which inter-related the object with ordinary chairs without however the elephant legs so untypical of chairs. It was fun working with the model maker on the wood model." When produced in series, "a unit comes out of the machine every five minutes": Selene is the fruit of a single compression molding process on a pre-impregnated sheet (Ottagono 15 / 1969). Magistretti solves the problem of leg resistance by adopting an "S-shaped" configuration that confers resistance to a sheet only 3 millimeters thick. The formal and structural solution had already been previously adopted for the Chimera lamp...
Plastic, Rubber
Set of 4 Plywood School Chairs by Vico Magistretti
By Vico Magistretti
Located in Toronto, CA
A set of 4 simple, stackable plywood chairs from designer Vico Magistretti. Use as desk and side chairs, or as a dining set. Cool but not too cool for school.
Wood, Plywood
Sold
H 29.5 in W 22.5 in D 18.2 in
Vintage 1970s Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Accent Dining Armchair Chair, Cassina
By Cassina, Vico Magistretti
Located in Madison, WI
For sale is a single funky vintage Vico Magistretti beauty, the "Carimate" chair by Cassina. The chair model originated in the 1960s in Italy....
Fabric, Oak
Carimate Carver Dining Chair by Vico Magistretti
By Vico Magistretti
Located in Bristol, GB
Carimate dining chair, designed by Vico Magistretti in 1959 and retailed in the UK by Terence Conran through his Habitat stores. Originally designed for the Carimate Golf Club in ...
Rush, Birch
1960s Vico Magistretti for Cassina Armchair in Leather
By Vico Magistretti, Figli di Amadeo Cassina
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vico Magistretti for Cassina, armchair , black lacquered wood and leather, Italy, 1964. Designed by Vico Magistretti and produced by ...
Leather, Wood
Carimate Chairs by Vico Magistretti, 1960s
By Vico Magistretti, Mario Luigi Comi
Located in Renens, CH
Please note only one chair left: Original Carimate chairs designed by Vico Magistretti, produced by F.li Mario Luigi Comi during the 1960s. The chair...
Rush, Beech
Vico Magistretti Marocca Chairs
By ICF De Padova, Vico Magistretti
Located in Dronten, NL
Two Marocca chairs by Vico Magistretti for De Padova. The Marocca chair is based on the classic wooden bistro chair. At first glance simple, but ever...
Beech
Sold
H 27.56 in W 39.38 in D 31.5 in
Cassina Brown Leather Lounge Chair "Maralunga" by Vico Magistretti for Cassina
By Vico Magistretti, Cassina
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vico Magistretti, lounge chair model "Maralunga" and produced by Cassina in Italy. Heavy construction with adjustable headrest. Covers made in chocolate brown leather. Chair is in or...
Leather
Sold
H 29.5 in W 18.5 in D 20 in
Set of 10 Vico Magistretti Designed Selene Stacking Chairs for Artemide in Red
By Vico Magistretti
Located in Wichita, KS
Set of 10 Vico Magistretti designed, Selene stacking chairs for Artemide, in Red. First designed in 1968, part of NYC MOMA's collection. I would consider breaking the set and se...
Plastic
Sold
H 27.56 in W 3.94 in D 31.5 in
Original "Maralunga" Lounge Chair for Cassina Designed by Vico Magistretti Italy
By Vico Magistretti, Cassina
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vico Magistretti, lounge chair model "Maralunga" and produced by Cassina in Italy. Heavy construction with adjustable headrest. Covers made in Light brown leather. Chair is in origin...
Leather
Sold
H 27.56 in W 39.38 in L 27.56 in
Cassina Brown Leather Lounge Chair "Maralunga" by Vico Magistretti for Cassina
By Vico Magistretti, Cassina
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vico Magistretti, lounge chair model "Maralunga" and produced by Cassina in Italy. Heavy construction with adjustable headrest. Covers made in chocolate brown leather. Chair is in or...
Leather
Sold
H 30 in W 18 in D 20 in
Mid-Century Modern Magistretti Artemide Set of 8 Stacking Chairs Selene, 1960s
By Vico Magistretti, Artemide
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
For your consideration is an original set of eight, acrylic, stacking, "Selene" side chairs, by Vico Magistretti for Artemide, made in Italy, circa late 1960s. In very good vintage c...
Acrylic
Sold
H 29.93 in W 19.69 in L 29.93 in
'Selene' Stacking Chairs in Crimson Red by Vico Magistretti for Artemide, 1969
By Vico Magistretti, Artemide
Located in Hitchin, England
Italian architect Vico Magistretti designed the 'Selene' chairs in 1969 for Artemide S.p.A., Milan, Italy. A Selene chair can be used both in and outdoors and are very robust being made of injection-moulded...
Plastic