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 Wooden Bookcase mod. 1955.DB3
By Ico Parisi, Angelo De Baggis
Located in Torino, Piemonte
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...
Wood
Ico Parisi Urio Wall Bookcase for MIM Rome, Teak & Metal, 1965
By MIM Roma, Ico Parisi
Located in bari, IT
Two-module bookcase model Urio designed by Ico Parisi for MIM Roma in the 1960s. The two modules contain three storage cabinets and a teak drawer cabinet all anchored to aluminum upr...
Metal
Ico Parisi Bookcase Model 459 Italy 1955
By Ico Parisi
Located in Miami, FL
An Ico Parisi bookcase in mahogany veneer with a glass shelf and brass accents.
Glass, Wood
Ico Parisi Bookcase in wood and brass, mod. 457, Italy 1955
By Ico Parisi
Located in Argelato, BO
Ico Parisi bookcase, mod. 457, De Baggis production, lacquered wood, mahogany, brass, Italy, 1955. This bookcase with four shelves in different colors was originally designed for...
Metal, Brass
Ico Parisi Wooden Magazine Holder, Mid-Century Italian Design, 62\"
By Ico Parisi
Located in Roma, IT
Magazine holder is an original design item realized by Ico Parisi in the half of 20th century. A precoius wooden magazine holder decorated wi...
Wood
$1,765
H 31.89 in W 38.98 in D 15.75 in
Cabinet Credenza Sideboard with Sliding Door by Ico Parisi for MiM, Italy 1960s
By MIM Roma
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning small sideboard with sliding doors in wood and aluminum designed by Ico Parisi and produced by MiM Roma in Italy during the 1960s. The sideboard is signed inside. In amazin...
Metal, Aluminum
Italian Mid-Century Sideboard in style of Ico Parisi
By Ico Parisi
Located in New York, NY
Italian vintage cabinet in the manner of Ico Parisi featuring ceramic handles, brass pulls and cartouche decorations by Richard Ginori. Constru...
Ceramic, Wood
Ico Parisi Mid-Century Modern Jatoba Wood Credenza
By Ico Parisi
Located in Weesp, NL
Mid-Century Modern Jatoba wood Ico Parisi cabinet A spectacular bespoke trumeau designed by Ico Parisi and very likely produced by Ariberto Colombo, by special order only. Very few p...
Brass
Mid-Century Bar Cabinet by Ico Parisi, Lacquered Mahogany, Italy
By Ico Parisi
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
Bar Cabinet Attributed to Ico Parisi (Italy) Original Design: 1950's Lacquered mahogany, birch, enameled wood, laminate, mirror, glass shelves, original door key (amazing that it w...
Mirror, Lacquer, Birch, Hardwood, Wood, Laminate
$88,500
H 56.5 in W 193 in D 45.625 in
Sculptural Wall-Mounted Teak Console in the Style of Ico Parisi, Italy
By Ico Parisi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An extraordinary and rare Mid-Century wall-mounted teak console, exquisitely crafted and evocative of the visionary work of Italian designer Ico Parisi. Strikingly sculptural and hig...
Steel
Ico Parisi, Dresser, Wood, Brass, Italy, 1960s
By Ico Parisi
Located in High Point, NC
A dark-stained wood and brass dresser designed by Ico Parisi and produced by Colombo e Clerici, Italy, 1960s. Red staining on tabletop surface. Wear consistent with age and use. Ov...
Brass
$4,873
H 79.53 in W 100.79 in D 16.93 in
Vintage Italian Wood & Brass Mid-Century Modern Free-Standing Bookcase
By Dassi Lissone
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This bookcase was produced in Italy around the 1960s. It consists of 2 main wooden units with shelves and containers, joined together by a central chest of drawers and shelves. Remai...
Brass
$2,730Sale Price|20% Off
H 46.46 in W 41.74 in D 15.75 in
Angelo Mangiarotti Italian Wood Bookcases Shelves Cavalletto Model for Agapecasa
By Angelo Mangiarotti, AgapeCasa
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
A furnishing system made entirely of wood, designed by Angelo Mangiarotti in 1953. Its distinctive feature is a trestle in the shape of an upturned “V”, which means it is superimposable by means of a siply gravity joint, and whose special perimeter section can accomodate bookshelves on which closed containers...
Wood
Osvaldo Borsani, Bookcase model “E 22”, 1951
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Barcelona, ES
Osvaldo Borsani (1911-1985) Bookcase model “E 22” Manufactured by Tecno Varedo (Italy), 1951 Rosewood, aluminium Measurements 423 cm x 49 cm x 292 H in 166.55 in x 19.29 i...
Rosewood
Large Danish Teak Wall Bookcase by Poul Cadovius, F139
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Large wall bookcase from the 60's designed by the Danish designer Poul Cadovius. This bookcase is composed of different modular elements on three ...
Teak
$1,000
H 82.68 in W 33.47 in D 16.15 in
Mid-Century Modern Bookcase, Mahogany Veneer, Italian Design, 1950s
By Non-Standard Furniture and Lighting
Located in Milano, IT
Libreria con vani contenitori a cassetti e ribalta. Legno impiallacciato mogano, struttura in metallo smaltato. Buone condizioni.
Mahogany
20th Century Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a good quality four door breakfront bookcase of small proportions. The top of the bookcase has four glazed doors each opening to reveal adjustable shelves. Below this, in...
Mahogany
MIM Romei bookcase by Ico Parisi 1960s
By Ico Parisi, MIM Roma
Located in bari, IT
Mim bookcase designed by Ico Parisi , Rome ca. 1960, made of rosewood, restored and consisting of three modules. MIM, Mobili Italiani Moderni, is an Italian furniture company that m...
Metal, Brass
Ico Parisi bookcase for MIM Rome 1960s
By MIM Roma, Ico Parisi
Located in bari, IT
Mim bookcase designed by Ico Parisi , Rome ca. 1960, made of rosewood, restored and consisting of three modules. MIM, Mobili Italiani Moderni, is an Italian furniture company that m...
Metal, Brass
Ico Parisi, Early, 1950s Cabinet
By Ico Parisi
Located in Milano, IT
Ico Parisi, early 1950's cabinet supported by elegant uprights in walnut with three central flap compartments and ribbed wood doors at the base with shelve...
Wood
Wall Unit De Ico Parisi Pour Mim Roma, 1960s
By Ico Parisi, MIM Roma
Located in bruxelles, BE
Modular wall unit, composed of 3 boxes, 4 uprights and 14 boards. stamped MIM ROMA. Wear due to time and age. Adjustable height foot: H min: 310 cm H: Max: 325
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Bookcase by Ico Parisi for MIM Rome
By Mobili Italiani Moderni (MIM), Ico Parisi
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
Wall unit designed by Ico Parisi 1958 for MiM, Rome. All shelves are adjustable in height and also has moveable stands for books which are adjustable. The unit is designed to lean on...
Aluminum
Wall Unit De Ico Parisi Pour Mim Roma, 1960s
By Ico Parisi, MIM Roma
Located in bruxelles, BE
Wall unit composed of 4 uprights, 4 boards and 4 boxes, all adjustable in height min: 297cm max: 309cm. Wear due to time and age of the wall unit. Stamped MIM ROMA.
Metal
Ico Parisi Magazine Rack Brass Glass Wood 1950 Italy
By Ico Parisi
Located in Milano, IT
Ico Parisi magazine rack brass glass wood 1950 Italy.
Wood
Sold
H 50.01 in W 40.16 in D 12.21 in
Bookcase Model 459 by Ico Parisi in Mahogany Veneer, Italy 1950s
By Ico Parisi, Angelo De Baggis
Located in Hellouw, NL
Charming Italian Modern Ico Parisi bookcase model 459 in Mahogany Veneer. This bookcase is manufactured by Angelo de Baggis Cantu in Italy in 1955/1956. It has two solid wood carved ...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Bookcase by Ico Parisi for MIM Rome
By Mobili Italiani Moderni (MIM), Ico Parisi
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
Designed by Ico Parisi 1958 for MiM, Rome. The bookcase consists of: Three sections, shelves, a desk with drawers, two closed cabinets, a larger shelf for a TV and several bookshelv...
Aluminum
Ico Parisi Bookcase by Angelo De Baggis Cantu, Italy, 1955
By Ico Parisi
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Super rare and beautiful bookcase model 459 designed by Ico Parisi and manufactured by Angelo De Baggis Cantu, Italy, 1955. The bookcase is formed of 2 solid wood carved supports wit...
Brass
Sold
H 83 in W 158 in D 25 in
Ico Parisi Fratelli Rizzi Custom Italian Walnut Library Shelving Storage, 1958
By Fratelli Rizzi, Ico Parisi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ico Parisi Fratelli Rizzi custom Italian walnut library shelving storage, 1958. Freestanding library ‘wall unit’ shelving storage. Tripartite. with r...
Stainless Steel
Sold
H 118.12 in W 117.33 in D 17.72 in
Urio Wall System by Ico Parisi for Mim Roma, 1960s, Italy Bookcase
By Ico Parisi, Mobili Italiani Moderni (MIM)
Located in Roma, IT
This bookcase with four wood feet was designed by Ico Parisi for MIM Roma.
Metal, Steel