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.
Meritalia Edizioni del Pesce Big Surprise 2 Large Vase by Gaetano Pesce
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Big Surprise is a vase by Gaetano Pesce that can present various color combinations, always exalting the suggestive transparency of resin. This material makes it possible to create B...
Resin
Meritalia Edizioni del Pesce Big Surprise 1 Small Vase by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Big Surprise is a vase by Gaetano Pesce that can present various color combinations, always exalting the suggestive transparency of resin. This material makes it possible to create B...
Resin
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Flower Vase Large - Storage basket by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Flower Vase Large transforms standard glassware into a vibrant, botanical-inspired work of art. In this evocative piece, clear transparent re...
Other
UP7 Foot Sculpture by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia, Italy, 2000s
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in DE KWAKEL, NL
A striking UP7 foot sculpture by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia, part of his iconic UP series. Shaped as an oversized human foot, the design transforms an everyday anatomical form ...
PU Foam
Meritalia Senzafine Oval Basket Vase - Storage basket by Gaetano Pesce - Yellow
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, this Senzafine Oval Basket is a sculptural vase, storage basket, and centerpiece from Pesce's celebrated Senzafine series, offered in oval, s...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Big Surprise 1 Small Vase by Gaetano Pesce - Red
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Big Surprise 1 Small stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the Edizioni del Pesce collection. Beyond the unique, vibrant...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Big Surprise 2 Large Vase by Gaetano Pesce - Blue
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Big Surprise 2 Large stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the Edizioni del Pesce collection. Beyond the unique, vibrant...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Papavero Vase Sculpture by Gaetano Pesce Yellow
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Papavero Vase strikes with its vitality and originality, characterized by its proud, glossy petals. The deep black resin blends fluidly with ...
Other
Meritalia Senzafine Square Basket Medium Vase - Storage basket by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, this Senzafine Square Basket Medium is a sculptural vase, storage basket, and centerpiece from Pesce's celebrated Senzafine series, offered i...
Other
Meritalia Edizioni del Pesce Candelabre Limited Edition by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The flame: inherently vibrant and capricious. An untamable element, yet one that can be momentarily captured, brought into intimate moments without constraint. These one-of-a-kind ca...
Resin
Meritalia Edizioni del Pesce Candelabre Candleholder in Green by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The flame: inherently vibrant and capricious. An untamable element, yet one that can be momentarily captured, brought into intimate moments without constraint. These one-of-a-kind ca...
Resin
Meritalia Edizioni del Pesce Candelabre Candleholder in Yellow by Gaetano Pesce
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The flame: inherently vibrant and capricious. An untamable element, yet one that can be momentarily captured, brought into intimate moments without constraint. These one-of-a-kind ca...
Resin
Meritalia Edizioni del Pesce Candelabre Candleholder in Blue by Gaetano Pesce
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The flame: inherently vibrant and capricious. An untamable element, yet one that can be momentarily captured, brought into intimate moments without constraint. These one-of-a-kind ca...
Resin
Meritalia Edizioni del Pesce Senzafine Oval Vase in Black by Gaetano Pesce
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Senzafine series by Gaetano Pesce is composed by lively vases available in oval, square or round shapes. These very particular objects are formed by the continuous extrusion of a...
Resin
Meritalia Edizioni del Pesce Tall Vase in Yellow and Violet by Gaetano Pesce
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tall Vase seems to challenge the forces of gravity, inverting them: the flowing of resin, slender and superb, does not descend downwards, but rises upwards. Available in various colo...
Resin
Meritalia Edizioni del Pesce Tall Vase in Black and Orange by Gaetano Pesce
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tall Vase seems to challenge the forces of gravity, inverting them: the flowing of resin, slender and superb, does not descend downwards, but rises upwards. Available in various colo...
Resin
Meritalia Edizioni del Pesce Tall Vase in Blue and Red by Gaetano Pesce
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tall Vase seems to challenge the forces of gravity, inverting them: the flowing of resin, slender and superb, does not descend downwards, but rises upwards. Available in various colo...
Resin
Meritalia Edizioni del Pesce Papavero Vase in Black and Red by Gaetano Pesce
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With its superb shiny petals, Papavero Vase by Gaetano Pesce strikes for its vitality and originality. Black resin, mixed with colored resin, sinuously creates curves, contours and s...
Resin
Meritalia Edizioni del Pesce Papavero Vase in Black and Blue by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With its superb shiny petals, Papavero Vase by Gaetano Pesce strikes for its vitality and originality. Black resin, mixed with colored resin, sinuously creates curves, contours and s...
Resin
Meritalia Edizioni del Pesce Flower Vase Small Vase by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With Flower Vase by Gaetano Pesce, transparent resin is mixed with colored resin, creating shiny and delicate petals. Available in “small” and “large” sizes, this vase enters Edizion...
Resin
Meritalia Edizioni del Pesce Big Surprise 2 Small Vase by Gaetano Pesce
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Big Surprise is a vase by Gaetano Pesce that can present various color combinations, always exalting the suggestive transparency of resin. This material makes it possible to create B...
Resin
Meritalia Edizioni del Pesce Big Surprise 2 Small Vase by Gaetano Pesce
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Big Surprise is a vase by Gaetano Pesce that can present various color combinations, always exalting the suggestive transparency of resin. This material makes it possible to create B...
Resin
Meritalia Edizioni del Pesce Big Surprise 1 Large Vase by Gaetano Pesce
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Big Surprise is a vase by Gaetano Pesce that can present various color combinations, always exalting the suggestive transparency of resin. This material makes it possible to create B...
Resin
Meritalia Edizioni del Pesce Big Surprise 1 Small Vase by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Big Surprise is a vase by Gaetano Pesce that can present various color combinations, always exalting the suggestive transparency of resin. This material makes it possible to create B...
Resin
Meritalia Senzafine Round Basket Medium Vase - Storage basket by Gaetano Pesce
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, this Senzafine Round Basket Medium is a sculptural vase, storage basket, and centerpiece from Pesce's celebrated Senzafine series, offered in...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Flower Vase Large - Storage basket by Gaetano Pesce
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Flower Vase Large transforms standard glassware into a vibrant, botanical-inspired work of art. In this evocative piece, clear transparent re...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Flower Vase Large - Storage basket by Gaetano Pesce
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Flower Vase Large transforms standard glassware into a vibrant, botanical-inspired work of art. In this evocative piece, clear transparent re...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Big Surprise 1 Small Vase by Gaetano Pesce - Purple
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Big Surprise 1 Small stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the Edizioni del Pesce collection. Beyond the unique, vibrant...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Big Surprise 2 Small Vase by Gaetano Pesce - Blue
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Big Surprise 2 Small stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the Edizioni del Pesce collection. Beyond the unique, vibrant...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Flower Vase Large - Storage basket by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Flower Vase Large transforms standard glassware into a vibrant, botanical-inspired work of art. In this evocative piece, clear transparent re...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Tall Vase by Gaetano Pesce Limited Edition - Orange
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Tall Vase seems to defy the forces of gravity by reversing them: the flow of resin that forms its slender, proud structure does not descend, ...
Other
Meritalia Senzafine Oval Basket Vase - Storage basket by Gaetano Pesce - Blue
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, this Senzafine Oval Basket is a sculptural vase, storage basket, and centerpiece from Pesce's celebrated Senzafine series, offered in oval, s...
Other
Meritalia Senzafine Round Basket Medium Vase - Storage basket by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, this Senzafine Round Basket Medium is a sculptural vase, storage basket, and centerpiece from Pesce's celebrated Senzafine series, offered in...
Other
Meritalia Senzafine Square Basket Medium Vase - Storage basket by Gaetano Pesce
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, this Senzafine Square Basket Medium is a sculptural vase, storage basket, and centerpiece from Pesce's celebrated Senzafine series, offered i...
Other
Rock Vase (Large), Clear Blue and Matte Sorbet by Gaetano Pesce
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, CA
Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. * All the pieces are hand-made and therefore unique. Variations in the hues, colour distribution and...
Resin
Nugget Vase (Large), Clear Green and Matte Pink by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in Toronto, CA
Clear Green and Matte Pink "Nugget" Vase, size Large in soft resin, designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. *All the pieces are handmade and therefore unique. ...
Resin
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Big Surprise 1 Small Vase by Gaetano Pesce - Green
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Big Surprise 1 Small stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the Edizioni del Pesce collection. Beyond the unique, vibrant...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Big Surprise 1 Large Vase by Gaetano Pesce - Blue
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Big Surprise 1 Large stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the Edizioni del Pesce collection. Beyond the unique, vibrant...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Big Surprise 2 Small Vase by Gaetano Pesce - Orange
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Big Surprise 2 Small stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the Edizioni del Pesce collection. Beyond the unique, vibrant...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Big Surprise 2 Small Vase by Gaetano Pesce - Yellow
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Big Surprise 2 Small stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the Edizioni del Pesce collection. Beyond the unique, vibrant...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Big Surprise 2 Large Vase by Gaetano Pesce - Red
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Big Surprise 2 Large stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the Edizioni del Pesce collection. Beyond the unique, vibrant...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Half Ball Small Vase Storage basket - Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Half Ball Small stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the Edizioni del Pesce collection. Beyond the unique, vibrant radi...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Half Ball Large Vase Storage basket - Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Half Ball Large stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the Edizioni del Pesce collection. Beyond the unique, vibrant radi...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Half Ball Large Vase Storage basket - Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Half Ball Large stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the Edizioni del Pesce collection. Beyond the unique, vibrant radi...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Flower Vase Small - Storage basket by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Flower Vase Small transforms standard glassware into a vibrant, botanical-inspired work of art. In this evocative piece, clear transparent re...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Flower Vase Small - Storage basket by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Flower Vase Small transforms standard glassware into a vibrant, botanical-inspired work of art. In this evocative piece, clear transparent re...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Flower Vase Small - Storage basket by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Meritalia Flower Vase Small Sculpture by Gaetano Pesce, Red and Blue Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Flower Vase Small transforms standard glassware into a vibrant, botanic...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Papavero Vase Sculpture by Gaetano Pesce Black/Red
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Papavero Vase captivates with its vitality and originality, its glossy, superb petals catching the light from every angle. Black resin, blend...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Papavero Vase Sculpture by Gaetano Pesce Black/Blue
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Papavero Vase strikes with its vitality and originality, characterized by its proud, glossy petals. The deep black resin blends fluidly with ...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Tall Vase by Gaetano Pesce Limited Edition - Yellow
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Tall Vase seems to defy the forces of gravity by reversing them: the flow of resin that forms its slender, proud structure does not descend, ...
Other
Edizioni del Pesce Meritalia Tall Vase by Gaetano Pesce Limited Edition Blue/Red
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Tall Vase seems to defy the forces of gravity by reversing them: the flow of resin that forms its slender, proud structure does not descend, ...
Other
Meritalia Senzafine Oval Basket Vase - Storage basket by Gaetano Pesce - Red
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, this Senzafine Oval Basket is a sculptural vase, storage basket, and centerpiece from Pesce's celebrated Senzafine series, offered in oval, s...
Other
Meritalia Senzafine Oval Basket Vase - Storage basket by Gaetano Pesce - Black
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, this Senzafine Oval Basket is a sculptural vase, storage basket, and centerpiece from Pesce's celebrated Senzafine series, offered in oval, s...
Other
Meritalia Senzafine Oval Basket Vase - Storage basket by Gaetano Pesce - Pink
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, this Senzafine Oval Basket is a sculptural vase, storage basket, and centerpiece from Pesce's celebrated Senzafine series, offered in oval, s...
Other
Meritalia Senzafine Round Basket Large Vase - Storage basket by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, this Senzafine Round Basket Large is a sculptural vase, storage basket, and centerpiece from Pesce's celebrated Senzafine series, offered in ...
Other
Meritalia Senzafine Round Basket Large Vase - Storage basket by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, this Senzafine Round Basket Large is a sculptural vase, storage basket, and centerpiece from Pesce's celebrated Senzafine series, offered in ...
Other
Meritalia Senzafine Round Basket Large Vase - Storage basket by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, this Senzafine Round Basket Large is a sculptural vase, storage basket, and centerpiece from Pesce's celebrated Senzafine series, offered in ...
Other
Meritalia Senzafine Round Basket Large Vase - Storage basket by Gaetano Pesce
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, this Senzafine Round Basket Large is a sculptural vase, storage basket, and centerpiece from Pesce's celebrated Senzafine series, offered in ...
Other
Meritalia Senzafine Round Basket Large Vase - Storage basket by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, this Senzafine Round Basket Large is a sculptural vase, storage basket, and centerpiece from Pesce's celebrated Senzafine series, offered in ...
Other
Meritalia Senzafine Round Basket Large Vase - Storage basket by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, this Senzafine Round Basket Large is a sculptural vase, storage basket, and centerpiece from Pesce's celebrated Senzafine series, offered in ...
Other