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Gaetano Pesce Seating

Italian, b. 1939

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.

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Creator: Gaetano Pesce
La Michetta Composition 7 Sofa in Velvet by Gaetano Pesce
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Located in Brooklyn, NY
Modular sofa, made of eclectic modules, available in different sizes and colours, which can be continuously rearranged according to taste and needs. La Michetta by Gaetano Pesce for...
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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

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Senzafine Seat Armchair in Polyurethane Black by Gaetano Pesce
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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

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Plastic

Gaetano Pesce Feltri Felt Chair For Cassina
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Gaetano Pesce Feltri Felt Chair For Cassina Crafted using a patented Cassina production technique, Feltri is a symbol of cutting-edge design, the...
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2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Gaetano Pesce Seating

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Polyester

Italian Design UP1 Lounge Chairs by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia, 2000s
By B&B Italia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Renens, CH
UP1 Lounge Chairs, designed in 1969 by Gaetano Pesce for C&B Italia (now B&B Italia): These lounge chairs are known for their distinctive, sculptural round form, and due to their structure being completely built up from polyurethane foam, they are incredibly comfortable. Like the Big Mama Chair...
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Early 2000s Italian Post-Modern Gaetano Pesce Seating

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Fabric, Foam

La Michetta Arm 73 Velvet Armrest Sofa in Musk by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Modular sofa, made of eclectic modules, available in different sizes and colours, which can be continuously rearranged according to taste and needs. La Michetta by Gaetano Pesce for...
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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

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Velvet

Sofa model “Tramonto a New York” by Gaetano Pesce, 1980
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Barcelona, ES
Sofa model “Tramonto a New York” Manufactured by Cassina Italy, 1980 Fabric, wood, polyurethane Measurements 232 cm x 128 cm x 102h cm (40 cm seat height) 91,3 in x 50,4 in x 40,2h ...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Fabric, Polystyrene, Wood

La Pagnottina White Versatile Chair in Carbon Fiber by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Pagnottina chair is light and versatile, available in many different coverings. Like the Pagnotta armchair from the same series, La Pagnottina is made up of fourteen carbon-fibre...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Cotton

Up Du5 and Du6 Armchair and Ottoman by Gaetano Pesce for B&B, 1970s
By B&B Italia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Roma, IT
Armchair Gaetano Pesce for b&b - ITitalia series UP DU5 and DU6. Measures: 103 x 120 x 130 cm. It includes ottoman diameter 60 cm. An icon on international post-war design, and one...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Metal

Set of 8 Broadway chairs, Gaetano Pesce, Bernini, 1993
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in PARIS, FR
Rare set of 8 Broadway chairs, Gaetano Pesce, Bernini, 1993 Gaetano Pesce ‘Broadway’ chairs produced by Bernini with four rubber-capped feet st...
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1990s Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Metal

UP1 armchair Gaetano Pesce, B&B Italia 1969
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Milano, Lombardia
The UP1 Armchair, designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1969 for B&B Italia, represents one of the most significant design icons of the 20th century. This armchair is part of the celebrated U...
Category

1960s Vintage Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Fabric

"Big Mama" Up Chair By Gaetano Pesce For B&B Italia, Italy, circa 2000
By B&B Italia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
It was 1968 when Gaetano Pesce began experimenting at his Paris atelier with vacuum-packing the hippest material of the moment: polyurethane. Soon he’d developed a gravity-defying mo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Fabric, PVC

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 with four rubber-capped feet standing on springs. Mode...
Category

1990s Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Metal

La Michetta Back 144 Velvet Backrest Sofa in Musk by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Modular sofa, made of eclectic modules, available in different sizes and colours, which can be continuously rearranged according to taste and needs. La Michetta by Gaetano Pesce for...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Velvet

“UP7” Pop Art Object by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia, Italy 1960
By B&B Italia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A fantastic object, the iconic “UP7”, designed by Gaetano Pesce and manufactured by B&B Italia in Italy around 1960. This sculpture, which can also be used as seating object, is a b...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Foam

"Big Mama" Up Chair by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia, Italy, c.2000
By B&B Italia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
It was 1968 when Gaetano Pesce began experimenting at his Paris atelier with vacuum-packing the hippest Material of the moment: polyurethane. Soon he’d developed a gravity-defying mo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Fabric

Senzafine Armchair & Pouf in Polyurethane Black by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Colourful tangles giving life to a geometric and dynamic seating. A series of joyfully inconsistent seats, a manifesto of Meritalia’s pop-modern identity. Senzafine - Italian for “e...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Plastic

Limited Edition Notturno A New York Sofa by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Notturno A New York sofa by Gaetano Pesce Manufactured by Cassina in Italy Limited Edition of 50 pieces DESIGN TRIBUTE TO THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS The New York skyline in a sofa,...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Fabric

Shadow Yellow Armchair Padded with Soft Polyurethane Foam by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Shadow armchair by Gaetano Pesce by Meritalia is moldless. It’s the result of a manufacturing process developed and perfected by Meritalia: the armchair is shaped with the inject...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Fabric

La Michetta Modular Set by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, 2005
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Budapest, HU
Gaetano Pesce created La Michetta as a fun conversation between his ideas, skilled artisans' work, and the people who use it. La Michetta is inspired by a simple bread from Milan cal...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Foam

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 four. The eclecticism and genius of Gaetano Pesce are explicitly visible in his icon...
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1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Steel

Gaetano Pesce "Nobody's Perfect" Chair, Zerodisegno, 2002
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in PARIS, FR
Nobody's perfect chair Gaetano Pesce, Zerodisegno / Italy, 2002. Mark: Zerodisegno / Gaetano Pesce, 2002 Signed and dated: 03 06 2002 . UNIQUE PIECE. Excellent condition
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Early 2000s Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Epoxy Resin

Shadow Yellow Armchair Padded with Soft Polyurethane Foam by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Shadow armchair by Gaetano Pesce by Meritalia is moldless. It’s the result of a manufacturing process developed and perfected by Meritalia: the armchair is shaped with the inject...
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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Fabric

Cannaregio Loveseat Attributed to Gaetano Pesce for Cassina, Italy 1990s
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Chicago, IL
A Cannaregio sofa designed by Gaetano Pesce for Cassina in 1987. The Cannaregio sofa is composed of ten modular sections, which can be placed together ...
Category

1990s Italian Post-Modern Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Textile, Upholstery

Armchair and Footstool UP5_6 by Gaetano Pesce for Superego Editions, Italy
By Gaetano Pesce, Superego Editions
Located in Milan, Italy
A large patinated bronze armchair casted with lost wax method with spherical footstool also known by the name 'Donna', foam model designed in 1969 by C & B, from 2012 limited edition...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Bronze

Nubola 277 Velvet Sofa in Cream by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An elegant sofa, combining a solid seat with a soft backrest in polyurethane foam, moulded like puffs of a cloud. Available in three variants: two-seater, three-seater and single arm...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Velvet

Shadow Armchair by Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Extremely rare and difficult to find fabric Shadow armchair by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, 2007. Formed from pouring polyurethane resin into the bag-l...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Post-Modern Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Fabric, Resin

Italian Modern Triple Play Resin Stool by Gaetano Pesce for Fish Design, 2000s
By Gaetano Pesce, Fish Design
Located in MIlano, IT
Triple Play Resin Stool by Gaetano Pesce for Fish Design, 2000s Stool with rigid resin top in red, stainless steel structure and flexible resin feet. Beautiful and perfect as side table, coffee table and night table Made by Fish Design and designed by Getano Pesce. Good conditions. Remember to check the other similar in our listing write Magazzino76...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Modern Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Metal

'Cannaregio' Modular Sofa by Gaetano Pesce for Cassina, Italy, 1980s
By Cassina, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Antwerp, BE
'Cannaregio' sofa, a vibrant and versatile creation by Italian designer Gaetano Pesce for Cassina. Originally conceived in 1987, this sofa exudes playfulness, adaptability, and a bur...
Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Fabric

La Michetta Composition 8 Sofa in Velvet by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Modular sofa, made of eclectic modules, available in different sizes and colours, which can be continuously rearranged according to taste and needs. La Michetta by Gaetano Pesce for...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Velvet

Nubola 277 Velvet Sofa in Red by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An elegant sofa, combining a solid seat with a soft backrest in polyurethane foam, moulded like puffs of a cloud. Available in three variants: two-seater, three-seater and single arm...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Velvet

Limited Edition Tramonto A New York Sofa by Gaetano Pesce
By Cassina, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Tramonto A New York sofa by Gaetano Pesce Manufactured by Cassina in Italy Limited Edition of 50 pieces Cassina revisits a 20th century design icon, symbol of the vitality, innovati...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Fabric

Shadow Red Armchair Padded with Soft Polyurethane Foam by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Shadow armchair by Gaetano Pesce by Meritalia is moldless. It’s the result of a manufacturing process developed and perfected by Meritalia: the armchair is shaped with the inject...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Fabric

"Big Mama" Armchair & Ottoman by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brussels, BE
"Big Mama" Armchair & Ottoman by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia
Category

1960s Vintage Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Fabric

Shadow Black Armchair Padded with Soft Polyurethane Foam by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Shadow armchair by Gaetano Pesce by Meritalia is moldless. It’s the result of a manufacturing process developed and perfected by Meritalia: the armchair is shaped with the inject...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Fabric

Italian modern modular Cannaregio sofa by Gaetano Pesce for Cassina, 1987
By Gaetano Pesce, Cassina
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern modular Cannaregio sofa by Gaetano Pesce for Cassina, 1987 Cannaregio model sofa composed of three modules that can be positioned as desired, united or distant. The su...
Category

1990s Italian Post-Modern Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Fabric, Wood

La Pagnotta Armchair in Carbon Fiber & Cotton by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Radical ideas and manufacturing wisdom: the perfect recipe to engineer comfort in the form of an armchair. Far from being traditional in design and production, the Pagnotta by Gaet...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Cotton

Gaetano Pesce La Smorfia Chair Meritalia, 2003
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Postmodern chair designed by Gaetano Pesce and manufactured by Meritalia, Italy 2003. This unique shaped chair is more of a sculpture and fits perfectly in the oeuvre from Pesce, wit...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Post-Modern Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Metal

Shadow Red Armchair Padded with Soft Polyurethane Foam by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Shadow armchair by Gaetano Pesce by Meritalia is moldless. It’s the result of a manufacturing process developed and perfected by Meritalia: the armchair is shaped with the inject...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Fabric

Senzafine Pouf in Polyurethane Yellow by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Colourful tangles giving life to a geometric and dynamic seating. A series of joyfully inconsistent seats, a manifesto of Meritalia’s pop-modern identity. Senzafine - Italian for “e...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Plastic

Broadway chair, Gaetano Pesce, Bernini, set of 2, 1993
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in PARIS, FR
2 Broadway chairs, Gaetano Pesce, Bernini, 1993 Gaetano Pesce ‘Broadway’ chair produced by Bernini with four rubber-capped feet standing on springs. M...
Category

1990s Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Metal

Senzafine Pouf in Polyurethane Blue by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Colourful tangles giving life to a geometric and dynamic seating. A series of joyfully inconsistent seats, a manifesto of Meritalia’s pop-modern identity. Senzafine - Italian for “e...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Plastic

Senzafine Seat Armchair in Polyurethane Blue by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Colourful tangles giving life to a geometric and dynamic seating. A series of joyfully inconsistent seats, a manifesto of Meritalia’s pop-modern identity. Senzafine - Italian for “e...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Plastic

coppia di poltrone Amanta design Mario Bellini e Gaetano Pesce C&B italia - B&B
By Mario Bellini, Gaetano Pesce
Located in taranto, IT
splendida coppia di poltrone "Amanta", originali degli anni 70, disegnate da Mario Bellini con stoffe di Gaetano Pesce per C&B italia (precedente denominazione di B&B italia). Strut...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Fabric, Plastic

Senzafine Pouf in Polyurethane Red by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Colourful tangles giving life to a geometric and dynamic seating. A series of joyfully inconsistent seats, a manifesto of Meritalia’s pop-modern identity. Senzafine - Italian for “e...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Plastic

La Michetta Hook Back 127 in Metal by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Modular sofa, made of eclectic modules, available in different sizes and colours, which can be continuously rearranged according to taste and needs. La Michetta by Gaetano Pesce for...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Metal

La Mamma Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in New York, NY
La Mamma lounge chair (UP5) and ottoman (UP6), designed by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia, are crafted from expanded polyurethane foam and upholstered in elastic synthetic jersey. The ...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Fabric

Nubola 238 Velvet Sofa in Blush by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An elegant sofa, combining a solid seat with a soft backrest in polyurethane foam, moulded like puffs of a cloud. Available in three variants: two-seater, three-seater and single arm...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Velvet

La Michetta Hook Back 127 in Metal by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Modular sofa, made of eclectic modules, available in different sizes and colours, which can be continuously rearranged according to taste and needs. La Michetta by Gaetano Pesce for...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Metal

La Michetta Composition 4 Sofa in Velvet by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Modular sofa, made of eclectic modules, available in different sizes and colours, which can be continuously rearranged according to taste and needs. La Michetta by Gaetano Pesce for...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Velvet

La Michetta Hook Arm 73 in Metal by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Modular sofa, made of eclectic modules, available in different sizes and colours, which can be continuously rearranged according to taste and needs. La Michetta by Gaetano Pesce for...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Metal

Senzafine Seat Armchair in Polyurethane Yellow by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Colourful tangles giving life to a geometric and dynamic seating. A series of joyfully inconsistent seats, a manifesto of Meritalia’s pop-modern identity. Senzafine - Italian for “e...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Plastic

1990s Cassina Cannaregio Two Seat Loveseat Sofa / Lounge by Gaetano Pesce
By Cassina, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Cannaregio Sofa, initially designed by Gaetano Pesce for Cassina in 1987. This set was produced in Italy in the early 1990s. It is composed of two modular sections, each se...
Category

1990s Italian Modern Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Steel

La Michetta Hook Back 73 in Metal by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Modular sofa, made of eclectic modules, available in different sizes and colours, which can be continuously rearranged according to taste and needs. La Michetta by Gaetano Pesce for...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Metal

Gaetano Pesce Set of Four Multicoloured Umbrella Chairs by Zerodisegno 1990s
By Zerodisegno, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
Set of four foldable Umbrella chairs with an aluminum frame, cast resin seat and handle and leather ties designed by Gaetano Pesce and produced by Zerodisegno in 1995. Each chair presents the manufacturer's stamp on the seat. Gaetano Pesce is a prominent contemporary Italian designer and architect known for his bold experimentation with materials and color. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with some of Italy's leading design companies, including Artemide, Vitra, Cassina, and B&B Italia. Born in 1939 in La Spezia, near Genoa, Pesce enrolled at the University of Venice in 1959 to study architecture and graduated in 1965. During the final years of his studies, he also participated in courses at the Venice College of Industrial Design, where he was influenced by distinguished faculty members like Ernesto Nathan Rogers and Mario Bellini. Encouraged by their teachings to embrace innovation in modern design, Pesce became involved with an avant-garde architectural collective called “Gruppo N,” which drew inspiration from the streamlined aesthetics of the Bauhaus. These diverse inspirations equipped Pesce to embrace contemporary materials and explore the forms they enabled. His designs range from small decorative objects to large architectural spaces and reflect deep contemplation of the modern era. Notable works include his iconic La Mamma chair...
Category

1990s Italian Modern Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Aluminum

La Michetta Back 73 Velvet Backrest Sofa in Navy by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Modular sofa, made of eclectic modules, available in different sizes and colours, which can be continuously rearranged according to taste and needs. La Michetta by Gaetano Pesce for...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Velvet

Nubola 277 Velvet Sofa in Red by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An elegant sofa, combining a solid seat with a soft backrest in polyurethane foam, moulded like puffs of a cloud. Available in three variants: two-seater, three-seater and single arm...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Velvet

La Michetta Composition 6 Sofa in Velvet by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Modular sofa, made of eclectic modules, available in different sizes and colours, which can be continuously rearranged according to taste and needs. La Michetta by Gaetano Pesce for...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Velvet

La Michetta Seat 144 Velvet Seat in Cyan by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Modular sofa, made of eclectic modules, available in different sizes and colours, which can be continuously rearranged according to taste and needs. La Michetta by Gaetano Pesce for...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Velvet

Senzafine Seat Armchair in Polyurethane Red by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Colourful tangles giving life to a geometric and dynamic seating. A series of joyfully inconsistent seats, a manifesto of Meritalia’s pop-modern identity. Senzafine - Italian for “e...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Plastic

UP5_6 armchair from the UP 2000 series, by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia
By Gaetano Pesce, B&B Italia
Located in Langemark-Poelkapelle, BE
This iconic UP5_6 armchair from the UP 2000 series, designed by Gaetano Pesce and re-released by B&B Italia in 2000, is a true design statement and a must-have for lovers of vintage and modernist furniture. Known as the "Big Mama Chair...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Fabric, Foam

Nubola 238 Velvet Sofa in Ochre by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An elegant sofa, combining a solid seat with a soft backrest in polyurethane foam, moulded like puffs of a cloud. Available in three variants: two-seater, three-seater and single arm...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Velvet

Shadow Green Armchair Padded with Soft Polyurethane Foam by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Shadow armchair by Gaetano Pesce by Meritalia is moldless. It’s the result of a manufacturing process developed and perfected by Meritalia: the armchair is shaped with the inject...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Fabric

'357' Feltri Armchair by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Doral, FL
'357' Feltri Armchair by Gaetano Pesce 1987 / 2018 Cassina Structure in thick black felt with thermoset resin and purple polyester quilted mattress. *Colorway no longer in producti...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Felt, Hemp, Epoxy Resin, Bentwood

Gli Amici Printed Cotton Pouf Elefante by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fabled creatures that make up a modular sofa. Sculptural and functional objects to characterize a light-hearted interior, and transform every room into an unforgettable adventure. G...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Cotton

Shadow White Armchair Padded with Soft Polyurethane Foam by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Shadow armchair by Gaetano Pesce by Meritalia is moldless. It’s the result of a manufacturing process developed and perfected by Meritalia: the armchair is shaped with the inject...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Fabric

Nubola 238 Velvet Sofa in Cobalt by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An elegant sofa, combining a solid seat with a soft backrest in polyurethane foam, moulded like puffs of a cloud. Available in three variants: two-seater, three-seater and single arm...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Velvet

Senzafine Pouf in Polyurethane Green by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Colourful tangles giving life to a geometric and dynamic seating. A series of joyfully inconsistent seats, a manifesto of Meritalia’s pop-modern identity. Senzafine - Italian for “e...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Plastic

Nubola 133 Velvet Sofa in Cream-Hazelnut by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An elegant sofa, combining a solid seat with a soft backrest in polyurethane foam, moulded like puffs of a cloud. Available in three variants: two-seater, three-seater and single arm...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Velvet

La Pagnottina Yellow Versatile Chair in Carbon Fiber by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Pagnottina chair is light and versatile, available in many different coverings. Like the Pagnotta armchair from the same series, La Pagnottina is made up of fourteen carbon-fibre...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Cotton

Senzafine Armchair & Pouf in Polyurethane Blue by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Colourful tangles giving life to a geometric and dynamic seating. A series of joyfully inconsistent seats, a manifesto of Meritalia’s pop-modern identity. Senzafine - Italian for “e...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Gaetano Pesce Seating

Materials

Plastic

Gaetano Pesce seating for sale on 1stDibs.

Gaetano Pesce seating are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of fabric and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Gaetano Pesce seating, although red editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 31 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 9 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original seating by Gaetano Pesce were created in the mid-century modern style in italy during the 21st century and contemporary. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider seating by Michele de Lucchi, Alessandro Mendini, and Paolo Pallucco. Prices for Gaetano Pesce seating can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,471 and can go as high as $59,284, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $7,854.
Questions About Gaetano Pesce Seating
  • 1stDibs ExpertJanuary 27, 2025
    Gaetano Pesce is famous because he 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. Pesce wanted to explore the latest in 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. 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. On 1stDibs, explore a diverse assortment of Gaetano Pesce furniture.

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