Diego Giacometti Furniture
For Swiss sculptor Diego Giacometti, a talent for art ran in the family — his brothers were multi-disciplinary artist Alberto Giacometti and architect Bruno Giacometti, and their father was Post-Impressionist painter Giovanni Giacometti. But Diego was a gifted artist in his own right, creating furniture and lively animal sculptures that earned him considerable acclaim in his later years.
Diego was born in the farming village of Borgonovo in 1902. The Giacometti patriarch encouraged his sons to pursue art, and Diego and Alberto began working together in a Paris studio when Diego was 25. They engaged in a rivalry that is typical of like-minded siblings but were also supportive of one another.
Alberto pushed Diego to become a caster, and Diego served as his brother’s assistant, helping bring his designs to life. Diego also sat as a model for many of Alberto's now-revered sculptures and busts, as the sculptor worked chiefly with models plucked from his personal life. The duo also regularly created artwork and objects for French interior and furniture designer Jean-Michel Frank, whose other collaborators included Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.
Diego began focusing more on his own bronze sculpture during World War II. Inspired by his childhood farm life, he created bronze horses, dogs, cats, mice and foxes. During the late 1940s, Alberto began work on his most famous modernist sculptures — very tall and thin figurines that came to be associated with frailty and loneliness — while Diego branched out into furniture design. The latter’s tables, seating and other pieces earned him an array of devoted clientele. Celebrated French fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy sought his work out with frequency.
After Alberto died in 1966, Diego continued designing furniture and attracting more clients. He worked on projects for Fondation Maeght, Marc Chagall National Museum and Musée Picasso Paris.
Find a collection of original Diego Giacometti art and furniture on 1stDibs.
Late 20th Century American Expressionist Diego Giacometti Furniture
Metal, Bronze, Copper
20th Century American Rustic Diego Giacometti Furniture
Metal, Iron
1980s French Modern Vintage Diego Giacometti Furniture
Wool
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Diego Giacometti Furniture
Plaster
1980s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Diego Giacometti Furniture
Wrought Iron
20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Diego Giacometti Furniture
Wrought Iron
1980s American Greco Roman Vintage Diego Giacometti Furniture
Wrought Iron
1940s Mexican Modern Vintage Diego Giacometti Furniture
Wood, Paper
1970s Vintage Diego Giacometti Furniture
Plaster
Early 1900s British Folk Art Antique Diego Giacometti Furniture
Paper
1960s Post-Modern Vintage Diego Giacometti Furniture
Plaster, Paint
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Diego Giacometti Furniture
Metal
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Diego Giacometti Furniture
Iron
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Diego Giacometti Furniture
Iron
Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Antique Diego Giacometti Furniture
Ceramic, Faience
20th Century French Modern Diego Giacometti Furniture
Wool
1960s European Modern Vintage Diego Giacometti Furniture
Bronze
1980s French Modern Vintage Diego Giacometti Furniture
Wool
1980s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Diego Giacometti Furniture
Wool
20th Century American Classical Greek Diego Giacometti Furniture
Bronze
1980s French Vintage Diego Giacometti Furniture
Wool
1970s French Vintage Diego Giacometti Furniture
Ink, Paper
Late 20th Century French Modern Diego Giacometti Furniture
Late 20th Century American Diego Giacometti Furniture
Bronze