Mid-century furniture by Willy Rizzo (Italy)

Willy Rizzo was an Italian photographer, furniture designer, and bon vivant who was a major figure in mid-century modern design. He was born in Naples in 1928 and began his career as a photographer in the early 1950s. His work quickly gained him a reputation for capturing the glamour and sophistication of the jet set, and he photographed some of the most famous people of his era, including Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot, and Salvador Dalí.

In 1966, Rizzo began designing furniture. His pieces were inspired by the clean lines and simple forms of mid-century modern design, but they also had a luxurious and sensual quality that was uniquely Rizzo. He used luxurious materials such as velvet, leather, and glass, and his designs often featured curvaceous forms and bold colours.

Rizzo's furniture was a commercial success, and he opened boutiques around the world to sell his designs. He more... also designed interiors for some of the most famous homes of his era, including the homes of Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, and Gianni Agnelli.

Rizzo continued to design furniture until the late 1970s, when he returned to photography. He died in Paris in 2013 at the age of 84. less...