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.
20th Century, Ico Parisi Bench with Wooden Structure and Fabric Seating, 60s
By Ico Parisi
Located in Turin, Turin
Ico Parisi was born in Palermo, Italy, in 1916, but as early as 1925 with his family he moved to Como, where in 1936 he graduated as a building surveyor and served an apprenticeship ...
Fabric, Wood
Ico Parisi Wooden Bench for Brugnoli Mobili Cantù, Italy 1974
By Ico Parisi, Brugnoli Mobili Cantú
Located in Hellouw, NL
Ico Parisi, a renowned Italian designer of the 20th century, was celebrated for his innovative and forward-thinking approach to furniture design. Collaborating with Brugnoli Mobili C...
Wood
Bench model Camogli by Ico Parisi for M.I.M Roma, 1958
By Ico Parisi, MIM Roma
Located in Piacenza, Italy
"Camogli" bench, designed by Ico Parisi and produced by M.I.M Roma, is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Made from solid wood with brass details, it showcases exceptional construction ...
Brass
$27,200Sale Price|20% Off
Ico Parisi Sofa Model 865
By Cassina, Ico Parisi
Located in New York, NY
Ico Parisi Sofa Model 865. Enameled metal and upholstery. Manufacture: Figli di Amedeo Cassina Lit: Roberta Lietti: Ico Parisi Design - Catalogue R...
Metal
$7,748 / set
H 29.93 in W 27.17 in D 27.17 in
Italian modern office chairs by Ico Parisi for MiM, 1970s
By Ico Parisi, MIM Roma
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern office chairs by Ico Parisi for MiM, 1970s Set of eight office chairs or armchairs with padded seat and backrest, upholstered in brown leather with a wooden frame. The...
Metal
$4,116 / set
H 17.72 in W 18.51 in D 13.39 in
1950s, Pair of Stools by La Permanente Mobili Cantù , Ico Parisi attributable
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Pair of Mid-Century Modern stools, produced in the 1950s by La Permanente Mobili Cantù, as confirmed by the original transparent label with the signature joint symbol. The structure ...
Walnut, Fabric
$4,237
H 33.47 in W 94.49 in D 64.97 in
Ico Parisi Mid-Century Modern Italian Corner Sofa for Ariberto Colombo, 1950s
By Ariberto Colombo, Ico Parisi
Located in Puglia, Puglia
L corner sofa designed by Ico Parisi for Ariberto Colombo Cantù. The sofa, as shown in the photo, is L-shaped, has a depth of 165cm and a length of 240cm...
Fabric, Beech
$823Sale Price|20% Off
H 31.88 in W 21.65 in D 23.62 in
Ico Parisi swivel office chair for Mim Roma of the 60s
By Ico Parisi
Located in Catania, IT
Ico Parisi swivel office chair for Mim Roma of the 60s. Product n good condition with wear caused by years and use. Please carefully view the attache...
Metal
$1,876
H 31.5 in W 25.2 in D 25.2 in
Cognac Leather and Rosewood Office Chair by Ico Parisi for Mim Roma Italy, 60s
By MIM Roma, Ico Parisi
Located in Roma, IT
I am offering for sale an armchair originally designed for the office but which is also perfect for home use, as a lounge chair in a living room or in the bedroom to hang clothes. De...
Aluminum
$2,421Sale 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
$10,896Sale Price|25% Off
H 35.04 in W 71.66 in D 18.12 in
Italian Bench / Settee with Wall Hanging Back, Italy, 1950
By Ico Parisi
Located in Milan, IT
Spectacular Italian bench / settee with wall hanging back, Italy, 1950.
Upholstery, Wood
Ico Parisi for Bonacina Woven Rattan Pouf, Italy 1960s
By Ico Parisi, Bonacina
Located in Naples, IT
Footstool or pouf made entirely of round rattan with central hole, composed of many concentric parallel strides and interlacing between them, italian designed by Ico Parisi for Bona...
Bamboo, Rattan
$15,738 / set
H 29.53 in W 32.68 in D 29.53 in
Pair Armchairs Ico Parisi for Cassina, Italian Midcentury, "Model 865", 1955
By Ico Parisi, Cassina
Located in Rovereta, Repubblica di San Marino
Pair armchairs Ico Parisi for Cassina, Italian Midcentury, "Model 865", 1955 in pony skin
Steel
20th Century Wooden Bench
Located in High Point, NC
A wooden bench defined by its simple, functional form and quiet presence. The piece is constructed with a rectangular top set over tapered legs, joined by lower stretchers for stabil...
Wood
$4,706 / item
H 17.72 in W 57.09 in D 15.75 in
Red Aluminium Bench with Lapping Cane Seating from Anodised Wicker Collection
By Tino Seubert
Located in London, GB
Originally realised for the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield and inspired by Donald Judd and Børge Mogensen, Anodised Wicker marries industrially extruded and anodised aluminium with ha...
Aluminum
$2,808 / item
H 17.72 in W 64.97 in D 17.72 in
Mobili Sintetici bench, in veneered plywood, by Cara\Davide for Medulum
By Cara e Davide
Located in Meolo, Venezia
The basics of carpentry involve the mechanical and manual processing of wood, commonly in board-format where the most simple and fundamental processes are straight and inclined s...
Plywood
Ico Parisi Italian Midcentury Bench from the Fifties
By Ico Parisi
Located in bari, IT
1950s wooden frame bench with velvet seat of the period in the style of Ico Parisi. Ico Parisi was born in Palermo in 1916. He gained a diploma in construction and served his appren...
Velvet, Walnut
Sold
H 23.63 in W 74.41 in D 21.26 in
20th Century Ico Parisi Wooden Bench for Brugnoli Mobili Cantù, 1970s
By Ico Parisi, Brugnoli Mobili Cantú
Located in Turin, Turin
Ico Parisi was born in Palermo, Italy, in 1916, but as early as 1925 with his family he moved to Como, where in 1936 he graduated as a building surveyor and served an apprenticeship at the Terragni studio. Discharged from the front in 1943, he returned to Como and resumed his design activity, dealing with the creation of individual furnishings, exhibition layouts and interior architecture. He collaborated with Luisa Aiani, whom he married in 1947 and with whom he opened the studio La Ruota. In the 50s he designed furniture, first in one-piece and later for industrial production with companies such as Cassina. In the 60s, with the "Contenitoriumani" he began a new path aimed at defining a utopian-existential idea of living. The culmination of his research is between 1974 and 1976 with "Operation Arcevia," aimed at designing an entire community. Here we have a wooden bench designed by ico Parisi and realized by Brugnoli Mobili Cantù...
Wood
Ico Parisi Italian Midcentury Bench from the Fifties
By Ico Parisi
Located in bari, IT
1950s wooden frame bench with velvet seat of the period in the style of Ico Parisi. Ico Parisi was born in Palermo in 1916. He gained a diploma in construction and served his appr...
Velvet, Walnut
Ico Parisi Carmogli Bench MIM Roma, Italy, 1958
By MIM Roma, Ico Parisi
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Rare model M3B 'Carmogli' bench designed by Ico Parisi and manufactured by MIM Roma, Italy 1958. This bench is a constructional masterpiece. This beautiful constructed bench could on...
Upholstery, Teak
Sold
H 18.51 in W 35.44 in D 15.75 in
20th Century Ico Parisi Bench with Wooden Structure and Fabric Seating, Blue
By Ico Parisi
Located in Turin, Turin
Bench designed by the great Italian master Ico Parisi in '50s. The bench has a wooden structure (teak) with wonderful attention for the corner joints, and the seating is covered by l...
Fabric, Teak
Sold
H 18.51 in W 35.44 in D 15.75 in
20th Century Ico Parisi Bench with wooden structure and fabric seating - pink
By Ico Parisi
Located in Turin, Turin
Bench designed by the great italian master Ico Parisi in '50s. The bench has a wooden structure (teak) with wonderful attention for the corner joints, and the seating is covered by p...
Fabric, Teak
Wooden Bench Designed by Ico and Luisa Parisi, 1960s
By Ico Parisi
Located in taranto, IT
Rare wooden bench designed by ico and luisa parisi, early 1960s Made with ten wooden planks spaced apart, structure and full metal It measures 110 cm in length, 32 cm in width ...
Wood
Wooden Bench Designed by Ico and Luisa Parisi, 1960s
By Ico Parisi
Located in taranto, IT
rare wooden seat designed by ico and luisa parisi, mid-60s, characterized by ten wooden planks mounted spaced apart, with metal feet and brass terminals It measures 100 cm in leng...
Wood
Ico Parisi Custom Upholstered Bench
By Ico Parisi, Brugnoli Mobili Cantú
Located in New York, NY
Custom upholstered bench by Ico Parisi. Architectural frame of dark-stained teak. Upholstered seat cushion. Produced by Brugnoili Mobile, Cant...
Upholstery, Teak
1960s, Leather and Rosewood Bench by Ice Parisi
By Ico Parisi
Located in New York, NY
This finely crafted modernist bench was designed by the Italian designer Ico Parisi in the 1960s. It is comprised of cushioned seating and a rosewood base. The seating is newly reuph...
Leather, Rosewood
Ico Parisi '' Carmogli '' Teak Bench for MIM Roma, 1950s
By MIM Roma, Ico Parisi
Located in Rome, IT
Very rare ''Camogli'' bench designed by Ico Parisi and Manufactured by M.I.M. Roma in 1958 The low seat is made of teak with burnished brass details Original mark on aluminium plat...
Wood
Unusual bench by Ico Parisi
By Ico Parisi
Located in Girona, Girona
Unusual and ravishing bench, stained and french polished beech wood, grey felt upholstery with 3 buttons. Design: Ico Parisi Italy c. 1940
Beech, Felt