Villa Caffetto's unique art collection now available on Catawiki

Proceeds will support Villa Caffetto, now a thriving cultural center in the heart of Brescia.

A special collaboration that opens the brutalist home-museum and private art archives bringing unique pieces to the international public

Starting 10 April, a special auction celebrates Claudio Caffetto’s life and work in the post-war Italian art scene. 

Milan, April 10, 2025 – A brutalist villa in the heart of Brescia, a visionary artist, and a collection that—until now—had remained hidden within the walls of a very special place. For the first time, the treasures of Villa Caffetto leave the intimacy of the atelier to meet the public: the result is the exclusive and unprecedented auction Villa Caffetto x Catawiki: Masterpieces from the Italian Brutalist Villa—a rare opportunity to engage directly with the creative world of Claudio Caffetto, the artist and collector who passed away two years ago, and with the many artists with whom he shared ideas, materials, and friendships.

Running from 10 to 22 April, the auction features 35 works - present both in the house and in the artist’s archive - including paintings and sculptures by Caffetto himself as well as key figures from Italy’s post-war art scene. It is a unique opportunity to discover and collect emblematic pieces while also supporting a living cultural initiative. The proceeds from the auction will fund the maintenance and artistic programming of Villa Caffetto, recently transformed into a space for artistic residencies, research, and creative exchange.



Villa Caffetto, Calcinato (Brescia) 

A legacy that continues to inspire

Villa Caffetto, designed by architect Bontempi and commissioned by Claudio Caffetto himself, is a rare Brutalist gem surrounded by greenery in the Brescia region. Today it serves as the headquarters of a cultural association committed to preserving and reviving this legacy through exhibitions, concerts, guided tours, and artist residencies, echoing Caffetto’s vision of a home-studio where art and life are one.

“The Villa has always been a space for exchange and experimentation,” says Metilde Caffetto, daughter of the artist and current steward of the project. “Over the years, my father worked with extraordinary figures like Gino Cosentino, Alberto Meli, Miguel Berrocal, Rinaldo Pigola, Franco Grignani, Dadamaino, Delima Medeiros, Hsiao Chin, G.A. Cavellini… Together they created bold and unique works in bronze, copper, pewter—as well as wood and terracotta. We are truly grateful to Catawiki for helping us share this heritage with a wider and passionate audience.”


Claudio Caffetto

Villa Caffetto and Catawiki: a private archive opens to the world

A tribute to Claudio Caffetto, the auction is a rare example of a curatorial project that weaves together art, architecture, and collective memory. Each work was carefully selected to represent a fragment of the rich network of artistic relationships Caffetto cultivated throughout his life—a visual archive spanning decades, materials, and styles, with contributions from key figures in the Italian and European scene.

The auction also marks a special collaboration with Villa Caffetto, which—for the first time—opens its private art archive to the public. The result is a carefully curated selection of works that would otherwise have remained unseen within the Villa’s private space.

The initiative also carries a tangible impact and a spirit of generosity toward the cultural landscape of Brescia and beyond: all proceeds will support the cultural activities that now animate the Villa, breathing new life into the spirit of experimentation and hospitality that defined Caffetto’s artistic journey.

“The Villa Caffetto auction is a deeply personal journey through the cultural history of our country and, above all, into the intimate world of an artist and an era,” explains Giulia Couzzi, modern and contemporary art expert at Catawiki. “Each piece tells a story, every detail is a trace of a shared creative moment: works born from rare collaborations, unexpected encounters, lifelong friendships. To see them—and even collect them—is a rare privilege in the art world, both for collectors and for anyone looking to engage with art in an authentic and curious way.”

Highlights from the auction on Catawiki:

Dadamaino – Cromorilievo: A rigorous and vibrant work by the Milanese artist, emblematic of the Italian avant-garde.

Miguel Berrocal (1933-2006) – Dalarium: A dynamic and deconstructed sculpture reflecting the artist’s mechanical and poetic vision. 

Estimate: €25,000–€35,000.

Estimate: €2,000–€3,000.



François Morellet (1926-2016) – Prototipo: A minimal and modular structure based on mathematical balance and visual tension.

Claudio Caffetto (1942-2022) – Bue muschiato: An intense, primal sculpture in which raw material meets the evocative form of the animal.

Estimate: €5,500–€6,500.

Estimate: €2.300–€2.800



Claudio Caffetto(1942-2022) – Angelo custode (1984): A sanguine drawing that reveals the symbolic and introspective side of Caffetto’s work.

Estimate: €500. 

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Notes: 

High-resolution images of Villa Caffetto available here.

High-resolution images of the auction available here.

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