Willy Rizzo for Mario Sabot, large backlit bookshelf, 1970.

Large double shelf / display cabinet / bookcase in laminated wood with chrome metal mouldings. Attributed to or by Willy Rizzo, a renowned Italian designer distributed worldwide in the 1970s/80s/90s. Discreet lighting at the back of the front uprights (see photo) including 8 neon tubes. In very good original condition, no dents in the laminate or the chrome metal uprights. Edition by Mario Sabot or Cidue from the 1970s. Price to take away. Biography: Italian designer and photographer Willy Rizzo (1928-2013) made a name for himself in the 1960s as a photographer, developing a passion for interior design in the 1970s and launching a successful second career as a luxury furniture designer. Born in Naples in 1928, he began his career in the 1940s as a journalist. His reputation grew rapidly, and he was soon hired by France Dimanche to photograph wealthy and famous personalities at events like the Cannes Film Festival. Willy Rizzo's charm opened doors to royalty and dignitaries. He photographed dozens of stars, including Brigitte Bardot, Maria Callas, Salvador Dalí, Marlene Dietrich, Jane Fonda, Gene Kelly, and Gregory Peck. He also befriended famous personalities like Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, and Jack Nicholson. In 1962, he captured some of the last moments of Marilyn Monroe. In 1968, it was in Rome that Willy Rizzo began his career as a furniture designer, starting in his own apartment. Initially for personal use, Willy Rizzo created a series of unique pieces inspired by modernist icons like Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier. He gained an international reputation as a designer for the rich and famous. His team consisted of 150 collaborators, and he opened shops in France and across Europe, as well as in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles.