The Italian architect, artist and furniture designer Ico Parisi (1916–96) and his wife and frequent collaborator, Luisa Parisi (1914–90), formed one of the most prolific and spirited European design teams of the postwar period. Together they created a magnetic aesthetic that combines the refined angularity and elegance of the work of Gio Ponti with the liveliness and lightness of the furniture of Carlo Mollino.
Ico Parisi — his first name is short for Domenico — was born and raised in Palermo. He moved to the northern Italian city of Como in the early 1930s and lived and worked there the remainder of his life. He initially studied and worked as a civil engineer, but later became an associate in the office of architect Giuseppe Terragni, a leading light of the stern and formal Rationalist design movement. Ico moved in artistic circles that included Lucio Fontana and Bruno Munari; after he married Luisa Aiani — a former student of Gio Ponti’s — in 1947 their design studio became known as an artists’ salon. The couple’s big break as designers came the following year when their work was shown, along with that of Carlo Mollino, Paolo Buffa, Franco Albini and other greats, leading to contracts with manufacturers such as Cassina and Singer & Sons.
What attracted these firms was the Parisis’ fluency with a wide array of furniture forms. No two looks are quite alike. Their body of work includes a series of coffee and dining tables and consoles for Singer & Sons created in the early 1950s that feature notch-edged tops and javelin-shaped legs, and cabinets and credenzas such as those with plain fronts and molded-teak and plywood detailing for MIM Rome (1959). Their chairs range from sleek dining pieces with supple, bone-shaped backrests for Singer & Sons to the lush Model 813 Uovo, or Egg chair, for Cassina (1951). Then, as now, Parisi furnishings can fill an entire decor, yet seem eclectic and at the height of style.
Set of 5 Ico & Luisa Parisi Chairs, Model 814, Cassina
By Cassina, Ico & Luisa Parisi
Located in Wolfurt, AT
Rare set of five model 814 chairs designed by Ico & Luisa Parisi and produced by Cassina in 1961. The chairs feature solid walnut wood frames with original dark brown imitation l...
Wood
$3,288 / set
Two Chairs by Ico and Luisa Parisi, Italy, 1950s
By Ico & Luisa Parisi
Located in Greding, DE
Pair of refined side chairs in polished maple, featuring the designers’ signature bow-shaped backrests and slender, sculptural frames. The seats are upholstered and have been newly c...
Fabric, Maple
Terni Series Office Chair by Ico Parisi for MIM Roma, Italy, 1958
By Ico Parisi, Ico & Luisa Parisi
Located in Antwerp, BE
Office chair by Ico Parisi for MIM Roma, a timeless masterpiece of mid-century Italian design. This office chair from Ico Parisi's renowned Terni series was crafted in 1958. Made of ...
Metal
Ico & Luisa Parisi Rare Set of Six Mid-century Modern Velvet Dining Chairs, 50s
By Ariberto Colombo, Ico & Luisa Parisi
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Ico & Luisa Parisi for Ariberto Colombo, Cantù, set of six rare rosewood dining chairs. Sculptural structure with slightly curved butterfly-shaped padded back, padded seat suspended ...
Velvet, Walnut
Ico & Luisa Parisi MidCentury Modern Italian Walnut and Bouclè Dining Chairs 50s
By Ico & Luisa Parisi
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Ico & Luisa Parisi for Ariberto Colombo, Cantù, set of four rare walnut dining chairs. Sculptural structure with slightly curved butterfly backrest, frame seat with original springs ...
Bouclé, Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Wooden Bench by Ico and Luisa Parisi, Italy, 1950s
By Ico & Luisa Parisi
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Wooden Bench by Ico and Luisa Parisi, Italy, 1950s
Wood
$3,700 / set
H 29.73 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Vico Magistretti "122" Chairs for Cassina, 1967, Set of 2
By Cassina, Vico Magistretti
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Vico Magistretti "122" chairs for Cassina, black structure, Italy, 1967 set of two. The "122" chairs designed by Vico Magistretti in 1967 have a sculptural design, created with a wo...
Leather, Beech, Plywood
$469
H 29.14 in W 22.45 in D 20.87 in
Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno Green "Modus" Office Chair, Italy 1970s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Naples, IT
Designed by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno in the 1970s, this swivel office chair consists of a green plastic shell covered in green fabric on the seat and back, together with an aluminiu...
Aluminum, Steel
$2,369 / set
H 33.08 in W 19.3 in D 21.26 in
Set of Six Vintage Italian Midcentury Walnut Dining Chairs
By Paolo Buffa
Located in London, GB
A beautiful and elegant set of six vintage Italian midcentury walnut dining chairs. They date from around the 1950’s. The quality is excellent, they are beautifully designed and are...
Fabric, Walnut
$2,877 / set
H 35.04 in W 17.72 in D 18.51 in
Set of 3 Mahogany Dining Chairs in the manner of Ico Parisi 1960s
By Ico Parisi
Located in Berlin, DE
3 Dining Chairs in the manner of Ico Parisi, Italy - 1960s. Reupholstery option available in our in-house atelier. Please ask for a quote.
Fabric, Wood, Mahogany
$2,789 / set
H 34.65 in W 25.6 in D 27.17 in
Pair of Office Chairs by André Vandenbeuck for Arflex, Italy, 1960's
By Arflex, Andre Vandenbeuck
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of office armchairs designed by André Vandenbeuck in 1960's and produced by Arflex, Italy. Rare swivel desk version in original tan leather, wood arms and polished steel bases.
Steel
$2,819
H 33.47 in W 21.66 in D 23.63 in
Pair of Swivel Desk Chairs "Terni" by Ico Parisi for MIM Rome Italy
By Mobili Italiani Moderni (MIM), Ico Parisi
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
This elegant and incredibly comfortable pair of executive desk chairs from the Terni series was designed by Ico and Louisa Parisi and manufactured by MIM Roma, Italy, in 1960. Each c...
Aluminum
1950s Italian Chiavari Brass Ballroom Chair
By Chiavari
Located in Buchanan, NY
A stunning Italian Mid-Century Modern brass ballroom chair with upholstered seat by Chiavari. This mid century brass ballroom chair by Chiavari is a mu...
Brass
$2,349Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 19.69 in W 28.35 in D 30.71 in
Ico Parisi Italian Midcentury Armchairs for Mim
By Ico Parisi, MIM Roma
Located in bari, IT
Set of four armchairs in white fiberglass Kubilia series of Ico Parisi for M.I.M. Rome, Italy. Ico Parisi was born in Palermo in 1916. He gained a diploma in construction and served his apprenticeship in Giuseppe Terragni's studio. In 1937 he carried out, for the magazine Quadrante, a photographic study of the Casa del Fascio that marked the entire research that Parisi conducted in "meditating on the legacies and contradictions of the enormous baggage of ideas and forms constituted by the experience of the masters". His activity, marked by continuous experimentation, is an incessant quest in the fields of architecture, art and design. Between 1948 and 1950 he devoted himself to the study of furniture elements. In the field of design, crucial encounters with Munari and Fontana (1951) and Melotti profoundly marked his experience. In 1948 he founded the studio La ruota with his wife Luisa Aiani, a designer and designer, which ceased its activity in 1995. In 1954 he was awarded the Gold Medal at the X Milan Triennale with the work Padiglione Soggiorno, with Silvio Longhi and Luigi Antonietti. In 1957 he presented at the exhibition Colori e forme della casa d'oggi the work Casa per vacanze, which was the result of a collaboration with Manlio Rho...
Velvet, Fiberglass
Unavailable|$3,523 / set
H 29.53 in W 20.08 in D 20.08 in
Vico Magistretti, Pair of Chairs, Model 122, Cassina, 1960s
By Cassina, Vico Magistretti
Located in Paris, FR
A pair of dark brown walnut stackable dining chairs. Each with a bent plywood back, the seat upholstered with burgundy velvet on four feet. Manufactured by Cassina. Italy. 1967. P...
Leather, Walnut
Office chair and desk vintage MIM
By MIM Roma
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
Beautiful vintage desk chair dating from the 1980s last century. Manufactured in Italy by the company MIM mim mobili spa, this chair has a chrome-plated metal frame with integrated s...
Metal
Mid Century Italian Cherry Wood Bench , Ico Parisi Style 1960
By Ico Parisi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Mid Century Italian Cherry Wood Bench, reminiscent of the iconic style of Ico Parisi, epitomizes the elegance and sophistication of mid-century design. Crafted during the 1960s,...
Cherry
Italian modern office chair by Ico Parisi for MiM, 1970s
By MIM Roma, Ico Parisi
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern office chair by Ico Parisi for MiM, 1970s Office chair or armchair with padded seat and backrest, upholstered in brown leather with a wooden frame. The four-spoke meta...
Metal
Sold
H 27.17 in W 78.75 in D 32.68 in
Vignola modular sofa by Luigi Pellegrin for Mim Roma, Italy, 1960s
By Ico & Luisa Parisi, MIM Roma
Located in modena, Emilia-Romagna
Luigi Pellegrin for MIM Rome, "Vignola" modular sofa with a three-seat sofa and an armchair. This versatile living room set by Luigi Pellegrin for MIM Roma lets you arrange it to yo...
Resin, Polyester
Sold
H 30.12 in W 22.25 in D 24.41 in
Group of three Chairs 814 by Ico and Luisa Parisi for Cassina Anni 60
By Ico & Luisa Parisi, Cassina
Located in Milano, IT
Group of 3 chairs with arms, stained beech wood frame, seat and back, foam padding, leatherette upholstery (not original to the period) Completely restored by our workshop in both t...
Beech
Sold
H 30.71 in W 22.05 in D 22.45 in
Set of Six Ico & Luisa Parisi Model 814 Dining Chairs for Cassina, Italy 1961
By Ico & Luisa Parisi, Cassina
Located in Hellouw, NL
These dining chairs designed by Ico and Luisa Parisi in 1961 showcase a harmonious blend of functionality and aesthetic elegance. Produced by Cassina, model 814 embodies the design p...
Walnut
Sold
H 36.23 in W 17.33 in D 16.93 in
Pair of Ico and Luisa Parisi Dining Chairs by Ariberto Colombo, 1952
By Ico & Luisa Parisi, Ariberto Colombo
Located in Rome, IT
Set of a pair iconic Ico & Luisa Parisi dining chairs manufactured by Ariberto Colombo, Cantù, circa 1952 this version with a wooden backrest is a later version; the original version...
Velvet, Wood
Sold
H 36.23 in W 17.33 in D 16.93 in
Set of Six Ico and Luisa Parisi Dining Chairs by Ariberto Colombo, 1952
By Ico & Luisa Parisi, Ariberto Colombo
Located in Rome, IT
Set of iconic Ico & Luisa Parisi dining chairs manufactured by Ariberto Colombo, Cantù, circa 1952 this version with a wooden backrest is a later version; the original version is wit...
Velvet, Wood
Sold
H 30.71 in W 22.05 in D 22.45 in
Set Italian Walnut Armchairs, Model 814, Ico & Luisi Parisi for Cassina, 1960s.
By Ico & Luisa Parisi, Cassina
Located in Wolfurt, AT
Set of 2 Armchairs manufactured by Cassina, design Ico and Luisa Parisi, model 814, walnut structure, seat and backrest reupholstered in gray fabric. Cassina label on the underside o...
Fabric, Wood
Ico & Luisa Parisi Designed Wooden Bench Made in Italy in 1960
By Ico & Luisa Parisi
Located in Oirlo, LI
Ico & Luisa Parisi designed Wooden bench made in Italy in 1960 Beautiful Italian wooden bench, the model is by designer Ico & Luisa Parisi, made in Italy in the 1960s. The wood...
Wood
Sold
H 37.41 in W 16.54 in D 16.54 in
Lacquered Brass Dining Chairs by Ico Luisa Parisi, 1950s, Set of 6
By Ico & Luisa Parisi
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Set of 6 black lacquered Ico Parisi chairs with brass tips from the 50's, and seat covered in ivory leatherette.
Brass
Sold
H 35.83 in W 17.33 in D 17.72 in
Ico E Luisa Parisi for Ariberto Colombo, Set of Six Chairs, 1950s
By Ico & Luisa Parisi, Ariberto Colombo
Located in Palermo, PA
Ico e Luisa Parisi for Ariberto Colombo, set of six chairs, 1950s. Dimensions: H=91cm; W= 44 cm; D= 45 cm; Seat height = 48 cm.
Mahogany
Ico Parisi Terni Swivel Desk Chair MIM Roma, Italy, 1960
By Ico & Luisa Parisi, MIM Roma
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Beautiful and very comfortable executive desk chair from the Terni series designed by Ico e Louisa Parisi and manufactured by MIM Roma, Italy 1960. This chair has an aluminium star s...
Aluminum
Sold
H 36.23 in W 16.93 in D 16.93 in
Set of Six Ico and Luisa Parisi Ebonized Dining Chairs by Ariberto Colombo, 1952
By Ico & Luisa Parisi, Ariberto Colombo
Located in Rome, IT
Set of iconic Ico & Luisa Parisi dining chairs manufactured by Ariberto Colombo, Cantù, circa 1952 this version with a wooden backrest is a later version; the original version is ...
Velvet, Mahogany
Ico Parisi Armchair
By Cassina, Ico & Luisa Parisi
Located in New York, NY
Open Armchair by Ico & Luisa Parisi for Cassina. Mahogany frame with exposed joints & carved feet details. Currently upholstered in navy blue ultra-suede.
Suede, Fabric, Wood, Mahogany