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 President Desk Chair for MIM Roma, Italy, 1964, Midcentury Modern
By MIM Roma, Ico Parisi
Located in Antwerp, BE
MIM Roma Mid-Century Modern executive swivel chair, Italy, 1963, Designed by Ico Parisi for M.I.M Roma. The chair is in height adjustable and offers a custom ergonomic experience. Th...
Wool, Upholstery, Walnut
$2,323Sale 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
$2,450
H 31.3 in W 25.79 in D 24.02 in
Ennio Fazioli for MIM Roma Swivel Desk Armchair in Black Leather
By Ennio Fazioli, MIM Roma
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ennio Fazioli for Mim Roma, swivel office chair, leather, mahogany plywood, lacquered aluminum, plastic, Italy, 1960s In the early 1960s, MIM Roma saw a rise in the production of of...
Aluminum
$6,390 / 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 Ariberto Colombo, Ico Parisi
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
Model 869 Lounge Chair by Ico Parisi for Cassina, Italy 1960's
By Cassina, Ico Parisi
Located in Hellouw, NL
A chair with an architectural frame and a calm, low-slung posture, Model 869 reflects Ico Parisi’s interest in structure, comfort and visual rhythm. Design Designed by Ico Parisi fo...
Wood
Italian modern office chair by Ico Parisi for MiM, 1970s
By Ico Parisi, MIM Roma
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern office chair by Ico Parisi for MiM, 1970s Office chair or armchair with padded seat and backrest, upholstered in brown leather with a wooden frame. The four-spoke meta...
Metal
$2,200
H 33.47 in W 20.87 in D 23.63 in
Terni Series Office Chair by Ico Parisi for MIM Roma, Italy, 1958
By Ico Parisi, Ico & Luisa Parisi
Located in Antwerp, BE
Office chair by Ico Parisi for MIM Roma, a timeless masterpiece of mid-century Italian design. This office chair from Ico Parisi's renowned Terni series was crafted in 1958. Made of ...
Metal
$1,859 / 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 Pair of office chairs or armchairs with padded seat and backrest, upholstered in brown leather with a wooden frame. The four...
Metal
$4,900Sale Price / set|58% Off
H 29.5 in W 28 in D 29.5 in
Pair of Italian Midcentury Lounge Chairs in the Style of Ico Parisi
By Ico Parisi
Located in New York, NY
Stunning pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern armchairs in the spirit of Ignazio Gardella's Diagramma and Ico Parisi 875 lounge chairs. The chairs feature...
Nickel
$3,950 / set
H 34.26 in W 21.66 in D 24.41 in
Ennio Fazioli for MIM Roma Pair of Swivel Desk Chairs in Walnut
By Ennio Fazioli, MIM Roma
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ennio Fazioli for Mim Roma, pair of swivel office chairs, fabric, walnut plywood, lacquered aluminum, Italy, 1960s In the early 1960s, MIM Roma saw a rise in the production of offic...
Aluminum
$11,618Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 29.93 in W 27.17 in D 29.93 in
Rare Italian Design: Ico Parisi 856 Lounge Chairs for Cassina, 1950s
By Ico Parisi, Cassina
Located in Renens, CH
A pair of “856” lounge chairs by Ico Parisi for Cassina, produced during the 1950s in Italy. The chairs have been beautifully re-upholstered in new dark brown semi-aniline leathe...
Metal
$3,253
H 30.71 in W 20.87 in D 22.45 in
1st Edition "Parioli" Rosewood and Leather Office Chair by Ennio Fazioli for MIM
By MIM Roma, Ennio Fazioli
Located in Ceglie Messapica, IT
Early Mid-Century Modern "Parioli" Model Rosewood and Leather Office Chair by Ennio Fazioli for MIM Roma, 1960s (First Generation model - Rare 4-Spoke Base) An exceptional, early-p...
Metal
$11,500 / set
H 32 in W 17.25 in D 18 in
Set of 10 Mid-Century Modern Dining Chairs by Renato Venturi for MIM Roma
By Renato Venturi, MIM Roma
Located in North Miami, FL
A superb rare set of TEN Rosewood dining chairs by Renato Venturi for MiM Roma (Mobili Italiani Moderni). These sturdy rosewood chairs designed by Renato Venturi with an architectura...
Wood
Set of Six Desk Chairs by Ico Parisi for MIM Roma
By Ico Parisi, MIM Roma
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ico Parisi for MIM Roma, set of 6 office chairs, rosewood, metal and leatherette, Italy, 1960s. Set of six swivel chairs from the 'Terni' ser...
Metal
Ico Parisi Swivel Desk Chair in Rosewood for MIM Roma
By Mobili Italiani Moderni (MIM), Ico Parisi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Office chair, in metal, faux-leather and rosewood by Ico Parisi for MIM Roma, Italy, 1950s. Swivel conference chair from the 'Terni' series of Ico Parisi for MIM Roma. This chair...
Metal
Sold
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 Ico Parisi, MIM Roma
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
Ico Parisi for MiM Swivel Desk Chair in Green Skai and Walnut
By Mobili Italiani Moderni (MIM), Ico Parisi
Located in Rome, IT
Office swivel chair by Ico Parisi for MIM Roma, green skai, metal frame and walnut shells This desk armchair was designed and produced in Italy since the end of 1950s We have p...
Metal
Desk Chair by Ico Parisi for Mim, Exotic Wood and Suede Leather
By Mobili Italiani Moderni (MIM), Ico Parisi
Located in Rome, IT
Modernist swivel chair designed by Ico Parisi and produced by M.I.M. (Mobili Italiani Moderni) Roma, Italy Fully restored exotic wood veneered frame with a deep sanding of the ori...
Metal, Steel
Sold
H 31.5 in W 21.26 in D 25.99 in
Fully Restored Exotic Wood and Brown Leather Desk Chair by Ico Parisi for MIM
By Mobili Italiani Moderni (MIM), Ico Parisi
Located in Rome, IT
1950s Modernist swivel chair designed by Ico Parisi and produced by M.I.M. (Mobili Italiani Moderni) Roma, Italy Fully restored curved Exotic wood frame with a deep sanding of the...
Metal
Mid Century Swivel Chairs by Ico Parisi for MIM Italy, 1960s
By Ico Parisi, MIM Roma
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Mid century rosewood swivel/desk chairs by Ico Parisi for MIM Roma. (Mobili Italiani Moderni) They come in their original orange fabric which is stained, we can have them reuphols...
Aluminum
Sold
H 29.93 in W 29.14 in D 24.41 in
Ico Parisi for MiM Swivel Chair in Black Leatherette, Metal and Brass
By Mobili Italiani Moderni (MIM), Ico Parisi
Located in Rome, IT
Office swivel chair by Ico Parisi for MIM Roma, black leatherette, metal, brass This desk armchair was designed and produced since the end of 1950s We have performed a deep re...
Metal
Mid Century Swivel Chair or Desk Chair by Ico Parisi for MIM Italy, 1960s
By Ico Parisi, MIM Roma
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Mid century rosewood swivel/desk chair by Ico Parisi for MIM Roma. (Mobili Italiani Moderni) It comes in its original black leather upholstery. Aluminum star-shaped base. Go...
Aluminum
Sold
H 33.86 in W 21.26 in D 27.17 in
1960s Italian Grey Leather Desk Chair by Ico Parisi for MIM Roma
By Mobili Italiani Moderni (MIM), Ico Parisi
Located in Rome, IT
Office swivel chair with high back designed by Ico Parisi and produced by M.I.M. (Mobili Italiani Moderni) Roma, Italy, 1960s. Light walnut shells , black lacquered metal legs, br...
Metal
Sold
H 30.71 in W 21.26 in D 25.99 in
Pair of Fully Restored Rosewood and Velvet Desk Chairs by Ico Parisi for MIM
By Ico Parisi, Mobili Italiani Moderni (MIM)
Located in Rome, IT
1950s Modernist swivel chairs designed by Ico Parisi and produced by M.I.M. (Mobili Italiani Moderni) Roma, Italy Fully restored curved rosewood frame with a deep sanding of the...
Metal
Sold
H 29.93 in W 29.14 in D 24.41 in
Fully Restored Leather and Mahogany Swivel Desk Chair by Ico Parisi for MIM Roma
By Ico Parisi, Mobili Italiani Moderni (MIM)
Located in Rome, IT
Office swivel armchair designed by Ico Parisi and produced by M.I.M. (Mobili Italiani Moderni) Roma, Italy, 1950's New dark brown natural leather upholstery. Fully restored mahogany...
Metal