Buying Vintage in Italy: Selency Italia, Mercatini, Markets
Italy is full of underrated design. Where to hunt — markets, mercatini, platforms — and how to take a piece home without missteps.
1 MIN · 17 July 2026Italian design from the 1950s to the 1970s is coveted everywhere — and often cheaper at the source. A guide to hunting in Italy, from neighbourhood mercatini to online platforms.
The markets
The monthly mercatino (Arezzo, the largest; Milan, Navigli; Turin, Balon): Murano glass, Stilnovo lamps, Cassina chairs at prices from before the Parisian hype. Early morning, cash, you haggle.
The platforms
Selency Italia, Subito.it (the local classifieds), and dealers on 1stDibs and Pamono: searching in Italian (« lampada », « poltrona », « usato ») widens the offer and lowers the prices.
Recognising the piece
Murano (weight, pontil), Stilnovo and Arteluce (markings), Cassina (stamp). Italian provenance adds value — keep the paper trail.
Spotted a piece in Italy? Scan it on Beyit before you buy.
One photo, every piece identified.
Your room, a shop window, an inspiration screenshot: send the photo, we find the pieces and their alternatives at every price.
On iPhone, the app does the same from your camera.
Where to find Selency
At the house itself, or at the retailer that stocks it.
Gallery
4 images
