Paris – Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr is pleased to announce the auction of exceptional works by Roberto Rida on March 12, 2025, in Paris.
This auction will offer around one hundred pieces of furniture and objects coming directly from the artist’s studio in Milan. A prominent figure of 20th-century Italian design, known for his visionary work with glass and light, Roberto Rida welcomes us into his studio in Milan’s Navigli district. Mirrors, light fixtures, consoles, cabinets, and screens inlaid with cut glass pieces catch the eye of every visitor.

A cultured and free-spirited man, the artist has continuously sought to bridge the past, present, and future by repurposing seemingly insignificant pieces of glass—some of which he polishes, others he leaves untouched. A visionary artist, Roberto Rida works without sketches, embarking on new creative experiments and producing unique pieces, completed entirely by hand without any preparatory work.

Claire Gallois, Specialist in the Design Department at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr in Paris, stated:

“This exceptional auction in Paris is a rare opportunity to discover the work of an incredibly talented artist who has dedicated his life to working with glass and reinterpreting it in deeply personal forms. His work has been exhibited in Europe as well as the United States, where many collectors of glass and contemporary design admire his creations.”

Roberto G. Rida said:

“I’ve spent my life playing. Art is my playground and glass is my toy. Offering my creations at auction marks a turning point—it allows me to pass them on to new collectors who will enjoy them in their own way.”

Born in 1943 in Milan, Roberto Giulio Rida began drawing at a very young age. His aunt, a cultured and artistic woman, would take him to visit museums, churches, and historical monuments. As a student at the Brera Academy, he proved to be highly talented. After returning from military service, he settled in Venice as an antiques dealer. Located near the historical epicenter of glass production in Europe, he met Murano glass masters who taught him the glassmaking trade over eight years.

In 1973, he returned to Milan and specialized in 20th-century decorative arts. At the same time, he began creating light fixtures and furniture covered with or inlaid with glass and crystal. As an antiques dealer, Rida had amassed, over many years, Italian glass elements from 1900 to 1950, sourced from major manufacturers such as Barovier & Toso, Fontana Arte, Venini, and Seguso, a major Murano manufacturer. He would then polish, cut, facet, and reshape these elements to incorporate them into contemporary furniture and lighting he designed himself. These exceptional glass pieces thus take on a new life, blending the traditional craftsmanship of Murano’s great manufacturers with the contemporary spirit of Rida’s designs.

His work is steeped in references to Italian heritage and culture, with nods to ancient architecture and fashion throughout.

Interior designers such as Laurence Graf and Gianni Versace have appreciated Rida’s work. So has Peter Marino, who purchased the Argo console at auction to display it in Chanel’s London flagship store. Rida has also collaborated with Milanese artists such as Alessandro Guerriero in 2011 on the Careful bar cabinet, and Simone Crestani in 2020.

(Press Release, Translated From Its Original French)