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Gaetano Pesce Side Tables

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
"Triple Play" Side Table by Gaetano Pesce for Fish Design, Italy 2017
By Fish Design, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Hellouw, NL
Gaetano Pesce, an influential Italian designer, was known for pushing boundaries in furniture design. His work combined art and function, often reflecting his bold approach to form a...
Category

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"Nobody's round" table by Gaetano Pesce for Zerodisegno, 2002
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in PARIS, FR
Low Table Nobody's Round Nobody's Perfect collection Italy, 2002 Made by Zerodesign signed and dated : 07 05 02 Polyurethane coloured resin good condition d 41 x h 47 cm d 16.1 x...
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Early 2000s Italian Gaetano Pesce Side Tables

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Tavolino serie Triple Play, Gaetano Pesce, Fish Design 2018
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Rivoli, IT
Bellissimo tavolino della serie Triple Play di Gaetano Pesce, produzione Fish Design, n. 19/2018
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Gaetano Pesce side tables for sale on 1stDibs.

Gaetano Pesce side tables are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of rubber and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Gaetano Pesce side tables, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original side tables by Gaetano Pesce were created in the modern style in italy during the late 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider side tables by Alessandro Mendini, Zanotta, and Donghia. Prices for Gaetano Pesce side tables can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,911 and can go as high as $4,950, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,931.
Questions About Gaetano Pesce Side Tables
  • 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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