Renowned Italian furniture designer Willy Rizzo is celebrated for having produced eye-catching, sensational showpieces that merged plush fabrics with wood, metal and glass. Influenced by European modernists and drawing on the spare forms and clean lines of the American mid-century modern style, Rizzo prized functionality and simplicity in his dazzling work.
Born in Naples, Rizzo never intended on designing furniture. Instead, he began pursuing photography at the age of 12. By the 1960s, he had become a notable photographer, having captured images of such celebrities as Marilyn Monroe, Fred Astaire and Spanish artist Salvador Dalí. His experience with furniture design came about inadvertently when he moved to Rome in 1966. There, Rizzo rented an apartment with his wife Elsa that he described as "practically uninhabitable." Dissatisfied with the Scandinavian furniture options on offer, Rizzo built sofas, coffee tables and other furniture to suit the space's strong modern vibe. When his friends saw what he had accomplished, they were enamored by his furniture creations and commissioned him to build similar items for them.
The demand for Rizzo’s furniture grew from there. He established a production facility and workshop in Tivoli, just outside of Rome, which grew to house over 150 employees. There, finding inspiration in the work of iconic architects including Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, he created more than 30 unique furniture designs. Over the years he opened boutiques around the world to showcase and sell his furniture.
Rizzo prided himself on seamlessly blending the contemporary with the classic. “It was about creating something new for a traditional setting,” he said of his work. From his sleek sideboards to his low-profile side tables, elegant chairs and entire living room sets, Rizzo's style sensibility is evident throughout every detail of his designs.
Rizzo sold his company in 1978 and returned to photography. However, the presence of his furniture resonated into the new century and is sure to impact interior décor enthusiasts into the next. Over the years, high-profile collectors of Rizzo’s work have included French actress Brigitte Bardot, Salvador Dalí and American musician Lenny Kravitz.
On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage Willy Rizzo tables, lighting, seating and storage pieces.
Maison Jansen Modernist Backgammon Games Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Very Minimalist and masculine. This chromed steel and mirror glass backgammon games table, Maison Jansen, circa 1975. Backgammon is a game of strategy...
Chrome
Attributed Karl Springer 1977 Goatskin Backgammon Game Table
By Karl Springer
Located in Miami, FL
Extremely rare goatskin backgammon game table including bakelite game pieces. All Original Condition Beautiful Table with Top that pops out to display the backgammon game board. Mi...
Wood, Goatskin
$14,969 / item
H 29.93 in W 33.08 in D 33.08 in
Art Deco Sliding Backgammon Table by Ginger Brown, Shagreen & Brass
By Ginger Brown
Located in Bourguebus, FR
This square table is made for gamers. It has a sliding top. When it's closed your can play cards and when it's opened you can play backgammon. The top is made of shagreen, wood and b...
Brass
Iron and Oak Backgammon Table
Located in Denton, TX
Vintage rustic iron table with zig zag style legs and rustic thick oak with painted backgammon design. Other measurements: painted board size: 13.5 length x 12.5 width whole boa...
Iron
$1,199 / item
H 1.97 in W 13.59 in D 23.63 in
Backgammon Tray in Shagreen, Shell and Bronze Patina Brass by Kifu, Paris
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by skilled artisans, ultimately making each piece unique, designed in Paris and produced in the Philippines. The KIFU PARIS Backgammon Game Tray is the ultimate luxury game. Accented with a mixture of shagreen, pen shell and bronze-patina brass this piece comes with all game parts in a velvet pouch. Available in a light or dark color-way. The dimensions of this piece are 60 x 34.5 x 5 cm All Kifu Paris pieces are handmade by artisans, ultimately making each piece unique. Custom color/sizing available on request. Wipe clean with soft dry cloth. Although inspired by her parents, her collection of Home Accessories and Furniture is a distinct identity of its own. Kifu uses handmade techniques of elaborate inlay patterns of shagreen, shells, semi-precious stones, materials she experienced as a child growing up in her parent’s studio, but interpreted in a younger quirkier way reflecting her youth. From her "jewelry inspired knobs" on decorative boxes, gold bar boxes and an extravagant inlay pattern mix of shagreen and shell inspired by galactic constellations, as seen on her enormous round mirror...
Brass
James de Wulf Concrete Backgammon Coffee Table
By James de Wulf
Located in Paia, HI
Concrete Backgammon Game Table by James de Wulf. Each table is made custom for indoor and outdoor living areas. The table is sealed and waxed for a unique luster. Table will devel...
Concrete
1970s Willy Rizzo Square Two-Tiered Coffee Table
By Willy Rizzo
Located in New York, NY
A square French two-tiered low side tables with chrome and gunmetal finish metal and smokey glass tops. By Willy Rizzo* for Linea Flaminia. From the estate of Mrs. C.Z. Guest (Mrs. W...
Chrome
$7,290Sale Price / item|25% Off
H 29.93 in W 33.47 in D 28.75 in
Jacoby Backgammon Table Leather Wood Handmade in Portugal by Wood Tailors Club
Located in RIO TINTO, PT
The earliest known mention of Backgammon was in a letter dated 1635 when it was emerging as a variant of the popular medieval Anglo-Scottish game. Regarded as the second world backgammon champion, Oswald Jacoby is remembered as an iconic player. Tributing Jacoby and all the backgammon players, Wood Tailors Club designers conceived this exquisite game table. Leather-wrapped edges top and wood surface open to reveal a marquetry wood table...
Leather, Wood
$6,693 / item
H 27.96 in W 13.39 in D 23.63 in
Backgammon Chess Table in Shagreen and Brass by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by skilled artisans, ultimately making each piece unique, designed in Paris and produced in the Philippines. The Cecelia game table by R&Y Augousti inlaid in a mixture of cream shagreen, black pen shell and brass is the ultimate luxury piece of furniture. The top tabletop tray...
Brass
$8,553Sale Price / item|25% Off
H 30.32 in W 30.71 in D 29.53 in
Holland Backgammon Table Marble Marquetry Handmade in Portugal by Wood Tailors
Located in RIO TINTO, PT
Although the earliest known mention of Backgammon was in a letter dated 1635 when it was emerging as a variant of the popular medieval Anglo-Scottish game, it is one of the most popular board games. Tributing the first world backgammon champion, Tim Holland, Wood Tailors Club designers conceived this exquisite game table. Marble-wrapped edges top and wood surface flips to reveal a marquetry wood table...
Marble
Vintage Double Wide Oak and Suede Backgammon Table, 1980s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Classic oak and suede backgammon table. Unusual in that it has two playing fields. Playing surface is a cream suede with alternating burgundy and dark brown suede triangles. Chic color scheme and presence. Each side has wooden chip holders and dice tray...
Leather, Oak
Suede Backgammon and Chess Table, 1990s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant game table with removal top. One side of the table is plain suede and the reverse side is a chess board in suede. Cover lifts off to reveal suede backgammon playing surface. ...
Glass, Suede, Wood
Faceted Lucite Backgammon Table by Charles Hollis Jones
By Charles Hollis Jones
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Faceted Lucite backgammon table with removable glass table top. Entire table is a thick clear Lucite giving this piece a great open feel and mi...
Glass, Lucite
Romeo Rega Perspex Chess Table, 1970s Italy
By Romeo Rega
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant and beautiful chess table by Romeo Rega. Full chrome base with a thick, heavy, lucite inlay which supports the chess board. Perspex chess pieces are made with lucite bodies a...
Brass, Chrome
Jacques Adnet Green Leather and Wood Game Table, 1950s France
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning leather table by French designer Jacques Adnet. Green leather wrapped bamboo style legs with leather wrapped top and corners. Original wood tabletop. Brass detailing through...
Brass
Wood and Zinc Foosball Table, 1950s Italy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Who wants to play? Fantastic mid-20th-century foosball table featuring black legs and a hardwood body. Popular in the Italian nightlife and bars in the 1950s, it was built for lively...
Zinc
