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.
Gaetano Pesce Set of 4 Table Mates Placemats Resin Dark Ruby Acid Green
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in barasso, IT
Table-Mates - Clear dark ruby, matt acid green Set of 4 placemats in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1998 for Fish Design collection. Dimensions: L 50cm x H 38.5cm Material:...
Resin
Gaetano Pesce Set of 4 Table Mates Placemats Resin Blue Lime
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in barasso, IT
Table-Mates - Clear blue, matt lime Set of 4 placemats in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1998 for Fish Design collection. Dimensions: L 50cm x H 38.5cm Material: RESIN Thes...
Resin
Gaetano Pesce Set of 4 Table Mates Placemats Resin Clear Grey Fuchsia
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in barasso, IT
Table-Mates - Clear grey, matt fuchsia Set of 4 placemats in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1998 for Fish Design collection. Dimensions: L 50cm x H 38.5cm Material: RESIN T...
Resin
Gaetano Pesce Set of 4 Table Mates Placemats Resin Blue Orange
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in barasso, IT
Table-Mates - clear blue, matt orange Set of 4 placemats in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1998 for Fish Design collection. Dimensions: L 50cm x H 38.5cm Material: RESIN Th...
Resin
Gaetano Pesce Set of 4 Table Mates Placemats Resin Turquoise Orange
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in barasso, IT
Table-Mates - Matt turquoise, orange Set of 4 placemats in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1998 for Fish Design collection. Dimensions: L 50cm x H 38.5cm Material: RESIN The...
Resin
Gaetano Pesce Set of 4 Table Mates Placemats Resin Light Ruby Turquoise
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in barasso, IT
Table-Mates - Clear Light Ruby, Turquoise Set of 4 placemats in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1998 for Fish Design collection. Dimensions: L 50cm x H 38.5cm Material: RESI...
Resin
Gaetano Pesce Set of 4 Table Mates Placemats Resin Green Blue
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in barasso, IT
Table-Mates - matt grass green, blue Set of 4 placemats in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1998 for Fish Design collection. Dimensions: L 50cm x H 38.5cm Material: RESIN The...
Resin
Gaetano Pesce Set of 4 Table Mates Placemats Resin Pastel Pink Cherry
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in barasso, IT
Table-Mates - matt pastel pink, cherry Set of 4 placemats in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1998 for Fish Design collection. Dimensions: L 50cm x H 38.5cm Material: RESIN T...
Resin
Gaetano Pesce Set of 4 Table Mates Placemats Resin Yellow Light Blue
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in barasso, IT
Table-Mates - clear yellow, matt light blue Set of 4 placemats in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1998 for Fish Design collection. Dimensions: L 50cm x H 38.5cm Material: RE...
Resin
Gaetano Pesce Set of 4 Table Mates Placemats Resin Fuchsia Bronze
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in barasso, IT
Table-Mates - Clear fuchsia, bronze Set of 4 placemats in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1998 for Fish Design collection. Dimensions: L 50cm x H 38.5cm Material: RESIN Thes...
Resin
Geatano Pesce Set of 4 Table Mates Placemats Resin Emerald Pastel Pink
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in barasso, IT
Table-Mates RO - clear emerald, matt pastel pink Set of 4 placemats in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1998 for Fish Design collection. Dimensions: L 50cm x H 38.5cm Materia...
Resin
Gaetano Pesce Set of 4 Table Mates Placemats Resin Cherry Bronze
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in barasso, IT
Table-Mates - Matt cherry, bronze Set of 4 placemats in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1998 for Fish Design collection. Dimensions: L 50cm x H 38.5cm Material: RESIN These ...
Resin
Gaetano Pesce Set of 4 Table Mates Placemats Resin Red Gold
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in barasso, IT
Table-Mates - matt red, gold Set of 4 placemats in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1998 for Fish Design collection. Dimensions: L 50cm x H 38.5cm Material: RESIN These piece...
Resin
Gaetano Pesce Set of 4 Table Mates Placemats Resin Light Fuchsia Turquoise
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in barasso, IT
Table-Mates RO - Clear light fuchsia, matt turquoise Set of 4 placemats in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1998 for Fish Design collection. Dimensions: L 50cm x H 38.5cm Mat...
Resin
Gaetano Pesce Set of Table 4 Mates Placemats Resin Purple Turquoise
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in barasso, IT
Table-Mates - clear purple, matt turquoise Set of 4 placemats in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1998 for Fish Design collection. Dimensions: L 50cm x H 38.5cm Material: RES...
Resin
Tartan Placemats in Blue, Matt Grey, Green, White by Paola Navone
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in barasso, IT
Tartan placemat - blue, matt grey, green, white Placemat in soft resin designed by Paola Navone in 2019 for One-More by Paola Navone collection. Additional Information: Material: So...
Resin
Gaetano Pesce Set of 4 Table Mates Placemats Resin Yellow Light Blue
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in barasso, IT
Table-Mates RO - clear yellow, matt light blue Set of 4 placemats in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1998 for Fish Design collection. Dimensions: L 50cm x H 38.5cm Material:...
Resin
Gaetano Pesce Set of 4 Table Mates Placemats Resin Clear Grey Fuchsia
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in barasso, IT
Table-Mates RO - Clear grey, Matt fuchsia Set of 4 placemats in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1998 for Fish Design collection. Dimensions: L 50cm x H 38.5cm Material: RESI...
Resin
Set of 4 Tartan Placemats Light Pink, Matt Pink, Orange, White by Paola Navone
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in barasso, IT
Tartan placemat - Light pink, matt pink, orange, white Placemat in soft resin designed by Paola Navone in 2019 for One-More by Paola Navone collection. Additional Information: Mater...
Resin
Gaetano Pesce Set of 4 Table Mates Placemats Resin Dark Ruby Bronze
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in barasso, IT
Table-Mates ro - dark ruby, bronze Set of 4 placemats in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1998 for Fish Design collection. Dimensions: L 50cm x H 38....
Resin
Set of 4 Tartan Placemats Light Ruby, Matt Grey, Orange, White by Paola Navone
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in barasso, IT
Tartan placemat - light ruby, matt grey, orange, white Placemat in soft resin designed by Paola Navone in 2019 for One-More by Paola Navone collection. Additional information: Mater...
Resin
Gaetano Pesce Set of 4 Table Mates Placemats Resin Blue Grass Green
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in barasso, IT
Table-Mates - blue, matt grass green Set of 4 placemats in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1998 for Fish Design collection. Dimensions: L 50cm x H 38.5cm Material: RESIN The...
Resin
Gaetano Pesce Set of 4 Table Mates Placemats Resin Turquoise Silver
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in barasso, IT
Table-Mates - Matt turquoise, silver Set of 4 placemats in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1998 for Fish Design collection. Dimensions: L 50cm x H 38.5cm Material: RESIN The...
Resin
Set of 4 Tartan Placemats Green, Matt Green, Pink, White by Paola Navone
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in barasso, IT
Tartan placemat - green, matt green, pink, white Placemat in soft resin designed by Paola Navone in 2019 for One-More by Paola Navone collection. Additional Information: Material: S...
Resin
Set of 4 Tartan Placemats Aqua, Matt Turquoise, Orange, White by Paola Navone
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in barasso, IT
Tartan placemat - aqua, matt turquoise, orange, white Placemat in soft resin designed by Paola Navone in 2019 for One-More by Paola Navone collection. Additional information: Materi...
Resin
Set of 4 Tartan Placemats Blue, Matt Turquoise, Orange, Burgundy by Paola Navone
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in barasso, IT
Tartan placemat - Blue, matt turquoise, orange, burgundy Placemat in soft resin designed by Paola Navone in 2019 for One-More by Paola Navone collection. Additional information: Mat...
Resin
Contemporary Set of 6 Handwoven Rattan Coral Placemats
Located in Toronto, ON
Uplift your table with these stunning handwoven rattan placemats in natural and coloured rattan with coral motif. Finely crafted by expert artisans, these pieces all showcase the cla...
Rattan
Palm Beaded Placemat Set of 4
By Bertrando Di Renzo
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
A special set of hand beaded palm placemats to make your table funky and unique.
Beads
$3,800 / set
H 0.79 in W 3.94 in D 0.79 in
Set of 12 Fine French Art Deco Silver Plated "Gallia" Knife Rests by Christofle
By Gallia, Marcel Eduoard Sandoz, Christofle
Located in Long Island City, NY
Set of 12 fine French Art Deco silver plated knife rests designed by Edouard-Marcel Sandoz for the Gallia collection of Christofle. All 12 animals are different. Original case. Aver...
Silver Plate
Leopard Beaded Placemat Set of 4
By Bertrando Di Renzo
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
A special set of hand beaded leopard placemats to make your table funky and unique.
Beads
$3,200 / set
H 0.79 in W 3.94 in D 0.79 in
Set of 12 Fine French Art Deco Silver plated "Gallia" Knife Rests by Christofle
By Christofle, Marcel Eduoard Sandoz
Located in Long Island City, NY
Set of 12 fine French Art Deco silver plated knife rests designed by Marcel Sandoz for the Gallia collection of Christofle. Six different animals are rep...
Silver Plate, Metal
$1,230 / set
H 1.38 in W 4.34 in D 1.58 in
Art Nouveau set of 6 Knife Rests Poppy Flowers Gallia Christofle Silver Plated
By Gallia
Located in Paris, FR
This set of 6 knife-rests with blooming poppy flowers is a very good and typical Art Nouveau design. They are silver-plated, made by Gallia famous french silversmith part of Christofle world well-known. Each one is stamped and signed in the crossbar: "GALLIA METAL...
Silver Plate
Set of Eight, Tiffany & Co., Sterling Silver Open Salts & Pepper Shakers
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A set of eight, Tiffany & Co., sterling silver open salts & pepper shakers, 1907-1938, comprising four shakers and four salts, with shaped foot and fluted body, monogramed G each ma...
Silver
Set of 3 Pino Boxes by Antrei Hartikainen
By Antrei Hartikainen
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 pino boxes by Antrei Hartikainen Materials: Oak, natural oil wax Dimensions: D 9, W 9, H 5 / 9,5 / 14cm A set of three vertical and two horizontal stacking boxes constructe...
Oak
Set of 5 Pino Boxes by Antrei Hartikainen
By Antrei Hartikainen
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 5 pino boxes by Antrei Hartikainen Materials: Oak, natural oil wax Dimensions: D 9, W 9, H 5 / 9,5 / 14cm A set of three vertical and two horizontal stacking boxes constructe...
Oak
$150 / set
H 0.01 in W 15 in D 15 in
Mid Century Hand Embroidered Linen Table Napkins with Pink Flowers, Set of 7
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A set of crisp white dinner or cocktail napkins with hand-embroidered pink flowers. A wonderful set of seven napkins. Each is square and features an applique ombre pink, peach, and y...
Fabric
1970s Blue Agate Corkscrew
Located in Marbella, ES
1970s Blue Agate Corkscrew.
Agate, Steel
Set of 4 Napkin Rings in Pink Swirl Resin by Paola Valle
By Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Our colourful, modern and playful resin napkin rings will be the perfect addition to your spring and summer tablescape. The set includes 4 napkin rings. Designed by Paola Valle ...
Resin
Vesuvio Espresso Maker by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Weesp, NL
Gaetano Pesce Vesuvio Espresso maker. Designed 1988/89 and produced in 1993. This rare beauty has never been used and is in perfect condition. Made in I...
Aluminum