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 for Meritalia "Sofà Michetta 210" Italian Sculptural Sofa - Sand
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Sofà Michetta 210 is a radical, sculptural expression of engineered comfort, material poetry, and deliberate asymmetry. Defined by its s...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Sofà Michetta 210" Italian Sculptural Sofa - Brown
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Sofà Michetta 210 is a radical, sculptural expression of engineered comfort, material poetry, and deliberate asymmetry. Defined by its s...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Sofà Michetta 210" Italian Sculptural Sofa - Yellow
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Sofà Michetta 210 is a radical, sculptural expression of engineered comfort, material poetry, and deliberate asymmetry. Defined by its s...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Sofà Michetta 210" Italian Sculptural Sofa - Orange
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Sofà Michetta 210 is a radical, sculptural expression of engineered comfort, material poetry, and deliberate asymmetry. Defined by its s...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Sofà Michetta 210" Italian Sculptural Sofa - Ochre
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Sofà Michetta 210 is a radical, sculptural expression of engineered comfort, material poetry, and deliberate asymmetry. Defined by its s...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Sofà Michetta 210" Italian Sculptural Sofa - Navy
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Sofà Michetta 210 is a radical, sculptural expression of engineered comfort, material poetry, and deliberate asymmetry. Defined by its s...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Sofà Michetta 210" Italian Sculptural Sofa - Red
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Sofà Michetta 210 is a radical, sculptural expression of engineered comfort, material poetry, and deliberate asymmetry. Defined by its s...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Sofà Michetta 210" Italian Sculptural Sofa - Pink
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Sofà Michetta 210 is a radical, sculptural expression of engineered comfort, material poetry, and deliberate asymmetry. Defined by its s...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Sofà Michetta 210" Italian Sculptural Sofa - Cyan
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Sofà Michetta 210 is a radical, sculptural expression of engineered comfort, material poetry, and deliberate asymmetry. Defined by its s...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Sofà Michetta 210" Italian Sculptural Sofa - Forest
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Sofà Michetta 210 is a radical, sculptural expression of engineered comfort, material poetry, and deliberate asymmetry. Defined by its s...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Sofà Michetta 210" Italian Sculptural Sofa - Sage
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Sofà Michetta 210 is a radical, sculptural expression of engineered comfort, material poetry, and deliberate asymmetry. Defined by its s...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Sofà Michetta 210" Luxury Italian Sculptural Sofa
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Sofà Michetta 210 is a radical, sculptural expression of engineered comfort, material poetry, and deliberate asymmetry. Defined by its s...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Sofà Michetta 280" Italian Sculptural Sofa - Navy
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Sofà Michetta 280 is a radical, sculptural expression of engineered comfort, material poetry, and deliberate asymmetry. Defined by its s...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Sofà Michetta 280" Italian Sculptural Sofa - Cyan
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Sofà Michetta 280 is a radical, sculptural expression of engineered comfort, material poetry, and deliberate asymmetry. Defined by its s...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Sofà Michetta 280" Italian Sculptural Sofa - Blush
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Sofà Michetta 280 is a radical, sculptural expression of engineered comfort, material poetry, and deliberate asymmetry. Defined by its s...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Sofà Michetta 280" Italian Sculptural Sofa - Sand
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Sofà Michetta 280 is a radical, sculptural expression of engineered comfort, material poetry, and deliberate asymmetry. Defined by its s...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Sofà Michetta 280" Italian Sculptural Sofa - Brown
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Sofà Michetta 280 is a radical, sculptural expression of engineered comfort, material poetry, and deliberate asymmetry. Defined by its s...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Sofà Michetta 280" Italian Sculptural Sofa - Orange
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Sofà Michetta 280 is a radical, sculptural expression of engineered comfort, material poetry, and deliberate asymmetry. Defined by its s...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Sofà Michetta 280" Italian Sculptural Sofa - Musk
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Sofà Michetta 280 is a radical, sculptural expression of engineered comfort, material poetry, and deliberate asymmetry. Defined by its s...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Sofà Michetta 280" Italian Sculptural Sofa - Cobalt
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Sofà Michetta 280 is a radical, sculptural expression of engineered comfort, material poetry, and deliberate asymmetry. Defined by its s...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Sofà Michetta 280" Italian Sculptural Sofa - Red
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Sofà Michetta 280 is a radical, sculptural expression of engineered comfort, material poetry, and deliberate asymmetry. Defined by its s...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce "Montanara" Limited Edition Mountain Sofa for Meritalia, Cotton
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
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
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Sofà Michetta 280" Italian Sculptural Sofa - Purple
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Sofà Michetta 280 is a radical, sculptural expression of engineered comfort, material poetry, and deliberate asymmetry. Defined by its s...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Colorado" Italian Contemporary Modular Sofa 290 cm
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Colorado modular sofa (Composition 2) is a radical, sculptural expression of informal comfort, chromatic poetry, and versatile structura...
Fabric
Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia "Colorado" Italian Contemporary Modular Sofa
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia®, the Colorado modular sofa (Composition C03) is a radical, sculptural expression of informal comfort, chromatic poetry, and versatile structu...
Fabric
Luxury Italian Lounge Sofa in Velvet - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola - Musk
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 Cobalt
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 Brown
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 - 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 Ochre
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 Sofa in Leather - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola 238 cm Salt
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 Sofa in Leather - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola 238 cm Kraft
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 Sofa in Leather - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola 238 cm Taupe
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 Sofa in Leather - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola 238 cm Brown
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 Sofa in Leather - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola 238 cm Sand
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 Sofa in Leather - Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola 238 cm Grey
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 Sofa in Leather Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia Nubola 238cm Graphite
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
$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