Officina Rivadossi Chairs
Italian sculptor, furniture designer and maestro d’arte e mestiere (master of art and craft) Giuseppe Rivadossi is considered one of the 20th century’s leading woodworkers. His hand-carved, mid-century modern furniture — as well as the work of Officina Rivadossi, the firm he cofounded — has been described as poetic, ancient, ethereal and soulful.
Rivadossi was born in 1935 in Monteclana di Nave, where he still lives and works today. He began woodworking at an early age, learning the craft from his father, who founded a carpentry business in 1920. In 1962, Rivadossi took over his father’s workshop and transformed it into an artistic atelier, creating sculptural furniture and objets d’art.
Toward the late 1960s, Rivadossi’s friends and fellow woodworking artists encouraged him to exhibit his wooden sculptures at shows throughout Italy. In 1968, he participated in his first sculpture exhibition, which led to others throughout the 1970s, such as the Triennale di Milano in 1974 and the Biennale di Mentone in 1976. That same year, Rivadossi and several collaborators established Officina Rivadossi, which specialized in wooden objects, sculptures and modern furniture. Pieces included walnut dining room tables, oak sideboards and architectonic dining chairs and armchairs suitable for the home or office.
From the 1980s through the 2000s, Rivadossi’s designs took on a more organic, architectural approach. For instance, his Custodia Lombarda cabinet comprises two doors with hand-carved latticework that gradually reduces size. His decorative boxes with grooved textures, geometric patterns and curved forms also double as desktop sculptures.
In 2013, Officina Rivadossi evolved to become Habito di Giuseppe Rivadossi, which Rivadossi runs with his two sons Emanuele and Clemente. Since then, the furniture firm has shown at numerous exhibitions, including Salone del Mobile di Milano, the London Design Festival, PAD Paris and BRAFA Art Fair, in Brussels. Also, in 2018, Rivadossi received the prestigious Maestro d’Arte e Mestiere award at the Triennale di Milano.
On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage and contemporary Officina Rivadossi case pieces, tables and dining chairs.
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Officina Rivadossi Chairs
Oak
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Officina Rivadossi Chairs
Walnut
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Officina Rivadossi Chairs
Leather, Walnut
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Officina Rivadossi Chairs
Oak
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Officina Rivadossi Chairs
Walnut, Faux Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Mid-Century Modern Officina Rivadossi Chairs
Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Officina Rivadossi Chairs
Leather
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Officina Rivadossi Chairs
Stainless Steel
Mid-19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Officina Rivadossi Chairs
Cherry
1970s Belgian Ming Vintage Officina Rivadossi Chairs
Wood
20th Century Italian Officina Rivadossi Chairs
Metal
1950s French Modern Vintage Officina Rivadossi Chairs
Steel
Mid-20th Century French Officina Rivadossi Chairs
Brass
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Officina Rivadossi Chairs
Brass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Officina Rivadossi Chairs
Chrome
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Officina Rivadossi Chairs
Leather, Rosewood
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Officina Rivadossi Chairs
Wood, Oak
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Officina Rivadossi Chairs
Oak
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Officina Rivadossi Chairs
Wood
