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Giovanni Offredi Cabinets

Italian, 1927-2007

Of his mid-century modern furniture designs, which marry minimalist simplicity with elegance and symmetry, Italian designer Giovanni Offredi once said: “Beauty should not be confused with appearance, since the latter is the superficial part of the form.”   

Born in Milan, in 1927, Offredi did not pursue formal education as an architect, unlike many of his contemporaries in the first half of the 20th century. He also did not begin designing furniture until later in his career. His earliest known furnishings were commissioned by wealthy Milanese families in 1960.

It wasn’t until the late 1960s — when Offredi met Sergio Saporiti, owner of Italian furniture manufacturer and design shop Saporiti — that his furniture designs would become more prominent. In 1970, Offredi entered into a partnership with Saporiti, producing several innovative and modernistic furniture lines. 

Among Offredi’s most notable pieces are the gently curving Wave chair, sofa and lounge chair, the Onda coffee table and the Paracarro dining room table, with its cylindrical concrete base, glass top and metal cross section. He also designed a series of credenzas and sideboards in lacquered wood, featuring a high gloss finish and bold colors.

Offredi enjoyed a successful collaboration with Saporiti throughout the 1970s. In 1984, he began a partnership with Italian cabinet and kitchen manufacturer Snaidero, designing modern kitchens. His final kitchen design, Kube, in 2006, featured streamlined forms, contrasting materials and colors and a recessed aluminum toe kick with a reflective mirror finish, which made the kitchen appear suspended above the ground. The kitchen won a Good Design Award from the Chicago Design Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design, in 2008. Offredi never had the opportunity to accept that prize — he died in 2007.

Although Offredi’s works are relatively obscure, they are sought out by in-the-know furniture collectors and enthusiasts worldwide. 

On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Giovanni Offredi chairs, tables, case pieces and storage cabinets.

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Creator: Giovanni Offredi
Giovanni Offredi, Mobile contenitore, prod. Saporiti, 1977
By Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti
Located in Rivoli, IT
Raro mobile contenitore mod. Bauletto in legno. Ai cassetti e ai ripiani si accede mediane lo scorrimento del settore superiore. Prod. Saporiti anni '70 Etichetta originale del Prod...
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1970s Italian Vintage Giovanni Offredi Cabinets

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Giovanni Offredi cabinets for sale on 1stDibs.

Giovanni Offredi cabinets are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Giovanni Offredi cabinets, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original cabinets by Giovanni Offredi were created in the mid-century modern style in italy during the late 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider cabinets by Vittorio Introini, Saporiti Italia, and Afra Tobia Scarpa. Prices for Giovanni Offredi cabinets can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,800 and can go as high as $13,359, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $5,282.

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