Willy Rizzo

WILLY RIZZO (Naples, 1928 – Paris, 2013).
Coffee table; Italy, ca. 1970. Designed for Luminica.
Chrome-plated metal and glass.
Measurements: 76 x 74 x 36 cm.

This coffee table by Willy Rizzo is part of the tradition of Italian design from the second half of the 20th century, characterized by the combination of industrial materials and refined finishes. The geometric structure, with its straight lines and orthogonal profiles, reflects a clear minimalist aesthetic.
The table features a square-section metal frame, with alternating chrome and gold surfaces that create a subtle visual and textural hallmark. The transparency of the glass emphasizes the visual lightness of the piece, allowing the structure to be perceived as a three-dimensional drawing in space.

A designer and photographer, Willy Rizzo began his career in Paris, where he has since built a solid reputation in the world of photography. His work as a designer began in 1966, when he moved with his wife into a small apartment in central Rome, which he renovated himself, also designing the furniture. Although he never intended to become a designer, his friends soon began commissioning him after seeing his home. In fact, his clients have included such prominent figures as Salvador Dalí and Brigitte Bardot. Rizzo always admired beautiful things, both modern and antique, so he focused his aesthetic experimentation on creating modern furniture that would blend seamlessly with antique pieces. His style defined an era in Italian design, and he is recognized as the designer of La Dolce Vita. Demand for his pieces grew so great that in 1968 he decided to start his own company, through which he has since created numerous pieces—always handmade—that combine fine materials such as travertine and bronze with distinctly modern ones like steel. Over time, he opened stores in Paris and other European cities, as well as in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. In 1978, Rizzo sold his company and refocused his career on photography, having grown weary of the business world. During the ten years he spent designing furniture, Rizzo—a great admirer of Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier, and Ruhlmann—developed a style that remains easily recognizable even today. His pieces feature clean lines and geometric shapes, crafted from carefully selected materials. He always remained faithful to the traditional, artisanal use of materials, rejecting mass production and the use of plastic. Some of his designs have been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and more recently at the Madison Mallet Gallery in London.