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.
Luxury Italian Lounge Sofa in Velvet - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola - Grey
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Nubola 238 stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the collection. Beyond its unique aesthetic appeal, the defining magic ...
Leather
Luxury Italian Lounge Sofa in Velvet - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola - Lime
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Nubola 238 stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the collection. Beyond its unique aesthetic appeal, the defining magic ...
Leather
Luxury Italian Lounge Sofa in Velvet - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola Purple
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Nubola 238 stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the collection. Beyond its unique aesthetic appeal, the defining magic ...
Leather
Luxury Italian Lounge Sofa in Velvet - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola Ochre
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Nubola 238 stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the collection. Beyond its unique aesthetic appeal, the defining magic ...
Leather
Luxury Italian Lounge Sofa in Velvet - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola Yellow
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Nubola 238 stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the collection. Beyond its unique aesthetic appeal, the defining magic ...
Leather
Luxury Italian Lounge Sofa in Velvet - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola - Red
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Nubola 238 stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the collection. Beyond its unique aesthetic appeal, the defining magic ...
Leather
Luxury Italian Lounge Sofa in Velvet - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola - Cyan
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Nubola 238 stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the collection. Beyond its unique aesthetic appeal, the defining magic ...
Leather
Luxury Italian Lounge Sofa in Velvet - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola - Navy
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Nubola 238 stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the collection. Beyond its unique aesthetic appeal, the defining magic ...
Leather
Luxury Italian Lounge Sofa in Leather - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola 238cm
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Nubola 238 stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the collection. Beyond its unique aesthetic appeal, the defining magic ...
Leather
Luxury Italian Lounge Sofa in Leather - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola 238cm
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Nubola 238 stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the collection. Beyond its unique aesthetic appeal, the defining magic ...
Leather
Luxury Italian Lounge Sofa in Leather - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola 238cm
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Nubola 238 stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the collection. Beyond its unique aesthetic appeal, the defining magic ...
Leather
Luxury Italian Lounge Sofa in Leather - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola 238cm
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Nubola 238 stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the collection. Beyond its unique aesthetic appeal, the defining magic ...
Leather
Luxury Italian Lounge Sofa in Leather - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola 238cm
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Nubola 238 stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the collection. Beyond its unique aesthetic appeal, the defining magic ...
Leather
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...
Metal
Sofà Michetta three seater Sofa by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Michetta sofa by Gaetano Pesce features an eclectic design that challenges traditional aesthetics with an irregular capitonné technique and plush velvet upholstery. This piece of...
Velvet
Meritalia La Michetta Composition 1 Sofa 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...
Velvet
La Michetta Composition 1 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...
Velvet
Gaetano Pesce "Montanara" Limited Edition Mountain Sofa for Meritalia, Cotton
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, Montanara is a modular sofa with a surreal form that evokes an ideal snow-capped mountain landscape, gracefully subverting traditional c...
Fabric, Cotton
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...
Metal
Sofà Michetta two seater Sofa by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Michetta sofa by Gaetano Pesce features an eclectic design that challenges traditional aesthetics with an irregular capitonné technique and plush velvet upholstery. This piece of...
Velvet
La Michetta Back 144 Velvet Backrest Sofa in Blush 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...
Velvet
La Michetta Seat 214 Velvet Seat in Red 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...
Velvet
$18,054 / item
Meritalia Nubola 238 Sofa in leather 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...
Leather
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...
Plastic
Meritalia La Michetta Composition 3 Sofa 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...
Velvet
Colorado Composition 1 Sofa by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Colorado by Gaetano Pesce is a modular, combinable sofa defined by its playful volumes and vivid chromatic contrasts. Each element can be freely arranged to form linear or irregu...
Fabric
Meritalia La Michetta Composition 4 Sofa 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...
Velvet
Meritalia La Michetta Composition 2 Sofa 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...
Velvet
$42,524 / item
Gli Amici Printed Cotton Fabled Sofa 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...
Cotton
La Michetta Back 107 Velvet Backrest Sofa in Cobalt 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...
Velvet
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...
Velvet
Meritalia La Michetta Composition 3 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...
Velvet
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...
Velvet
La Michetta Seat 214 Velvet Seat in Yellow 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...
Velvet
Luxury Italian Lounge Sofa in Leather - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola 238cm
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Nubola 238 stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the collection. Beyond its unique aesthetic appeal, the defining magic ...
Leather
Luxury Italian Lounge Sofa in Leather - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola 238cm
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Nubola 238 stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the collection. Beyond its unique aesthetic appeal, the defining magic ...
Leather
Luxury Italian Lounge Sofa in Leather - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola 238cm
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Nubola 238 stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the collection. Beyond its unique aesthetic appeal, the defining magic ...
Leather
Luxury Italian Lounge Sofa in Leather - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola 238cm
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Nubola 238 stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the collection. Beyond its unique aesthetic appeal, the defining magic ...
Leather
Luxury Italian Lounge Sofa in Leather - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola 238cm
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Nubola 238 stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the collection. Beyond its unique aesthetic appeal, the defining magic ...
Leather
Luxury Italian Lounge Sofa in Leather - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola 238cm
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Nubola 238 stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of the collection. Beyond its unique aesthetic appeal, the defining magic ...
Leather
$18,054 / item
Meritalia Nubola 238 Sofa in leather 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...
Leather
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...
Steel