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Ico Parisi

Italian, 1916-1996

Domenico “Ico” Parisi was one half of a prolific postwar design duo he comprised with his wife, Luisa. Their furniture designs are known for running the stylistic gamut, with celebrated mid-century modern pieces ranging from elegantly skeletal — like dramatic ebonized dining chairs — to plush and shapely, like the iconic 1951 Egg chair, in a plethora of materials.

The son of an art teacher father, Ico Parisi was exposed to art at an early age. Born in 1916 in the Sicilian capital of Palermo, he and his family moved to Como in 1925. There, the young Parisi would begin to develop his interest in architecture and design. After earning a degree as a building inspector in 1936 and working as a civil engineer, Parisi took on an apprenticeship in the studio of Giuseppe Terragni, the modernist, fascist Italian architect, pioneer of the Rationalist movement and creator of the iconic Casa del Fascio.

While working for Terragni, Parisi crossed paths with such contemporary design talents as Lucio Fontana, Bruno Munari and Pietro Lingeri, though he briefly moved away from design and architecture to explore photography and film. His artistic work would soon be interrupted, however, by the outbreak of World War II, during which he served at the front before returning to Como in 1943. There, he resumed work as a designer and architect, founding two architecture groups: the Alta Quota and the Gruppo Como.

Through his creative circles, Parisi met Luisa Aiani, a former student of the prolific architect and furniture designer Gio Ponti, who was affiliated with the Alta Quota. They married in 1947 and founded the studio La Ruota — a cross between a design firm and an intellectual salon — in Como shortly thereafter. In 1950, Parisi finally completed his architectural schooling, studying under the nationalist architect Alberto Sartoris at the Athenaeum Architecture School in Lausanne, Switzerland. He and Aiani began several decades of sophisticated output, designing curved sofas upholstered in yellow velvet and armchairs with slender mahogany frames for enduring Italian manufacturers such as Cassina and others.

Much like Charles and Ray Eames in America, the Parisis worked as a team and relied on experimentation in style and material for many of their designs. Ico Parisi died in Como in 1996.

Find a collection of vintage Ico Parisi coffee tables, dining chairs and more on 1stDibs.

Average Sold Price
$4,558
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Materials
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Iconic Designs from Ico Parisi
Explore timeless pieces that have earned their place in history.
Model 865 Sofa
Model 865 Sofa
Lerici Shelving System
Lerici Shelving System
Beautiful Ico Parisi '856' Leather Lounge Chairs, Cassina, 1957
By Ico Parisi
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Lovely and important pair of original 1957 Ico Parisi “856” lounge chairs finished in high quality leather, manufactured by Cassina, Meda (Milan), Italy...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ico Parisi

Materials

Chrome, Steel

Set of Six Ico Parisi Mid-Century Modern Italian Mahogany Dining Chairs, 1960s
By Ico Parisi, Figli di Amadeo Cassina
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Six chairs mod. 110 by Ico Parisi. Italy, 1961. Produced by Sons of Amedeo Cassina, Meda. Mahogany wood. The chairs have been polished with shellac and have a new leather upholstery.
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ico Parisi

Materials

Walnut, Leather

Mid-Century Italian Design by Ico Parisi Side Table in Walnut and Clear Glass
By Ico Parisi
Located in Brescia, IT
Mid - Century Italian Design by Ico Parisi side table in walnut and clear glass This is an iconic piece of the 1954 designed by Ico Parisi, an architect influenced by Gio Ponti mas...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ico Parisi

Materials

Crystal

Set of 6 Ico Parisi Cassina "814", Italy, 1963
By Ico Parisi, Cassina
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ico Pairisi for Cassina, six armchairs "814", beech and leather, Italy, 1963. This set of conference chairs '814' were are executed to perf...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ico Parisi

Materials

Leather, Beech

Set of 6 Ico Parisi Cassina "814", Italy, 1963
Set of 6 Ico Parisi Cassina "814", Italy, 1963
H 28.75 in W 24.81 in D 23.23 in
Executive Terni Desk Ico Parisi for MIM, Italy
By Ico Parisi
Located in Schellebelle, BE
Terni desk in aluminium and Indian rosewood, Ico Parisi for MIM great Italian design very nice color and powerful patina marked MIM.
Category

1950s Italian Modern Vintage Ico Parisi

Materials

Wood

Ico Parisi Trolley With Wheels and Tray Italy from Stildomus 1960s
By Stildomus, Ico Parisi
Located in Lucca, IT
Ico Parisi Service table in rosewood Mid-Century Modern Italy. The table has the top that detaches and becomes a comfortable tray it is in rosewood, has wheels and an essential and...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ico Parisi

Materials

Wood

Model No. 1116 Coffee Table by Ico Parisi for Singer & Sons
By Ico Parisi
Located in London, London
Coffee table By Ico Parisi Model Number 1116 Manufactured by Fratelli Rizzi, Intimiano, Italy Retailed by Singer & Sons, New York Made exclusively for the American market Walnut veneered wood, walnut and brass Applied Singer & Sons Label Stamped 'MADE IN ITALY' to underside and interior of two legs Designed 1951 Italy For other examples of this model: William James Hennessey, Modern furnishings for the home, New York, January 1, 1952, p. 110 Modern by Singer...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ico Parisi

Materials

Walnut

Mid-Century Modern Round Extendable Dining Table by Ico Parisi for Mim Italy
By Ico Parisi, MIM Roma
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
The round extendable dining table designed by Ico Parisi for MIM Roma in 1958 is a stunning piece of mid-century modern design that embodies the elegance and simplicity of the era. I...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ico Parisi

Materials

Walnut

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Creators Similar to Ico Parisi

More Ico Parisi Designs
Model 865 Sofa
Model 865 Sofa
Average Price
$28,853
Number Available
3
Model 865 Sofa
By Ico Parisi
Materials
Metal, Fabric
Styles
Mid Century Modern
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Lerici Shelving System
Lerici Shelving System
Average Price
$36,792
Number Available
2
Lerici Shelving System
By Ico Parisi
Materials
Wood, Brass, Mahogany, Marble, Metal, Stone
Styles
Mid Century Modern
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Ico Parisi furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Ico Parisi furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Ico Parisi furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 331 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 6 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Ico Parisi were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Gianfranco Frattini, Osvaldo Borsani, and Willy Rizzo. Prices for Ico Parisi furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $409 and can go as high as $78,112, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $5,052.

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