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Gaetano Pesce Sofas

Italian, 1939-2024

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
Cannaregio Sofa, Gaetano Pesce for Cassina with Original Tags
By Gaetano Pesce
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Cannaregio sofa in stunning color way by Italian artist and architect Gaetano Pesce. Named for the Venice neighborhood where the artist studied. In excellent condition with original ...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Gaetano Pesce Sofas

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Large Gaetano Pesce for Cassina 'Cannaregio' Modular Sofa
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1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Gaetano Pesce Sofas

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Fabric

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,...
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2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Gaetano Pesce Sofas

Materials

Fabric

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 Sofas

Materials

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limited edition Tramonto A New York Sofa by Gaetano Pesce for Cassina
By Cassina, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Berlin, DE
1 of 50 limited edition Tramonto A New York Sofa by Gaetano Pesce for Cassina For the three-seater sofa, the padded skyscrapers are upholstered in an exclusive fabric with a raised t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Gaetano Pesce Sofas

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Italian modern Tramonto a New York modular sofa, Gaetano Pesce for Cassina, 1984
By Gaetano Pesce, Cassina
Located in MIlano, IT
Modular sofa model Tramonto a New York, made up of eight pieces between skyscrapers and sun. The padded skyscrapers act as seats and armrests and backrests and are covered in a fabri...
Category

1980s Italian Modern Vintage Gaetano Pesce Sofas

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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 Sofas

Materials

Fabric

'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 Sofas

Materials

Fabric

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 Sofas

Materials

Metal

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 Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Wood

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 Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Polystyrene, Wood

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 Sofas

Materials

Textile, Upholstery

Cannaregio Sofa 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 Sofas

Materials

Textile, Upholstery

Cannaregio Modular Sofa with Footrest by Gaetano Pesce for Cassina, Italy 1986
By Gaetano Pesce, Cassina
Located in Halle, DE
Rare modular Cannaregio sofa by Gaetano Pesce. Postmodern / Memphis Design from 1986, manufactured by Cassina, Italy. Comes with original footrest in b...
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1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Gaetano Pesce Sofas

Materials

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Gaetano Pesce sofas for sale on 1stDibs.

Gaetano Pesce sofas 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 sofas, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 9 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 1 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original sofas by Gaetano Pesce were created in the mid-century modern style in italy during the late 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider sofas by Carlo Bartoli, Rossi di Albizzate, and Ettore Sottsass. Prices for Gaetano Pesce sofas can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $4,538 and can go as high as $31,727, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $14,266.

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