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, Mid-Century Modern Outdoor Set in Rattan for Bonacina, 1956
By Bonacina, Ico Parisi
Located in Milan, IT
Ico Parisi, Mid-Century Modern Outdoor Set in Rattan for Bonacina, 1956 Designed in 1956 by Ico Parisi for the illustrious Bonacina company, renown...
Leather, Bamboo, Straw, Cane, Rattan
Mid-Century Modern Bruno Mathsson Lounge Chair and Ottoman by DUX
By Bruno Mathsson, Dux of Sweden
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A stunning vintage modern lounge and ottoman covered in tufted black leather with a tubular chrome plated frame. This sleek lounge chair boasts thick cushioned arm rests, a sculpted ...
Metal
$3,550 / set
H 31.5 in W 32 in D 25 in
Ico Parisi Style Lounge Chair and Ottoman in New Boucle Mid Century Modern
By Ico Parisi
Located in Atlanta, GA
Curvaceous Italian Lounge Chair and Ottoman, in the style of Ico Parisi, unsigned, Italy, circa 1950s. It has recently been reupholstered in an ivory color boucle and refinished in b...
Upholstery, Wood
Large Italian Gio Ponti Style Curved Bench with Brass Legs
By Osvaldo Borsani, Gio Ponti, Paolo Buffa, Marco Zanuso, Ico Parisi
Located in Houston, TX
Large Italian Gio Ponti style curved bench with brass legs. Large Italian curved bench with splayed brass legs. This stunning Italian modern Gio Po...
Brass
19th Century French Louis XIV Style Giltwood Bench with Deer Hide
Located in Houston, TX
19th century French Louis XIV style giltwood bench with distressed deer hide. Stunning 19th century French Louis XIV style gilt wood bench, stool or ottoma...
Giltwood
Italian Modern Bench Designed By Ico Parisi
By Osvaldo Borsani, Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti, Ico Parisi
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Modern Bench Designed By Ico Parisi. Offered is a long bench designed by famed Italian furniture designer Ico Parisi in the 1950's. This large bench has a sleek design, trimm...
Bronze
$4,295 / set
H 36 in W 24.25 in D 33 in
Ico Parisi Style Mid Century Italian Sculpted Mahogany Lounge Chairs - Pair
By Ico Parisi
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Ico Parisi Style Mid Century Italian Sculpted Mahogany Lounge Chairs - Pair Each chair measures: 24.25 wide x 33 deep x 36 high, with a seat height of 14.5 and arm height/chair clea...
Upholstery, Mahogany
$9,800 / set
H 28 in W 39 in D 32 in
Rare Ico Parisi Italian Modern Lounge Chairs for MIM - A Set of 3
By MIM Roma, Ico Parisi
Located in New York, NY
These rare lounge chairs were designed by Ico Parisi in the Mid-20th Century and produced by MIM (Mobili Italiani Moderni). The chairs are mahogany and bent plywood, with an elegant ...
Mahogany, Plywood
$6,950 / set
H 39.59 in W 33.47 in D 29.93 in
Pair of Italian Franco Albini Rattan Margherita Chairs for Bonacina
By Bonacina, Franco Albini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of Margherita rattan chairs designed by Franco Albini for Bonacina, Italy. These sculptural chairs are beautifully crafted and present a rich, desirable patina that enhances t...
Rattan
$3,708 / set
H 39.38 in W 27.56 in D 33.47 in
Italian Mid Century Rattan B4 Armchair and Pouf, Tito Agnoli for Bonacina, 1950s
By Tito Agnoli, Bonacina
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Mid Century Modern rattan B4 armchair and pouf by Tito Agnoli for Bonacina, 1950s Armchair mod. B4 with armrests and curved backrest complete with footrest, entirely in ratt...
Rattan
Pair of Period Italian Lacquered Wooden Benches
Located in Roma, IT
This highly elegant pair of benches is in Louis XVI style, made in the mid-19th century. The four legs are tapered in a truncated pyramidal shape, and the band is decorated with polychrome carvings...
Leather, Wood
$4,681 / 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
Ico Parisi for Bonacina Woven Rattan Pouf, Italy 1960s
By Bonacina, Ico Parisi
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
Sold
H 16.54 in W 21.66 in D 13.78 in
Pair of Ottomans in solid mahogany and off-white boucle, designed by Ico Parisi
By Ico Parisi
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a pair of Mid Century Modern ottomans or stools done in solid mahogany and upholstered in off-white boucle creating a beautiful contrast between sleek s...
Bouclé, Mahogany
Sold
H 16.54 in W 21.66 in D 13.78 in
Pair of Ottomans or Stools in baby blue velvet designed by Ico Parisi
By Ico Parisi
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a pair of Mid Century Modern ottomans or stools designed by the legend of Italian Mid Century Modern design - Ico Parisi. They feature very elegant legs...
Velvet, Walnut
Sold
H 17.72 in W 23.23 in D 14.18 in
Pair of 1960s red cheque fabric upholstery ebony wood stools by Ico Parisi
By Ico Parisi
Located in London, GB
Pair of 1960s design stools ebony finished color wooden structure, red gold fabric upholstery. Design by Ico Parisi. Made in Italy
Wood
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
Large Rattan Ottoman by Ico Parisi for Bonacina, circa 1950, Italy
By Ico Parisi
Located in Girona, Spain
Large Rattan ottoman designed by Ico Parisi for Bonacina Modern design Original patina Circa 1950s, Italy Original vintage condition.
Rattan
Ico Parisi Armchair with Swivel Ottoman for M.I.M.
By Ico Parisi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ico Parisi armchair with swivel ottoman for M.I.M.