Among the first and most solid in terms of volumes and diffusion are 1stDibs and Pamono, with a vast collection of both new and vintage furniture, lamps and accessories of international origin.

Frankbros instead offers a selection of only contemporary design with exclusive works – an aspect that certainly helps the choice and reputation of the platform.

There are those who focus on rigorous curation and emerging designers, such as the digital gallery Adorno and the recent online shop of the curatorial platform Alcova, addressing an audience of collectible design experts.

Or there are marketplaces that select artifacts with a distinctly artisanal character, with the desire to promote a design that is respectful of know-how and traditions, as well as the people who make it.

This is the case of AMO.shop, promoted by Ambra Medda, one of the first curators to promote collectible design online with larcobaleno.com, acquired by Pamono in 2015; or Obakki and Kalinko, which select artisanal products linked to ethical principles and ancient traditional techniques.

1stDibs

Founded in 2000 and headquartered in the United States, 1stDibs follows over 4,700 sellers globally for a volume of approximately 11 million items for sale and over 40,000 contacts per month for inquiries or purchases.

But how do you navigate such a vast online choice? “We organized the experience of the site,” explains Nancy Hood, chief marketing officer of 1stDibs, “thinking of a luxury metropolitan showroom: buyers contact sellers directly to customize or commission their choices.

There are different ways to buy: from items on sale to negotiable prices, to auctions. What makes 1stDibs unique is the combination of a highly curated selection of products and an easy online shopping experience”. On the marketplace, the most sought after are famous products: “From a research point of view, I could mention the chairs of the Eames and Marcel Breuer, the chandeliers of Murano, the seats of Michel Ducaroy, the lamps of Charlotte Perriand and the table of Eero Saarinen. This also depends on the awareness of the impact on the planet of ‘fast furniture’ [of poor quality, ed.] and the desire to surround oneself with objects that will last for generations”.

Artemest

Artemest was founded in 2015 by Marco Credendino and Ippolita Rostagno, with the intuition that the world of design could experience the digital transformation recorded by the fashion sector and that Made in Italy and its high-end products represented a strong attraction also in online purchasing.

Also in this case, the curation in the selection is a strong point as well as the network of "vendors" who directly distribute their products. Artemest offers these services of communication, storytelling and promotion, such as pop-up stores or the various curatorial installations during the main international design weeks. And today also a division for interior design in real estate.

Read also: In Milan, the gracefulness of the 1930s-style apartment by Lelio Zuccalà, art&design curator of Artemest

“Our clients,” explains Lucrezia Doria, head of brand and special projects at Artemest, “are both individuals passionate about collectible design and craftsmanship and the best architecture and interior design studios, who are looking for customized solutions for high-profile projects.

Artemest has a catalog of over 60 thousand products and collaborates with over 1,300 artisans and companies distributed in all the main Italian districts. We have a team that travels throughout Italy in search of these companies and visits the laboratories and sees the products before uploading them to the site”.

However, despite Artemest aiming to sell Italianness, its clients are mostly foreign: “We have always worked well with the United States – in fact we will develop our physical presence in Florida, Texas and California – and we are seeing interest in the Middle East.

Collectors are inclined to buy an object even by a name they don’t know thanks to the important storytelling work we do on the artisans who create the objects. For this purpose, it is essential to focus on digital and physical touch points with events, pop-up stores and exhibition spaces with a similar setup to that of Artemest Galleria New York”.

Adorno

An online destination for contemporary collectible design, digital gallery Adorno was founded in 2017 with the goal of scouting underrepresented designers and providing them with a global stage, allowing professionals and collectors to discover unique pieces that cannot be found elsewhere.

“We aim to enhance relationships with emerging designers by enhancing our digital platform,” says Martin Clausen, co-founder and creative director of Adorno, “to offer a more personalized shopping experience.

We also want to enhance deeper connections between makers, collectors and interior designers through exhibitions, collaborations and curated collections. We plan to expand our partnerships with professionals in new markets to present collections that align with local cultural movements.”