Founded in Bologna in 1877 by Ettore Castelli, Ebanisteria Castelli began as a group of artisan workshops producing traditional furniture. In the early 20th century it became a supplier to Italian public institutions, opening major production sites in Bologna, including Via Corticella, later home to its design center.
Under Cesare Castelli in the 1920s and 1930s, the company centralized production, expanded commercially to Rome and Milan, and embraced modern design through chief designer Antonio Nerozzi. In 1939, Anonima Castelli was formally established in Milan. During World War II, the company shifted to military production; while the Imola plant was destroyed, the Bologna facilities survived.
After the war, Castelli modernized its factories and focused on office and contract furnishings. In 1953, Metalcastelli was founded to support metal furniture production, with new plants in Bologna and Turin.
In the 1960s, with Leonida Castelli joining the company, Castelli expanded internationally and strengthened its design team, including Giancarlo Piretti. In 1965, the Castelli Chair Division was created, marking the company’s entry into domestic seating.
Castelli gained international recognition in the 1970s, notably through its participation in MoMA’s Italy: The New Domestic Landscape exhibition and the award-winning Vertebra chair by Piretti and Emilio Ambasz. The company collaborated with leading designers such as Richard Sapper, Charles Randolph Pollock and Ferdinand Alexander Porsche.
In 1988, control passed to Giulio Ponzellini, followed by a period of management changes. In 1994, Castelli was acquired by Haworth, ushering in a new phase of global development.
Since 2015, the company—now Anonima Castelli Srl—has been owned by the Pavan family. Based in Fiume Veneto, it focuses on re-editions of its iconic designs and continues to promote Italian design excellence, most recently with the opening of a Milan showroom during Design Week 2024.
