Lino Sabattini was the preeminent figure in modern Italian silver and metalware design. His expansive and diverse body of work is marked by its strength and boldness, whether in dynamic forms that suggest the thrust and power of Italian Futurist art and design or light and curvaceous biomorphic serveware and decorative objects.
Sabattini was largely self-taught as a designer. Born in the northern Italian town of Correggio, he learned metalsmithing techniques while working in the studio of a maker of brass tableware. He also served as an apprentice of sorts to the expatriate German ceramist Roland Hettner, who taught Sabattini about fluidity of form and showed him how shapes derive from the behavior of materials.
At age 30, Sabattini opened a studio in Milan, and his work quickly came to the attention of Gio Ponti, who decided to publish it in Domus, the Italian design legend's influential design and architecture magazine. Ponti also arranged for Sabattini’s creations to be included in a 1956 exhibition of contemporary Italian design in Paris. The principals of Christofle, the revered French silverware maker, were so impressed that they hired the young designer as the firm’s artistic director, a post he held until 1963. Sabattini, who would also go on to design ceramic wares for Rosenthal, returned home to open Argenteria Sabattini in Bregnano, a company still in business today.
A designer with a questing curiosity and ever-evolving aesthetic sensibility, Sabattini couldn’t be pinned down to one particular style. His best-known work, the Como coffee and tea service of 1956, has an elegant, attenuated and energetic form; his Stairs coffee and tea service (1971), meanwhile, is a clever group of simple columnar shapes in stepped heights, which nest together in a compact arrangement. Other Sabattini pieces have dramatic angles, or sweeping, wing-like flourishes, or consist of perforated ovoids somehow reminiscent of sculptures by Brancusi. In any style, Sabattini produced objects of singular fascination.
Find a range of vintage Lino Sabattini vases and other decorative objects on 1stDibs.
Italian Black Plexiglass Decorative Panel with Animal by Lino Sabattini, 1980s
By Lino Sabattini
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian black plexiglass decorative panel with animal by Lino Sabattini, 1980s Black plexiglass decorative panel with eight silhouettes of animals in silver-plated brass by Lino Sab...
Silver
Vintage Decorative Panel by Roberto Cavalli, 2000s
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in Roma, IT
Monumental decorative wall panel composed of nine square modules arranged in a precise 3 x 3 grid, each inset with a circular polished metal element. Overall dimensions: 180 x 180 cm...
Metal
Sicilian Glazed Terracotta Wall Decoration, Italy, 1980s
Located in Palermo, IT
Sicilian glazed terracotta wall decoration, Italy, 1980s Reproduced a shovel of prickly pears. It is in excellent condition.
Terracotta
$4,434
H 14.38 in W 16.54 in D 1.97 in
Birger Kaipiainen "Duetto" Decorative Dish in Black & Gold Beads, Arabia 1980s
By Arabia, Birger Kaipiainen
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful “Duetto” ceramic wall plate by Birger Kaipiainen for Arabia, featuring two large flowers surrounded by clocks and bees. Black and gold beading, iridescent glaze dots and ...
Ceramic, Beads
Paper Artwork with Wood Frame by Ugo La Pietra, Italy, 1980s
By Ugo La Pietra
Located in Milan, IT
Remarkable artwork by Ugo La Pietra. Wood frame and handwritten signature on the front.
Paper
$1,553
H 27.01 in W 20.01 in D 0.79 in
Antique Black Lacquer Chinoiserie Decorative Panel with Gilt Figures
Located in Nottingham, GB
A striking 20th century decorative panel executed in the Chinoiserie tradition, featuring an elegant black lacquer ground richly embellished with raised and gilt-painted decoration. ...
Wood, Lacquer
Teak Wood Decorative Panels with Japanese Kimono Figures
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Series of three decorative panels made of teak hardwood; they have a pleasing elongated hexagon shape; on each one is depicted a Japanese woman wearing a Kimono; they have an attachment so they can be arranged on the wall in a personal way. They were produced in Denmark between 1960 and 1965. The top one (see photo) and the bottom one present the "Furisode" Kimono, while the middle one is the Uchikake Kimono...
Teak
Tejo Black and White Handmade Decorative Tile Panel
By Theia Tiles
Located in Lisbon, PT
This handmade decorative tile panel combines the traditional Portuguese faience tile making techniques with a modern approach of shapes and color, res...
Faience, Wood
$1,030Sale Price|20% Off
H 18.9 in W 59.85 in D 0.2 in
Vintage Decorative Wall Panel, Middle Eastern, Textile Frieze, Sequins, C.1980
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage decorative wall panel. A Middle Eastern, ornate textile frieze with sequins and faux gemstones, dating to the late 20th century, circa 1980. Eye-catching panel with great colour and highlights Displays a desirable aged patina throughout Issuing multiple fascinations, with distinct decorative sections Sequins and faux gemstones in a myriad of colours glisten in the light Nine metal hoops to upper edge for ease of wall hanging This is a distinctive vintage wall panel...
Textile
Decorative Art Tile, Roger Capron for Marazzi, Italy c. 1980
By Roger Capron
Located in St Ouen, FR
Unique decoration on earthenware made to order by the Artist for the famous Italian decorative ceramics firm Marazzi. We offer a total of 3 tiles from this series of extremely rare u...
Earthenware
Unique Decorative Art Tile, Roger Capron, Italy c. 1980
By Roger Capron
Located in St Ouen, FR
Unique decoration on earthenware made to order by the Artist for the famous Italian decorative ceramics firm Marazzi. An ode to love and wine carried by a shepherdess treated in a ve...
Earthenware
$1,593Sale Price|25% Off
H 73 in W 64 in D 1 in
Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Screen Att. Decorative Crafts, 4 Panel Wall Art
By Decorative Crafts
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a late 20th century chinoiserie screen attributed to Decorative Crafts. It has four panels that would make it versatile to wor...
Wood
Italian, 18th Century Decorative Panel
By Bonzanigo
Located in New York, NY
A neoclassical painted and gilded overdoor panel in the manner of Giuseppe Maria Bonzanigo, circa 1790.
Wood
$948 / item
H 76.78 in W 23.63 in D 0.25 in
Art Glass F Black Decorative Panel for Multiple Uses Dimension Customizable
By sicis
Located in London, GB
A combination of special techniques and process has created glass sheets that capture the timeless and limitless beauty of precious stones, lava rock, as well as dream landscape. Th...
Art Glass
Unique Decorative Art Tile, Roger Capron, Italy c. 1980
By Roger Capron
Located in St Ouen, FR
Unique decoration on earthenware made to order for the famous Italian decorative ceramics firm Marazzi. With this freehand monochrome drawing, just like a print, the Artist delivers ...
Earthenware
Decorative Art Tile, Roger Capron for Marazzi, Italy c. 1980
By Roger Capron
Located in St Ouen, FR
Unique decoration on earthenware made to order by the Artist for the famous Italian decorative ceramics firm Marazzi. With the exception of a tiny chip on the upper left corner, the...
Earthenware