Broadway chair, Gaetano Pesce, Bernini, 1993
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in PARIS, FR
Broadway chair, Gaetano Pesce, Bernini, 1993 Gaetano Pesce ‘Broadway’ chair produced by Bernini
1990s Italian Chairs
Metal
Broadway chair, Gaetano Pesce, Bernini, 1993
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in PARIS, FR
Broadway chair, Gaetano Pesce, Bernini, 1993 Gaetano Pesce ‘Broadway’ chair produced by Bernini
Metal
Gaetano Pesce “543 Broadway” Chair for Bernini, 1993
By Gaetano Pesce, Bernini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Gaetano Pesce “543 Broadway” chair for Bernini, epoxy resin, stainless steel, gum, 1993 The
Resin, Plastic
543 Broadway Chair, Gaetano Pesce for Bernini S.p.A. 1993
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Designed in 1993 by Gaetano Pesce, the 543 Broadway Chair is a rejection of hyper-rational
Chrome
543 Broadway Chair, Gaetano Pesce for Bernini S.p.A. 1993
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Designed in 1993 by Gaetano Pesce, the 543 Broadway Chair is a rejection of hyper-rational
Chrome
$21,000 / set
H 29.14 in W 20.08 in D 18.71 in
Gaetano Pesce “543 Broadway” Chairs for Bernini, 1993, Set of 3
By Gaetano Pesce, Bernini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Gaetano Pesce “543 Broadway” chairs for Bernini, epoxy resin, stainless steel, gum, 1993, set of
Resin, Plastic
$28,000 / set
H 29.14 in W 20.08 in D 18.71 in
Gaetano Pesce “543 Broadway” Chairs for Bernini, 1993, Set of 4
By Bernini, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Gaetano Pesce “543 Broadway” chairs for Bernini, epoxy resin, stainless steel, gum, 1993, set of
Resin, Plastic
$42,000 / set
H 29.14 in W 20.08 in D 18.71 in
Gaetano Pesce “543 Broadway” Chairs for Bernini, 1993, Set of 6
By Gaetano Pesce, Bernini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Gaetano Pesce “543 Broadway” chairs for Bernini, epoxy resin, stainless steel, gum, 1993, set of
Resin, Plastic
$14,000 / set
H 29.14 in W 20.08 in D 18.71 in
Gaetano Pesce “543 Broadway” Chairs for Bernini, 1993, Set of 2
By Bernini, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Gaetano Pesce “543 Broadway” chairs for Bernini, epoxy resin, stainless steel, gum, 1993, set of
Resin, Plastic
$14,933 / set
H 29.14 in W 21.66 in D 17.33 in
Contemporary Italian 543 Broadway Chair & Ottoman by Gaetano Pesce Bernini, 1993
By Gaetano Pesce, Bernini
Located in Stockholm, SE
A rare Italian contemporary "543 Broadway" chair with a matching ottoman in red and yellow moulded
Steel
$45,000 / set
H 29.93 in W 23.63 in D 19.69 in
Gaetano Pesce Broadway Chairs 543 Made in Italy by Bernini 1993 Green
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Vancouver, BC
A set of 4 extremely uncommon Broadway Chairs produced by Bernini. Each chair is unique and both
Stainless Steel
$6,760 / item
H 29.53 in W 19.69 in D 14.57 in
Set of Six Gaetano Pesce '543 Broadway' Chairs, Aluminum & Epoxy, 1993
By Gaetano Pesce, Bernini
Located in London, England
Broadway series in an incredibly bright green and yellow colourway. On sprung feet, these chairs are
Aluminum
Broadway 9 legs chair by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini, 1993
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in PARIS, FR
Chair Broadway 9 legs by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini, 1993 Marked Gaetano Pece Bernini Numbered 61
Resin
$16,128
H 35.44 in W 16.54 in D 17.72 in
Gaetano Pesce The Faces Chair from Nobody's Perfect series by Zerodisegno 2005
By Zerodisegno, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Cascina, Pisa
(1971); the 357 Feltri chair (1987) for Cassina; and the 543 Broadway chair, produced by Pesce in
Resin, Plastic
$10,752
H 21.86 in W 15.16 in D 13.39 in
Gaetano Pesce Nobody's Perfect Small Chair in Red Resin by Zerodisegno 2000s
By Zerodisegno, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Cascina, Pisa
(1971); the 357 Feltri chair (1987) for Cassina; and the 543 Broadway chair, produced by Pesce in
Resin
$10,752 / set
H 31.89 in W 16.93 in D 20.48 in
Gaetano Pesce Set of Four Multicoloured Umbrella Chairs by Zerodisegno 1990s
By Zerodisegno, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Cascina, Pisa
armchair for C&B Italia (1971); the 357 Feltri chair (1987) for Cassina; and the 543 Broadway chair
Aluminum
"Broadway" chair by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini, 1990
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
Sedia "Broadway" di Gaetano Pesce per Bernini, Made in Italy, 1990. La Sedia "Broadway" di Gaetano
Steel
$11,469 / set
H 29.53 in W 20.48 in D 16.54 in
Gaetano Pesce per Bernini Coppia di Sedie "Broadway 543", Italia 1993
By Gaetano Pesce, Bernini
Located in Naples, IT
Le sedie Broadway di Gaetano Pesce, prodotte da Bernini, sono pezzi unici del design anni ’90
Steel
$3,600
H 37 in W 24.75 in D 27 in
Gordon Russell Hand Built Ladder Back Oak & Woven Leather Lounge Chairs, 1904
By Gordon Russell
Located in Coronado, CA
built by Gordon Russell around 1904 in Broadway, England. The chairs feature incredible, hand built, peg
Leather, Oak
$2,600Sale Price|31% Off
H 11.75 in W 12.25 in D 11.5 in
'Babel' Resin Wine Bucket by Gaetano Pesce for Fish Design Italy, 1990s, Signed
By Gaetano Pesce, Fish Design
Located in Los Angeles, CA
groundbreaking 543 Broadway chair (1990). In addition to his prolific design career, Pesce has been an
Resin
$4,539 / set
H 15.16 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Gaetano Pesce Set of Three Nesting Play Tables in Resin by Fish Design 1999
By Gaetano Pesce, Fish Design
Located in Cascina, Pisa
armchair for C&B Italia (1971); the 357 Feltri chair (1987) for Cassina; and the 543 Broadway chair
Steel
$5,973
H 70.87 in W 24.02 in D 15.75 in
Gaetano Pesce Luigi (o mi amate voi?) 902 Shelf in Lacquered Wood by Bernini 80s
By Gaetano Pesce, Bernini
Located in Cascina, Pisa
armchair for C&B Italia (1971); the 357 Feltri chair (1987) for Cassina; and the 543 Broadway chair
Metal
$1,820Sale Price|24% Off
H 13 in Dm 11 in
'Amazonia' Resin Vase by Gaetano Pesce for Fish Design Italy, Serie 2007, Signed
By Fish Design, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
357 Feltri chair (1987) for Cassina and the groundbreaking 543 Broadway chair (1990). In addition to
Resin
Gaetano Pesce Chaise Broadway 1993 Bernini
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in PARIS, FR
GAETANO PESCE (born 1939) Broadway chair, 1993 Bernini publisher Epoxy resin and stainless
Epoxy Resin
Centrepiece by Gaetano Pesce for Fish Design NY
By Fish Design, Gaetano Pesce
Located in JM Haarlem, NL
, such as the green street chair and the broadway chair. This bowl is made of soft polyurethane resin in
Resin
Unavailable
H 7.09 in W 7.09 in D 5.91 in
Early Production 'Amazonia' by Gaetano Pesce for Fish Design
By Gaetano Pesce, Fish Design
Located in JM Haarlem, NL
, such as the Green Street Chair and the Broadway Chair. This vase is also made of soft polyurethane
Resin
Midcentury Torbjørn Afdal Rosewood Coffee Table
By Torbjørn Afdal
Located in Oslo, NO
, exemplified by armchair Broadway and hunting chair Hunter, two of his artistic highlights from the period
Rosewood
Broadway chair, Gaetano Pesce, Bernini, 1993
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in PARIS, FR
Broadway chair, Gaetano Pesce, Bernini, 1993 Gaetano Pesce ‘Broadway’ chair produced by Bernini
Metal
Broadway chair, Gaetano Pesce, Bernini, 1993
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in PARIS, FR
Broadway chair, Gaetano Pesce, Bernini, 1993 Gaetano Pesce ‘Broadway’ chair produced by Bernini
Metal
Broadway Chair by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in London, GB
Broadway chair designed by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini, 1993. Orange/red toned resin moulded plastic
Resin
Pair "Broadway" Chairs by Gaetana Pesce
Located in North Miami, FL
A pair of rare "Broadway" chairs by Gaetana Pesce.
Chrome
"543 Broadway Chairs" by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A pair of blueish green "543 Broadway Chairs" designed by Gaetano Pesce.
Metal
Broadway Chairs by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Long Island City, NY
Sculptural broadway chair designed by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini. Each chair features a marble green
Metal
Two Bernini Broadway Chair Design Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Sofia, BG
Bernini Broadway chair design Gaetano Pesce.
Broadway Chair by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Long Island City, NY
Sculptural Broadway chair designed by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini. Each chair features a marble green
Steel
Set of 6 Broadway chairs, Gaetano Pesce, Bernini, 1993
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in PARIS, FR
Rare set of 6 Broadway chairs, Gaetano Pesce, Bernini, 1993 Gaetano Pesce ‘Broadway’ chairs
Metal
Broadway Chair by Gaetano Pesce, Italy, 1992
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Paris, FR
Broadway chair with nine feet by Gaetano Pesce, edited by Bernini. Stainless steel studs on
Stainless Steel
Broadway Chair by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini SPA
Located in North Miami, FL
The broadway Chair by Gaetano Pesce. This chair is made of an epoxy resin. This chair has the color
Metal
Set of Six (6) Gaetano Pesce "BERNINI 543 Broadway" Chairs
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in North Miami, FL
Set of six (6) hard to find "543 Broadway" chairs by Gaetano Pesce in deep blue resin and stainless
Steel
Sold
H 29.14 in W 20.87 in D 18.9 in
Italian Mid-Century Modern Broadway Chairs by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini, 1993
By Gaetano Pesce, Bernini
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Mid-Century Modern Broadway chairs by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini, 1993 Pair of Broadway
Metal
Geatano Pesce Broadway Chair Model 543 for Bernini Italy 1993
By Bernini, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Troy, MI
A model 543 Broadway chair designed by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini 1993 Limited production with each
Stainless Steel
Sold
H 29.53 in W 21.66 in D 16.54 in
Pair of Broadway Chairs by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini, Italy, 1993
By Gaetano Pesce, Bernini
Located in Munster, NRW
A very rare pair of ‚broadway‘ chairs by Gaetano Pesce for Italian company Bernini, 1993
Steel
Sold
H 29.53 in W 21.66 in D 16.54 in
Set of 3 Broadway Chairs by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini, Italy, 1993
By Gaetano Pesce, Bernini
Located in Munster, NRW
A very rare set of three ‚broadway‘ chairs by Gaetano Pesce for Italian company Bernini, 1993
Steel
Broadway chair designed by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini, 1993
By Bernini, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
broadway chair, designed in 1993 by Gaetano Pesce Manufactured by Bernini, Italy Gaetano Pesce
Steel
Sold
H 29.93 in W 27.17 in D 21.66 in
post-modern broadway chair by gaetano pesce for bernini, 1993, set of 4
By Bernini, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
gaetano pesce, set of 4 ‚broadway‘ chairs for italian company bernini, 1993. multicoloured cast
Steel
Sold
H 29.93 in W 23.63 in D 20.08 in
Italian Design Chair Broadway by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini, 1993
By Bernini, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Ceglie Messapica, IT
Gaetano Pesce for Bernini — “Broadway” Chair, Model 543, Italy, 1993 An exceptionally “Broadway
Steel
Chair Broadway 929 by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini, 1993
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in PARIS, FR
Chair Broadway 929 by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini, 1993 Marked Gaetano Pece Bernini Numbered 24
Resin
Sold
H 27.56 in W 37.8 in D 37.41 in
Extraordinary Vladimir Kagan I Fendi Broadway Lounge Chair New York Collection
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Munster, NRW
Extremely comfortable and minimalistic lounge chair by Vladimir Kagan and Fendi cooperation, New
Leather
Gaetano Pesce Broadway Chair
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in London, GB
Broadway chair designed by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini, 1993. Green and blue toned resin moulded
Resin
543 Broadway Chairs by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of Postmodern chairs designed by Gaetano Pesce. A colorful example in marbled green, blue and
Steel
Gaetano Pesce Broadway Chair Bernini, Italy, 1993
By Gaetano Pesce, Bernini
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Sculptural 'Broadway' side chair designed by Gaetano Pesce and manufactured by Bernini, Italy, 1993
Metal
Gaetano Pesce Broadway Chair for Bernini
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare eight legged "Broadway" armchair by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini.
Resin
Gaetano Pesce Crosby Childs Chair Fish Design, New York
By Gaetano Pesce, Fish Design
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Green Street Chair and the Broadway chair. Each piece is unique in form, and for the combinations of
Metal
"543 Broadway" Chairs - Gaetano Pesce
Located in SouthPort, CT
Pair of "543 Broadway" chairs in stainless steel, epoxy resin by Gaetano Pesce, Bernini, Milano
Steel
Gaetano Pesce Broadway chair Bernini Italy 1993
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Roosendaal, NL
Rare limited edition of the Broadway chair designed by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini, Italy 1993. This
Metal
Pair Gaetano Pesce 543 Broadway Chairs mfg. in Italy 1994
Located in Easton, PA
Pair of 543 Broadway chairs designed by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini in 1994. Inventive design with
Metal
"543 Broadway" Chair - Gaetano Pesce
Located in SouthPort, CT
"543 Broadway" armchair in stainless steel, epoxy resin by Gaetano Pesce, Bernini, Milano, Italy
Steel
Broadway Chair by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Gaetano Pesce side chair in stainless steel, resin seat and back steel with rubber feet.
Stainless Steel
Rare "543 Broadway" Chair - Gaetano Pesce
Located in SouthPort, CT
"543 Broadway" armchair in stainless steel, epoxy resin by Gaetano Pesce, Bernini, Milano, Italy
Steel
Geatano Pesce 543 Broadway Armchair
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Resin and stainless steel 543 Broadway chair by Gaetano Pesce. Each of the eight legs finishes in a
Stainless Steel
Gaetano Pesce
Located in Cathedral City, CA
Bernini"543 Broadway" chair by Gaetano Pesce in green/yellow resin and stainless steel frame, nylon
Gaetano Pesce
Located in Cathedral City, CA
Bernini"543 Broadway" chair by Gaetano Pesce in deep blue/red resin and stainless steel frame
Pair of Chairs Broadway by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Milan, IT
Pair of chairs Broadway by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini. Made on 1982.
Gaetano Pesce Broadway Dining Set, Bernini 1993, cast resin
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gaetano Pesce Broadway Dining set. Set of four broadway chairs with a very rare Broadway 931 dining
Metal, Stainless Steel
Famous Broadway Chair by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini Italy
By Gaetano Pesce, Bernini
Located in Staphorst, NL
Well known 543 Broadway chair in Blue and Green version Designer: Gaetano Pesce Manufacturer
Beautiful Example Gaetano Pesce Broadway Chair for Bernini
By Gaetano Pesce, Bernini
Located in Staphorst, NL
Stunning colored Broadway chair. Designer: Gaetano Pesce. Manufacturer: Bernini, Italy. Model
Sold
H 29.14 in W 21.26 in D 15.75 in
Gaetano Pesce Broadway Bernini Italian Chair in Green Resin with 9 Steel Legs
By Bernini, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Mornico al Serio ( BG), Lombardia
Broawday nine legs chair is a part of a limited edition of 1992 designed (total item: 1000) by
Stainless Steel
'Rag' Light by Gaetano Pesce for Fish Design
By Gaetano Pesce, Fish Design
Located in JM Haarlem, NL
designed his furniture of polyurethane resin, such as the Green Street Chair and the Broadway Chair. This
$2,121 / item
H 4.15 in W 5.35 in D 7.75 in
Hans-Agne Jakobsson 'Mini-Tratten' Verdigris Patinated Outdoor Sconce
By Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Örsjö Industri AB
Located in Glendale, CA
Hans-Agne Jakobsson 'Mini-Tratten' verdigris patinated outdoor sconce. An exclusive made for U.S. and UL listed authorized re-edition of the classic Swedish design executed in rich v...
Metal
$21,000Sale Price|30% Off
H 24.25 in W 78.5 in D 9.25 in
Clairtone Project G2 Series T11 Console Stereo System & Garrard Turntable
By Clairtone
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
On offer is a rare completely original Clairtone G2 Series Home Stereo System from 1966 featuring two distinct exotic wooden boxes one that houses the tuner and the turntable both pr...
Aluminum
Venini Tits Applique Wall Sconce by Studio Job
By Studio Job (Job Smeets & Nynke Tynagel), Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tits applique wall sconce, designed by Studio Job and manufactured by Venini, is part of the Mae West collection named after the prehistoric sex symbol, it refers to Salvador Dali’s ...
Glass
$2,500 / item
H 29 in Dm 19 in
Organic Modern Small Table Lamp Natural Wood Handmade Ivory Fluted Shade
By Isabel Moncada
Located in San Antonio, TX
PATA DE ELEFANTE SMALL table lamp was designed for the Atomic collection by Mexican artist Isabel Moncada. Named Pata de Elefante –Elephant's Foot– for the prominent shape at its ba...
Wood, Fabric, Linen, Fiberglass
Panoplie Petite Iron Tripod Lamp
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Petite iron tripod lamp with slender legs and tapered feet. New wiring and new oyster linen shade. Multiple available, sold individually. Takes one E12 base bulb, up to 25 W or highe...
Iron
$2,052 / item
H 40 in W 30 in D 0.03 in
"Les Terrains" Signed Limited Edition Art Print by Christiane Lemieux - 30"x40"
Located in New York, NY
Our first limited edition fine art print “Les Terrains” is an emotive abstract landscape translated in gouache, charcoal and pastel. Created by artist Christiane Lemieux, there will ...
Paper
Contemporary Gaetano Pesce Spaghetti Vase L Resin Clear White
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in barasso, IT
Spaghetti vase, clear, white. Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. Measures: L ø 22cm x H 36cm Colours: clear, white. Material: RESIN Va...
Resin
Capiz Shell Table Lamp, Model Cornelia
By Dusty Deco
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cornelia Table Lamp is a lamp that is made from capiz shells which gives the material an irregular structure. This makes each lamp unique, something that adds to its character and pe...
Brass
Gino Sarfatti Model No. 2065 Ceiling Light for Astep
By Flos, Gino Sarfatti, Astep
Located in Glendale, CA
Gino Sarfatti model no. 2065 ceiling lamp for Astep. Designed in 1950, this is an authorized re-edition by Alessandro Sarfatti, grandson of Gino Sarfatti, who applies his grandfathe...
Aluminum
Pair of Armchairs by Studio Glustin
By Glustin Creation
Located in Saint-Ouen (PARIS), FR
Superb pair of unusual shaped armchairs upholstered with a bouclette fabric. Creation by Studio Glustin.
Fabric, Wood
$1,750 / item
H 26 in W 16 in D 16 in
FIN Shade Ceramic Table Lamp, Hand Built, Green Satin Glaze, by Kalin Asenov
By Kalin Asenov
Located in Savannah, GA
FIN _November Green Please note that this listing includes the table base, light bulbs and finial. It is wired for use in the US. If you would like a linen shade as shown in the imag...
Ceramic
Silvio Coppola for Bernini Geometric Sideboard in Walnut
By Silvio Coppola, Bernini
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Silvio Coppola for Bernini, sideboard, walnut, Italy, design 1966 This geometrically convincing sideboard is designed by the Italian designer-architect Silvio Coppola. It is well-st...
Walnut
Contemporary Gaetano Pesce Spaghetti Vase XL Resin Clear Gold
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in barasso, IT
Spaghetti vase, clear and gold. Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. Picture showing L size. Measures: XL - ø 30cm x H 56cm Colours: Cle...
Resin
$4,200 / item
H 23 in W 20 in D 17 in
Hand-Carved Sculptural White Oak Piece and Quiet Side Table or Nightstand
By Cultivation Objects, Nathaniel Wojtalik
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Piece and Quiet by Nathaniel Wojtalik is a series that draws upon the literary, musical, and cinematic idea of découpé, or cut-up. The technique of découpé stems from the notion that...
Oak
$44,850
H 29 in W 77 in D 37 in
Gaetano Pesce, Nobody's Perfect Zerodesegno Dining Table, Multicolor Resin
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare and exceptional Gaetano Pesce Nobody's Perfect Zerodesegno dining table. Tubular resin legs support a sturdy resin grid top with a resin "table cloth" top. A sturdy and function...
Resin
Contemporary Gaetano Pesce Clear Special L Vase Resin Mint Fuchsia
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in barasso, IT
Clear special vase - Matt Mint and Clear Light Fuchsia. Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. Measures: L - Ø 22cm x H 36cm Colours: Matt...
Resin
Gaetano Pesce was of a generation of Italian architects who in the early 1960s rebelled against the industrial perfection of modernism by conceiving new furniture and objects that were at once expressive and eccentric in form; or you might say they were more like art than functionalist design.
Born in the picturesque coastal Italian city of La Spezia in 1939, Pesce was a precocious talent who could have forged a career as an artist but opted instead to go to Venice to study architecture because, as he has said, it was “the most complex of all the arts.” Rather than having new worlds opened to him at design school, however, Pesce found the rationalist curriculum oppressive in its insistence on standardization and prescribed materials and technologies.
Pesce wanted to explore the latest of both materials and technologies to create objects and buildings never before imagined, with what he called “personalities” that spoke to the issues of the day. He was keen to examine ways to diversify mass production so that each manufactured work could be distinct.
In 1964, Pesce met Cesare Cassina, of the forward-looking furniture company C&B Italia in Milan (now known as B&B Italia), for whom he would create many important designs, beginning with a collection of what he called “transformational furniture” — two chairs and a loveseat — made entirely out of high-density polyurethane foam. To make the pieces easy to ship and cost-efficient, he proposed that after being covered in a stretch jersey, they be put in a vacuum, then heat-sealed flat between vinyl sheets. Once the foam was removed from its packaging, the piece returned to its original shape — hence, the name Up for the series, which debuted in 1969.
In addition to these pieces, Pesce proposed for the collection something he referred to as an “anti-armchair,” which took the shape of a reclining fertility goddess, the iconic Donna.
Producing the piece's complex form turned out to be a technical challenge. Bayer, the foam’s manufacturer, deemed it impossible to accomplish. Pesce persisted and came up with a new procedure, demonstrating not only the designer’s key role in researching the nature and potential of new materials but also his vital importance in “doubting rules.” The Up chair and accompanying ottoman were born, and they were revolutionary in more ways than one.
In the early 1970s, Pesce began exploring one of his key concepts, the idea of the industrial originals. Employing a mold without air holes, and adding a blood-red dye to the polyurethane, he cast a bookcase that resembled a demolished wall, the rough edges of the shelves and posts resulting from fissures in the material made by trapped air.
Through his research into polyurethane, Pesce figured out a way to make a loveseat and armchair using only a simple wood frame and strong canvas covering as a mold. Since the fabric developed random folds during the injection process, the pieces were similar but not identical. Cassina named the suite of furnishings Sit Down and introduced it in 1975. By experimenting with felt soaked in polyurethane and resin, Pesce conceived I Feltri, another collection of armchairs introduced by Cassina in 1987.
Pesce went on to live a life that defied expectation and convention and along the way became one of the most seminal figures in art and design.
Find vintage Gaetano Pesce chairs, sofas, vases and more on 1stDibs.
With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.
Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.
Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.
The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.
Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.
With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.
Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.
No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.