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Willy Rizzo Brass Framed Mirror, Italy, circa 1970

Creator: Willy Rizzo
Offered by: Babou New York

Description
Celebrated luxury furniture designer Willy Rizzo designed this beautiful brushed brass wall mirror, circa 1970. With sharp and clean lines, the piece is sleek and streamlined. The brushed steel is a wonderful golden hue which highlights the elegant lines.
Signed, Willy Rizzo upper right hand molding.
Size: 38 3/4" high x 27" wide x 1" deep

Willy Rizzo, (1928-2013) Born in Naples in 1928, Rizzo never intended on designing furniture. Instead, he began pursuing photography at the age of 12. By the 1960s, he had become a notable photographer, having captured images of such celebrities as Marilyn Monroe, Fred Astaire and Spanish artist Salvador Dalí. His experience with furniture design came about inadvertently when he moved to Rome in 1966. There, Rizzo rented an apartment with his wife Elsa that he described as "practically uninhabitable." Dissatisfied with the Scandinavian furniture options on offer, Rizzo built sofas, coffee tables and other furniture to suit the space's strong modern vibe. When his friends saw what he had accomplished, they were enamored by his furniture creations and commissioned him to build similar items for them.

The demand for Rizzo’s furniture grew from there. He established a production facility and workshop in Tivoli, just outside of Rome, which grew to house over 150 employees. There, finding inspiration in the work of iconic architects including Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, he created more than 30 unique furniture designs. Over the years he opened boutiques around the world to showcase and sell his furniture.

Rizzo prided himself on seamlessly blending the contemporary with the classic. “It was about creating something new for a traditional setting,” he said of his work. From his sleek sideboards to his low-profile side tables, elegant chairs and entire living room sets, Rizzo's style sensibility is evident throughout every detail of his designs.

Renowned Italian furniture designer Willy Rizzo is celebrated for having produced eye-catching, sensational showpieces that merged plush fabrics with wood, metal and glass. Influenced by European modernists and drawing on the spare forms and clean lines of the American mid-century modern style, Rizzo prized functionality and simplicity in his dazzling work.

Rizzo sold his company in 1978 and returned to photography. However, the presence of his furniture resonated into the new century and is sure to impact interior décor enthusiasts into the next. Over the years, high-profile collectors of Rizzo’s work have included French actress Brigitte Bardot, Salvador Dalí and American musician Lenny Kravitz.

More Information

Documentation:	Signed
Origin:	Italy
Period:	1950-1979
Materials:	Brass, Brushed
Condition:	Good. Wear consistent with age and use. One small dent below the Willy Rizzo signature on the upper right hand molding, small scratches on the top upper right hand frame.
Creation Date:	1970
Styles / Movements:	Modern, Mid Century
Incollect Reference #:	706446

Dimensions

W.	27 in;	H.	38.75 in;	D.	1 in;
W.	68.58 cm;	H.	98.43 cm;	D.	2.54 cm;

Message from Seller:

We are devoted to showcasing beautiful objects; the unique, the exceptional and the unexpected. We are an independent business based in New York City. We work with architects, interior designers and private clients around the globe. Babou features European furniture, art and objects from the 17th century through the 1970’s with an emphasis on classic and iconic Italian and French modernist design. Contact us 917.664.4449