Domenico “Ico” Parisi was one half of a prolific postwar design duo he comprised with his wife, Luisa. Their furniture designs are known for running the stylistic gamut, with celebrated mid-century modern pieces ranging from elegantly skeletal — like dramatic ebonized dining chairs — to plush and shapely, like the iconic 1951 Egg chair, in a plethora of materials.
The son of an art teacher father, Ico Parisi was exposed to art at an early age. Born in 1916 in the Sicilian capital of Palermo, he and his family moved to Como in 1925. There, the young Parisi would begin to develop his interest in architecture and design. After earning a degree as a building inspector in 1936 and working as a civil engineer, Parisi took on an apprenticeship in the studio of Giuseppe Terragni, the modernist, fascist Italian architect, pioneer of the Rationalist movement and creator of the iconic Casa del Fascio.
While working for Terragni, Parisi crossed paths with such contemporary design talents as Lucio Fontana, Bruno Munari and Pietro Lingeri, though he briefly moved away from design and architecture to explore photography and film. His artistic work would soon be interrupted, however, by the outbreak of World War II, during which he served at the front before returning to Como in 1943. There, he resumed work as a designer and architect, founding two architecture groups: the Alta Quota and the Gruppo Como.
Through his creative circles, Parisi met Luisa Aiani, a former student of the prolific architect and furniture designer Gio Ponti, who was affiliated with the Alta Quota. They married in 1947 and founded the studio La Ruota — a cross between a design firm and an intellectual salon — in Como shortly thereafter. In 1950, Parisi finally completed his architectural schooling, studying under the nationalist architect Alberto Sartoris at the Athenaeum Architecture School in Lausanne, Switzerland. He and Aiani began several decades of sophisticated output, designing curved sofas upholstered in yellow velvet and armchairs with slender mahogany frames for enduring Italian manufacturers such as Cassina and others.
Much like Charles and Ray Eames in America, the Parisis worked as a team and relied on experimentation in style and material for many of their designs. Ico Parisi died in Como in 1996.
Find a collection of vintage Ico Parisi coffee tables, dining chairs and more on 1stDibs.
Ico Parisi, Wall Light, Metal, Glass, Italy, 1960s
By Ico Parisi, Arteluce
Located in High Point, NC
A black-lacquered metal and opaline glass wall light designed by Ico Parisi and produced by Arteluce, Italy, c. 1940s. Overall Dimensions (Inches): 19.5"H x 9.5"W x 13.0"D Back Pla...
Metal
Ico Parisi sconces model 256 by Arteluce Italy 1964
By Ico Parisi
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Rare large sconces model 256 designed by Ico Parisi and manufactured by Arteluce in Italy in 1964. These elegant lamps have the original frosted glass shades inside, giving a lovely ...
Metal
Arteluce "Triana" Italian Wall Lamp or Sconce
By Arteluce
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This lamp is a fine example of Arteluce's ”Triana” wall lamp featuring two sets of interchangeable Murano glass. One set is white while the other features lined white strips over tra...
Steel
Gino Sarfatti Model #10 Sconce in Black for Arteluce
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Glendale, CA
Gino Sarfatti Model #10 Sconce in Black for Arteluce Executed in painted aluminum and custom fabricated period-styled brass backplates designed to mount ove...
Brass, Aluminum
Kalmar 1960s Glass Floral Wall Light
By J.T. Kalmar
Located in New York, NY
1960s German wall lights composed of a heavy thick glass floral element and a polished brass frame by Kalmar. One light source. Newly Rewired.
Brass
$8,222 / set
H 16.93 in W 17.33 in D 10.24 in
Pair of 1964 Massimo Vignelli 259/2 Wall Sconces by Arteluce
By Massimo Vignelli, Arteluce
Located in TOURS, FR
Pair of wall sconces model 259/2 designed by Massimo Vignelli and made by Arteluce in 1964. Each sconce is made of two aluminium square frames from where hang fabric fringes surroun...
Metal
$1,825
H 12.6 in Dm 16.54 in
Castiglioni Large Chrome "Light Ball" Wall or Ceiling Lamp, Flos, Italy 1960s
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Arteluce, Flos
Located in Roma, IT
Fantastic Mid-Century "Light Ball' sconce or ceiling lamp in chrome designed by Achille Castiglioni for Flos in Italy during the 1960s. This is the largest versions of the light ba...
Metal, Chrome
Stilnovo style wall light, Italy circa 1960s
By Stilnovo
Located in Long Island City, NY
Stilnovo style wall light. Made in Italy in 1960s. Opalescent glass, nickel plated brass. One medium socket. Complimentary US rewiring upon request. 1 sconces is available. Price is ...
Metal, Nickel
$1,766
H 19.69 in W 6.7 in D 3.15 in
Italian Vintage Sculptural Murano Glass Wall Light Flush Mount Sconce, 1960s
By Poliarte
Located in Berlin, DE
Beautiful large blown glass sconce. Italy, 1960s.
Metal
Italian Grey & White Metal Outdoor Wall Light, 1960s
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This wall light was designed in Italy in the 1960s. It was meant for outdoor use with a more resistant kind of paint, but can be used indoors as well. It is made from painted metal a...
Metal, Aluminum
Maison Arlus French 1960s Glass Wall Light
By Arluce
Located in New York, NY
A Maison Arlus French wall light composed of a thick wavy ribbon glass shade and a polished brass frame. Two e12 60w candelabra sockets. Newly Rewired
Brass
$4,945 / set
H 14.18 in W 14.18 in D 3.55 in
Fontana Arte Italian Midcentury Metal Glass Sconces Wall Lamps 1960s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian midcentury modern design sconces wall lamps or ceiling lamps ‘1940" model produced by Fontana Arte with varnished metal, chrome-plated brass, moulded glass, 1950s Italy produ...
Metal
Pair of Gino Sarfatti Model #10 Sconces in Black for Arteluce
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Gino Sarfatti Model #10 Sconces in Black for Arteluce Executed in painted aluminum and custom fabricated period-styled brass backplates designed to mount over a standard American j-box for hardwiring. Ball jointed arm allows flexible shade adjustments and multiple configurations. Arteluce was one of the most innovative lighting design companies in Italy during the midcentury era. Their designs have been long sought after by collectors in the know. Ref: Romanelli & Severi "Gino Sarfatti: 1938-1973, selected works" p. p. 386 + various configurations pp. 69 & 151. Originally designed between 1937-1941, the simplicity of Sarfatti's iconic Model #10 "detto Calla" or "Lily...
Brass, Aluminum
$1,719
H 5.91 in Dm 14.18 in
Sergio Mazza for Artemide Midcentury "Sigma" Metal Glass Sconce Wall Light 1960s
By Sergio Mazza, Artemide
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian midcentury modern design sconce wall light or ceiling lamp model Sigma designed by Sergio Mazza and produced by Artemide with nickel-plated brass structure and molded glass b...
Metal
Ico Parisi wall sconce lamp with extensible brass arm
By Ico Parisi
Located in Milano, IT
Ico Parisi (1916-1996) Rare wall sconce lamp with extensible brass arm and cherry wood structure, lacquered metal hat. Stilnovo manufacture, 1950s. 95/140x40 stem 40
Metal, Brass
Pair of Stilnovo Wall Sconces
By Ico Parisi
Located in London, GB
Set of 2 Stilnovo wall sconces in tubular brass with 2 bulbs each. We have an additional set of 4 with three tubes/bulbs each which can be added to the set. This is an ideal collecti...
Brass
Ico Parisi Mod. No. 256 Wall Lights for Arteluce, Italy, 1964
By Ico Parisi, Arteluce
Located in Milan, IT
Pair of Ico Parisi mod. no. 256 wall lights for Arteluce, Italy, 1964.
Metal
Two Model 244 Sconces by Ico Parisi for Arteluce
By Ico Parisi, Arteluce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Two rare and important model 244 sconces by Ico Parisi for Arteluce. Designed and manufactured in Italy circa 1960. Brass and glass. Wired for US junction boxes. This ingenious desig...
Brass
Ico Parisi Arteluce Sconces Mod. 259, Italy 1959
By Ico Parisi
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Rare pair of sconces designed by Italian top designer Ico Parisi for Arteluce, Italy 1959. This is for model number 259 and was documented in the Arteluce catalogue from 1959. The la...
Metal
Pair of Sconces ‘Model #256’ by Ico Parisi for Arteluce
By Ico Parisi, Arteluce
Located in Albany, NY
Sconces have the original Arteluce sticker. Documented in Arteluce catalog.
Ico Parisi Arteluce Sconce Mod. 259, Italy
By Ico Parisi
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Rare sconce designed by Italian top designer Ico Parisi for Arteluce, Italy 1959. This is for model number 259 and was documented in the Arteluce catalogue from 1959. The lamp is als...
Metal