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.
$14,159Sale Price|20% Off
Rare Italian Red Sofa by Ico Parisi for Cassina Mod. 875, Published
By Ico Parisi, Cassina
Located in Milano, IT
Rare four-seater sofa by Ico Parisi for Cassina model 875 of the 60s. The structure is metal, and the cover is red cotton fabric. The sofa through the clean lines and defined very ri...
Steel
$4,129
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
Modular Sofa and Ottomans for Cassina
By Cassina
Located in Sagaponack, NY
Fully upholstered modular seating system with slab sides, tight seats, and ‘saddle bag’ style back and end cushions. Labeled Cassina under the seats on its metal frame as well as lab...
Metal
On Hold|$19,085
H 23.23 in W 118.9 in D 98.82 in
Original Lara Sofa by Pamio, Toso and Massari for Stilwood, Italy, 1960s
By Pierre Paulin, Mario Bellini, Roberto Pamio & Renato Toso, Stilwood
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
An original Lara sofa by Roberto Pamio, Renato Toso and Noti Massari for Stilwood, Italy 1950s/1960s. Newly reupholstered in a premium, pure Alpaca wool fabric. Ships worldwide.
Foam
Ico Parisi Curved Back Sofa Manufactured by Ariberto Colombo
By Ico Parisi
Located in North Miami, FL
As documented by Phillips Auction House - Design Masters Sale on December 17, 2014. Very sculptural details and perfectly restored to its original glo...
Chenille, Wood
$18,500 / set
H 26.4 in W 153.5 in D 38.6 in
Velvet 'Dress-Up' Sectional Sofa Designed by Rodolfo Dordoni for Cassina
By Rodolfo Dordoni, Cassina
Located in Dallas, TX
Three-piece velvet Cassina Sectional sofa designed by Rudolfo Dordoni. Upholstered in a high-grade deep wine-colored velvet. Purchased new but never installed. Can be reconfigured to...
Velvet
Ico Parisi sofa, model 875 in steel and upholstered fabric
By Ico Parisi
Located in Milano, IT
COD-2183 Ico Parisi (1916-1996) Rare model 875 sofa in steel and upholstered fabric. Cassina 1960 manufacturing. Bibliography: R. Lietti, Ico Parisi. Design. Catalog raisonné 1936...
Steel
20th Century, Ico Parisi for Cassina Sofa mod. 865
By Cassina, Ico Parisi
Located in Turin, Turin
Ico Parisi was an Italian architect and designer, born in Palermo in 1916. His activity, marked by continuous experimentation, consists in an incessant research in the fields of arch...
Metal
Curved Sofa, attributed to Ico Parisi, Italy, 1950s
By Ico Parisi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This sculptural curved sofa, attributed to Ico Parisi, features an elegant, enveloping form with gently flared arms and a continuous upholstered backrest. Raised on tapered wooden le...
Velvet
$2,950 / item
H 44.1 in W 96.46 in D 31.5 in
'Veranda' 3-Seater Fabric Sofa by Vico Magistretti for Cassina, Italy, 1980s
By Vico Magistretti, Cassina
Located in Almelo, NL
This multicolored and adjustable sofa was designed by Vico Magistretti for Cassina, circa 1980s. This smart and highly desirable Italian design features seats that are upholstered wi...
Steel
Ico Parisi Style Mid-Century Modern Italian Sofa, 1950s
By Ico Parisi
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Three seater sofa in the style of Ico Parisi. Very elegant and comfortable, with floral fabric upholstery, the upholstery was redone twenty years ago but new upholstery is recommended.
Fabric, Beech
$17,699 / set
H 25.99 in W 40.95 in D 37.8 in
Mario Bellini Brown Velvet Pianura Modular Sofa for Cassina, 1970, Set of 3
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Vicenza, IT
Pianura sectional sofa, designed by Mario Bellini and manufactured by the Italian brand Cassina in 1970. The set is composed of a three seater sofa. It features a brown velvet upho...
Velvet, Foam, Walnut
$11,304 / item
H 29.93 in W 31.11 in D 33.08 in
Ico Parisi 875 Armchair by Cassina, Metal & Fabric, Mid-Century
By Ico Parisi, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Armchair designed by Ico Parisi in 1960, relaunched in 2020. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. Designed by Ico Parisi in 1960 for Cassina, at that time “Figli di Amedeo Cassina”,...
Metal
Sold
H 32.29 in W 26.78 in D 31.5 in
Three Italian Modern Ico Parisi Chairs in Walnut Model 869, 1960s
By Ico Parisi, Cassina
Located in Hellouw, NL
Three Italian Modern Ico Parisi chairs in walnut Model 869 were made for Cassina in Italy in the 1960s. These chairs can also feature as a sofa when put together. They are newly upho...
Fabric, Walnut