Vico Magistretti Chairs
Italian, 1920-2006
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.
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Creator: Vico Magistretti
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1960, Set of 6
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 six.
The "Carimate" chair is one of Vico Magistretti’s most famous ...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Straw, Wood
Vico Magistretti Beech + Woven Rush Carimate Chair
By Vico Magistretti
Located in Round Top, TX
Gorgeous vintage Vico Magistretti "Carimate" chair with Cassina attribution. The original woven rush seat remains in good condition.
The original design was created for the Club Hou...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Rush, Beech
Set of 4 "Carimate" Chairs
By Cassina, Vico Magistretti
Located in Forest, BE
An icon of Italian design, the Carimate chair combines a lacquered solid wood frame with a handwoven straw seat. Designed by Vico Magistretti for Cassina in the 1960s, it stands out ...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Straw, Wood, Lacquer
$9,628 / set
Set of 4 Orange Selene Chairs by Vico Magistretti for Artemide, Italy 1969
By Artemide, Vico Magistretti
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful set of 4 orange Selene chairs. These iconic chairs were designed by Vico Magistretti and produced by Artemide in Italy in 1969.
Fully original and in great vintage conditi...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Red Gaudi Chairs by Vico Magistretti for Artemide, 1970s, Set of 4
By Vico Magistretti, Artemide
Located in Rouen, FR
Édités par Artemide dans les années 70, ces fauteuils Gaudi signés Vico Magistretti sont devenus des classiques du design italien. Avec leur silhouette sculpturale en polypropylène m...
Category
1970s Italian Space Age Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1960, Set of 6
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 six.
The "Carimate" chair is one of Vico Magistretti’s most famous ch...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Straw, Wood
Space Age Vintage Yellow Plastic Armchair Gaudi by Vico Magistretti 1968 Italy
By Vico Magistretti, Artemide
Located in Vienna, AT
Space Age vintage armchair model Gaudi by Vico Magistretti from plastic in yellow color tone for Artemide 1968, Italy.
The wonderful armchair model Gaudi in the rare color tone lemon yellow shows...
Category
1960s Italian Space Age Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Vico Magistretti Midcentury “Carimate” Dining Chair for Cassina, 1963, Set of 4
By Cassina, Vico Magistretti
Located in Vicenza, IT
Set of 4 “Carimate” chairs designed by Vico Magistretti and produced by Cassina in 1963.
Initially commissioned for the Carimate Golf club near Milan, they were then produced for t...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Beech, Straw
Vico Magistretti Black Leather Golem Dining Chairs for Pozzi, 1968, Set of 8
By Poggi, Vico Magistretti
Located in Vicenza, IT
Set of 8 Golem chairs designed by Vico Magistretti and manufactured by the Italian brand Poggi in 1968.
Excellent vintage condition.
This design creation speaks for itself. It fea...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Leather, Beech
Vico Magistretti Set of Twelve Black Carimate Chairs by Cassina 1960s
By Vico Magistretti, Cassina
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Set of twelve Carimate chairs with structure in black lacquered beech wood and woven straw seat, designed by Vico Magistretti and produced by Cassina in the 1960s.
The Carimate cha...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Straw, Beech
Vico Magistretti Model Vm110 Vico Duo
By Vico Magistretti, Fritz Hansen
Located in Berkeley, CA
The Vico Duo is a stylish veneer stacking chair by Vico Magistretti that is versatile and perfectly suited for agile workspace and hospitality design.
Frit...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Oak
$370 / item
Vico Magistretti Model Vm111 Vico Duo
By Vico Magistretti, Fritz Hansen
Located in Berkeley, CA
The Vico Duo is a stylish veneer stacking chair by Vico Magistretti that is versatile and perfectly suited for agile workspace and hospitality design.
The ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Oak
$448 / item
Magistretti Carimate Full Gloss Dining Chair Hand Finished with Custom Seatpads
By Vico Magistretti
Located in Cheltenham, GB
The much-adored Carimate Chair, coveted amongst Magistretti collectors, is a sophisticated addition to any dining table setting. They were originally crafted for the Carimate golf cl...
Category
1960s British Scandinavian Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Cotton, Linen, Oak
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, green lacquered wood and straw seat, Italy, 1960, set of eight.
The "Carimate" chair is one of Vico Magistretti’s most famou...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Straw, Wood
Vico Magistretti "122" Chairs for Cassina, Red Leather, 1967, Set of 4
By Vico Magistretti, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Vico Magistretti "122" chairs for Cassina, dark brown wood and red leather, Italy, 1967, set of four.
The "122" chairs designed by Vico Magistretti in 1967 have a sculptural design,...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Leather, Beech, Plywood
Mid-Century Modern Italian Pair of Armchairs in Lacquered Wood By Magistretti
By Vico Magistretti
Located in Prato, IT
Mid-Century Modern Italian Pair of armchairs in lacquered wood with upholstered leather seat by Vico Magistretti. 1970s
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Leather, Upholstery, Wood
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1960, Set of 14
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 fourteen.
The "Carimate" chair is one of Vico Magistretti’s most famo...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Straw, Wood
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1960, Set of 16
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 sixteen.
The "Carimate" chair is one of Vico Magistretti’s most famou...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Straw, Wood
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1960, Set of 10
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 ten.
The "Carimate" chair is...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Straw, Wood
Set of 8 Vico Magistretti “Vico Duo” Armchairs for Fritz Hansen, 1997
By Vico Magistretti
Located in BERKEL EN RODENRIJS, NL
Set of 8 original “Vico Duo” armchairs designed by Vico Magistretti for Fritz Hansen in 1997. These elegant and stackable chairs feature moulded plywood seats with a warm wood finish...
Category
1990s European Mid-Century Modern Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Metal
Cassina green Carimate Chair in rare birchwood by Vico Magistretti, Set of 6
By Cassina, Vico Magistretti
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Cassina Model Carimate chair by Vico Magistretti.
Comfortable dining chairs with with armrests.
This version is very rare in birchwood.
It is very hard to find it in birch.
Made of ...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Papercord, Lacquer, Birch
Italian Midcentury Black Wood Golem Chairs, Vico Magistretti, Carlo Poggi, 1968
By Vico Magistretti, Succ. Carlo Poggi
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid century modern set of four black lacquered curved wood Golem chairs by Vico Magistretti for Carlo Poggi Pavia, 1968.
Golem model chairs with black lacquered wooden struct...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Wood
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1960 Set of 12
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 twelve.
The "Carimate" chair is one of Vico Magistretti’s most famous c...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Straw, Wood
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1960, Set of 12
By Cassina, Vico Magistretti
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" dining chairs for Cassina, green lacquered wood and straw seat, Italy, 1960, set of twelve.
The "Carimate" chair is one of Vico Magistretti’s most famous...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Straw, Wood
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1960, Set of 10
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 ten.
The "Carimate" chair is one of Vico Magistretti’s most famous ch...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Straw, Wood
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1960, Set of 14
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 fourteen.
The "Carimate" chair is one of Vico Magistretti’s most fa...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Straw, Wood
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1960, Set of 12
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 twelve.
The "Carimate" chair is one of Vico Magistretti’s most famous...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Straw, Wood
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1960, Set of 10
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 ten.
The "Carimate" chair is one of Vico Magistretti’s most famous ...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Straw, Wood
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1960, Set of 14
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 fourteen.
The "Carimate" chair is one of Vico Magistretti’s most famo...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Straw, Wood
Vico Magistretti, Carimate, Six Chairs, Cassina, 1960s
By Cassina, Vico Magistretti
Located in Paris, FR
Vico Magistretti (1920-2006)
Carimate
A set of six red lacquered beech wood and straw chairs, each with four cylindrical feet and conforming back, with a square seat covered with s...
Category
1960s Italian Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Beech
Vico Magistretti, Pair of Chairs, Model 122, Cassina, 1960s
By Vico Magistretti, Cassina
Located in Paris, FR
A pair of dark brown walnut stackable dining chairs. Each with a bent plywood back, the seat upholstered with burgundy velvet on four feet.
Manufactured by Cassina.
Italy.
1967.
P...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vico Magistretti Chairs
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Vico Magistretti chairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Vico Magistretti chairs 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 Vico Magistretti chairs, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 80 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 3 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original chairs by Vico Magistretti were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider chairs by Giancarlo Piretti, Gio Ponti, and Charlotte Perriand. Prices for Vico Magistretti chairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $257 and can go as high as $33,600, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $6,675.
Creators Similar to Vico Magistretti
Questions About Vico Magistretti Chairs
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The Carimate chair for Cassina is one of the most celebrated pieces of Vico Magistretti but this designer is also well known for the Eclipse Table Lamp, Selene Stacking Chair, Chimera Lamp and more. He is seen as one of Italy’s most influential industrial designers, furniture designers and architects. Shop a collection of Magistretti furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
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