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.
Set of 4 Italian Dining Chairs by Ico & Luisa Parisi for Ariberto Colombo, 1950s
By Ico Parisi
Located in Paris, FR
20th-century collectible dining chairs designed by the iconic duo Ico and Luisa Parisi for Ariberto Colombo, mid-1950s. A classic, sculptural silhouette defined by a gently curved ba...
Upholstery, Beech
Ico Parisi Mid-Century Italian Slipper Chair in Black Leather
By Ico Parisi
Located in Queens, NY
Mid-Century Italian (1950s) slipper chair with a silver metal frame anchored by horizontal wood stretchers and upholstered in button tufted black leather. (ICO PARISI) Leather is cr...
Metal
$3,455Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 29.93 in W 18.12 in D 20.87 in
Set of Six Mahogany Chairs Mod.110 by Ico Parisi for Cassina - Italy - 1960s
By Ico Parisi
Located in Milano, IT
Beautiful set of six chairs in elegant mahogany and comfortable hazelnut-colored velvet born from the pencil of Ico Parisi and made since the 1960s, by the prestigious Cassina compan...
Velvet, Wood
$2,366Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 19.69 in W 28.35 in D 30.71 in
Ico Parisi Mid-Century Armchairs, Fiberglass & Velvet, Italy, 1967
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
$6,491 / set
H 35.04 in W 33.47 in D 31.5 in
Pair of Ico Parisi MidCentury Modern Italian Armchairs for Ariberto Colombo, 50s
By Ico Parisi, Ariberto Colombo
Located in Puglia, Puglia
A pair of iconic armchairs designed by Ico Parisi for Ariberto Colombo Cantù, 1950. The armchair has been completely restored and upholstered in cream-colored bouclé-effect fabric, ...
Bouclé, Beech
Ico Parisi, Lounge Chairs, Wood, Fabric, Italy, 1950s
By Ico Parisi
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of teal fabric and wood lounge chairs designed by Ico Parisi and produced by MIM, Italy, c. 1950s. Wear consistent with age and use. Restored and reupholstered in recent hist...
Fabric, Wood
$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
$3,800 / set
H 31 in W 18 in D 16 in
Pr. Midcentury Dining Side Chairs Att. to Ico Parisi, circa 1950s
By Ico Parisi
Located in New York, NY
Chic sophisticated design mid century side chairs, in newly reupholstered ecru leather with sculptural wood frames. Italian made, attributed to Ice Parisi, circa 1940- 1950's. Both c...
Leather, Wood
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
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
$2,650Sale Price|20% Off
H 31.89 in W 31.5 in D 29.53 in
Mid-Century Italian Green Velvet Armchair Ico Parisi Style, 1950s
By Ico Parisi
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Mid-century Italian green velvet armchair Ico Parisi style, 1950s.
Velvet, Wood
$4,956 / set
H 40.95 in W 18.12 in D 22.84 in
Set of 6 Mint Colored Midcentury Dinning Chairs, in the Manner of Ico Parisi
By Ico Parisi
Located in Wolfurt, AT
This set of six dining chairs resembles the design by Ico Parisi and is in its original condition. The straight-lined frame with tapered ends is made of lacquered teak. The seats and...
Teak
$10,900 / set
H 35 in W 39 in D 30 in
Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs in Style of Ico Parisi, Italy, 1950s
By Ico Parisi
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 20th Century, vintage Mid-Century modern Italian pair of club chairs in the style of Ico Parisi, in good condition. The seat backrest is slightly leaned to the back with outstretch...
Metal, Iron
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
Mid Century Italian Armchair by Ico Parisi in Sage Mohair
By Ico Parisi, Ariberto Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A mid century Italian armchair designed by Ico Parisi and manufactured by Ariberto Colombo. Newly reupholstered in a plush sage colored mohair featuring tapered wooden legs.
Mohair
Sold
H 35.83 in W 17.72 in D 20.87 in
1950's Italian Chairs by Ico and Luisa Parisi for Ariberto Colombo, Set of Two
By Ico Parisi
Located in Paris, FR
Two 20th century collectible chairs designed by the iconic duo Ico and Luisa Parisi for Ariberto Colombo in the mid-1950s. This classic design is highlighted by the curved backrest, ...
Upholstery, Beech
Ico Parisi Dining Chairs
By Ico Parisi, Fratelli Rizzi
Located in New York, NY
Rare Set of 6 Dining Chairs by Ico Parisi. Italian walnut, fabric. Produced by Fratelli Rizzi, Intimiano, Italy. Fantastic architectural form with rich wood structures. A rare custom...
Upholstery, Walnut
Sold
H 31.5 in W 15.75 in D 19.69 in
Ico Parisi for Fratelli Longhi, Italian Mid-Century Chair in Tubular Metal, 1969
By Ico Parisi, Fratelli Longhi
Located in Milan, IT
Ico Parisi for Fratelli Longhi, Italian Mid-Century Chair in Tubular Metal and White Leather, 1969
Metal
Malatesta and Mason pair of easy chairs by Ico Parisi
By Ico Parisi, Malatesta and Mason
Located in Antwerp, BE
Bubinga, mahogany and brass pair of chairs by Ico Parisi for Malatesta and Mason Italy 1950s. Gorgeous examples of mid-century modern Italian design. These sculptural armchairs wer...
Brass
Ico Parisi Pair of Ebonized Side Chairs
By Ico Parisi
Located in CA, CA
Ico Parisi pair of ebonized side chairs An elegant pair of Ico Parisi side chairs of sculpted wood and ebonized finish. Made in Italy ...
Softwood
Six Ico Parisi Dining Chairs
By Ico Parisi
Located in New York, NY
Six original Ico Parisi dining chairs.
Walnut
Ico Parisi '' Carmogli '' Teak Bench for MIM Roma, 1950s
By Ico Parisi, MIM Roma
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
Side Chairs by Ico Parisi for MIM Mobili
By Ico Parisi, Mobili Italiani Moderni (MIM)
Located in Asbury Park, NJ
Three simple side chairs by Ico Parisi for MIM Mobili with thin tubular steel legs and naugahyde upholstery.
Set of Six Dining Chairs by Ico Parisi
By Ico Parisi
Located in San Francisco, CA
A set of six side chairs by Ico Parisi circa 1950 Italy made for Ariberto Colombo. Each chair is made in walnut with a blackened finish and maple color vinyl covered seat.
Walnut
Set of 4 Side Chairs by Ico Parisi
By Ico Parisi
Located in Westport, CT
Set of 4 Side Chairs by Ico Parisi.
Wood, Upholstery
MIM Desk Chair by Ico Parisi
By Ico Parisi
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Classic single MIM desk chair by Ico Parisi. All original tan leather padded seat, wood back, and 4-star steel base. Armless design is simple and func...
Steel