Midcentury Capiz Shell Pendant Light by Willy Daro, 1950s, Belgium

Willy Daro’s sculptural furniture creations double as striking works of art. The designer is known for his glitzy Hollywood Regency-style lighting fixtures, including a range of elegant table lamps, wall lights and ceiling lights. Collectors also gravitate toward vintage Willy Daro coffee tables — with their provocatively winding bases of brass or travertine, these pieces exude sophistication in any modern space. 

Daro established his design studio after World War II. In the early 1960s, he opened Les Nouveaux Ateliers Willy Daro in Brussels, where he produced furniture for nearly three decades until the workshop closed in 1987.

Most of Daro’s most famous designs were created during the 1970s when he garnered attention for an innovative use of natural materials. Daro’s audacious furnishings featured an unlikely merging of brass, minerals, fossils, coral, shells and stones. The works from this era frequently share commonalities with brutalist-style design while retaining a luxurious look and feel.

Daro’s lighting fixtures add visual intrigue to bedrooms and living rooms. Each lamp, pendant and chandelier has a distinct personality, such as through the contrast of a metallic finish with a large shell or a geode. Daro’s fixtures often see an integration of botanical and floral flourishes, complete with intricate brass leaves and petals. His tables similarly draw on the natural world — metal bases shaped like bonsai trees are topped with thick glass surfaces that allow for visibility of the sculptural forms below. Today, Daro's pieces remain highly collectible, fetching considerable prices at auction.

Find vintage Willy Daro furniture on 1stDibs.