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.
Rare Ico Parisi for Fratelli Rizzi Cabinet or Vanity in Chestnut
By Ico Parisi, Fratelli Rizzi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ico Parisi for Fratelli Rizzi, Intimiano, cabinet or vanity, a desk from the same series referenced under cat. no, '1950.56', chestnut, mahogany, brass, mirrored glass, Italy, 1950 ...
Brass
Ico Parisi Positano cabinet with pullout trays
By Ico Parisi, MIM Roma
Located in London, GB
A rare cabinet with 4 adjustable wooden pullout trays designed by Ico Parisi and produced by MIM Roma C1950-1959 Walnut, rosewood , black enamelled steel with brass sabot
Brass, Enamel, Sheet Metal
Vintage 20th Century Italian Chest Of Drawers By Ico Parisi For Mim Roma c.1950
By Ico Parisi, MIM Roma
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A 20th Century sleek Italian wooden chest of drawers by Ico Parisi for Mim Roma, leading advocates of minimal and conceptual furniture design in the 1950s. Ico Parisi (1916–1996) wa...
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Dry Bar by Ico Parisi in Mahogany, Glass, Brass - Italy
By Ico Parisi
Located in Girona, Girona
Dry bar, mahogany veneer, central glass flap door with two small drawers inside, two glass shelves on top, brass handles. Design: Ico Parisi Italy, 1948.
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Ico Parisi Edited by Mim Pair of Italian Bedside Tables
By Ico Parisi
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of bedside tables designed by Ico Parisi edited by MIM. Composed of solid walnut wood structure and metal legs. Interior lighting “mod. 222" designed by Gino Sarfatti for Artel...
Metal
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
Cabinet with Drawers, Black / Ico Parisi, 1970
By Ico Parisi, Brugnoli Mobili Cantú
Located in Berlin, DE
This extraordinary drawer cabinet in black lacquered wood was designed by architect and designer Ico Parisi around 1970. The nine drawers of different sizes are equipped with rectang...
Wood
Mid-Century Modern Early Knoll Walnut 2-Door Credenza
By Florence Knoll
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Diminutive credenza from the early 1950s. Walnut top is new veneer replacing worn Formica. Leather pulls a signature Florence Knoll design mark. Two sliding doors open to reveal two ...
Steel
$5,272 / set
H 23.2 in W 20.8 in D 14 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian Vittorio Dassi Style Nightstands Bedside Burl Walnut
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Mid-Century pair nightstands 1950s Vittorio Dassi manner in folder and burl walnut, legs in dark beech, walnut burl flame veneer on the doors and sides; interior in mahogany folder....
Glass, Burl
$2,995
H 25.2 in W 18.12 in D 11.82 in
Small Bedside Tables Shelves Style Ico Parisi for Debaggis 1950s Brass
By Ico Parisi
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Small bedside tables or shelves in mahogany Ico Parisi for Debaggis 1950s brass and glass Minimalist
Brass
$467Sale Price|50% Off
H 28.35 in W 31.5 in D 17.72 in
Lady’s Desk or Vanity in Mahogany, Czechoslovakia, 1970s
By Up Závody
Located in Zohor, SK
Beautiful midcentury desk, originally used as a desk for a lady, or vanity in the bedroom. The table is elegant combination of lighter birch wood on the sides and mahogany wood on to...
Birch, Mahogany
$2,133 / set
H 24.81 in W 23.63 in D 13.78 in
French Pair of Nightstands Side Cabinets Bedside Tables Brutalist Style, 2022
Located in Labrit, Landes
Pair of oak nightstands "Pyrénées" signed by Sébastien Lamarre. This french side cabinets were made by Sébastien Lamarre for Maison Marie Anne....
Oak
$2,037 / set
H 23.63 in W 16.93 in D 13.39 in
Pair of Italian Mid-Century Wood Night Stands Bedside Tables
By Ico & Luisa Parisi, Dassi, Gio Ponti, Melchiorre Bega
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful Italian 1950s Mid-Century Modern pair of night stands bed side tables with simple and elegant wooden squared structure completed by the central handle. Those side tables or...
Wood
$1,977
H 27.96 in W 28.75 in D 14.57 in
1950s Midcentury Regency Italian Wood, Brass and Mirror Dry Bar Cabinet Cart
By Guglielmo Ulrich, Vittorio Dassi, Gio Ponti, Paolo Buffa, Ico & Luisa Parisi
Located in Carimate, Como
Very elegant Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern dry bar cabinet cart characterized by its original Asian themed painted front wood pull-out tilt door with interior part in mirror glass, standing on its antique brass wheels...
Brass
$2,756
H 27.56 in W 34.26 in D 15.36 in
Italian 1960s Art Deco Mid-Century Burl Walnut Mirror Mosaic Dry Bar Cabinet
By Vittorio Dassi, Guglielmo Ulrich, Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti, Ico & Luisa Parisi
Located in Carimate, Como
Very elegant Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern drinks dry bar cabinet with black glass top and beautiful veneer walnut briar burl wood, two doors and great central wooden decor cra...
Brass
$2,995
H 31.5 in W 33.47 in D 16.15 in
1960s Art Deco Mid-Century Italian Walnut Burl and Mirror Mosaic Dry Bar Cabinet
By Vittorio Dassi, Guglielmo Ulrich, Gio Ponti, Paolo Buffa, Ico & Luisa Parisi
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern dry bar cabinet decorated in various veneer briar burl wood, with two side doors, central slant door and antique brass handles. When ope...
Brass
$4,200
H 40 in W 52 in D 15.5 in
Mid Century Danish Modern Large Scale Cabinet, Chest or Credenza in Teak
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A stunning Scandinavian cabinet from the 1960's. This sleek piece features gorgeous book-matched teak wood, large door and six drawers with tons of interior storage space. Nice shall...
Teak
$3,295
H 35.5 in W 37.5 in D 18 in
Rosewood Dry Bar Cabinet by M. Hayat & Bros, Brass Inlay, Mid-Century
By M. Hayat & Bros Ltd.
Located in Southampton, NJ
Midcentury bar cabinet of radiant grain solid Rosewood with intricate brass inlay details throughout. Substantial mirrored top panel & drop forward serving surface open simultaneousl...
Brass
$4,553
H 29.93 in W 30.71 in D 18.12 in
1950s Vanity or Writting desk by Ico & Luisa Parisi for La Permanente Mobili
By La Permanente Mobili Cantù, Ico Parisi
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Fine 1950s Vanity or Writting desk by Ico & Luisa Parisi for La Permanente Mobili di Cantù ( labelled) in solid maple and top in teak veneer with geometr...
Maple
Sold
H 68.51 in W 33.47 in D 15.36 in
Mid-Century Bookcase with Desk Designed by Ico Parisi, Italy, 1950
By Ico Parisi
Located in Madrid, ES
The piece is characterized by two organically shaped exterior side uprights that mark Ico Parisi's signature. The black lacquered sides support the storage unit and a glass shelf at ...
Brass
Ico Parisi Rare Rosewood Cabinet
By Ico Parisi
Located in Milano, IT
Ico Parisi (1916 - 1996) Rare cabinet with two compartments closed by doors and six drawers in polished wood with brass handles. Spartaco Brugnoli manufacture, 1960s. Bibliography ...
Wood
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
Ico Parisi Cabinet Trumeau for Fratelli Rizzi in Wood and Glass
By Fratelli Rizzi, Ico Parisi
Located in Milano, IT
The living room furniture or Tumeau takes up the compositional stylistic features of the Tremeau presented at the XVII Fiera Campionaria di Milano 1948.8. ref. modifying some element...
Brass
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 Angelo De Baggis, Ico Parisi
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
"Taormina" Chest of Drawers in Teak Wood by Ico Parisi, MIM 1958
By Ico Parisi, MIM Roma
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Chest of drawers designed in 1958 by Ico Parisi and manufactured by MIM, Rome. Teak wood and metal details, original working keys, labelled with manufacturer stamps and decal.
Wood
Pair of 'Taormina' Cabinets, by Ico Parisi, c. 1958
By Ico Parisi
Located in London, England
For MIM (Mobili Italiani Moderni) Veneered and solid palisander, with metal details. Each interior with lateral shelf. Lit. 'Domus', 1959, no. 351, February 1959, p. 50 MIM cat...
Wood
Sold
H 34.85 in W 28.75 in D 13.39 in
Illuminated Nightstands by Ico Parisi & Gino Sarfatti (Arteluce) for 'MIM', 1958
By Ico Parisi, MIM Roma, Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Wonderful pair of rare "Positano" series nightstands finished in italian walnut and brass, designed in 1958 by Italian architect Ico Paris in collaboration with Gino Sarfatti (appliques) for 'MIM', Roma, Italy . These cabinets came out of a hotel in the South of Italy and these examples appear to be a bespoke production specifically for the hotel's interior as each cabinet bears a unique impressed number above the circular 'MIM' manufacturer's decal. The brass hardware on these cabinets has been beautifully executed with wonderful offset brass detailing to the door handle's backplates and delicate inset brass detailing to the drawer all arranged in a composition that remind me of the beautiful mminimal constructivist and 'arte concrete' reliefs of the period, The built in appliques for bedside reading have a Calderesque minimal sculpural beauty about them and were designed in 1957 by the great master of italian lighting ,Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce (model '222;) . These are wonderful pieces that bring art and design together which is not suprising as Ico Parisi was both an architect and artist.. The delicately and beautifully handled detailing on these cabinets is right up there with masters such as Gio Ponti and Carlo Scarpa. Other subtle but lovely details are the inset chamfered finger pulls to the inside edge of the doors. The more you look the more you appreciate these details. Each cabinet has an open upper storage compartment for books, vases etc that spans the full width of the cabinet with accompanying inbuilt Sarfatti applique for bedside reading. There is a single drawer to each cabinet which spans half the width of the cabinet with inset brass detailing to the drawer front , below that there are two storage storage cabinets...
Metal, Brass, Steel
Sold
H 35.04 in W 55.12 in D 22.05 in
Ico Parisi Mid-Century Wooden Cabinet Italian Manufacture, 1950s
By Ico Parisi
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Mid-century cabinet in wood designed by Ico Parisi, Italian Manufacture, 1950s.
Wood
Sold
H 35.04 in W 28.75 in D 11.82 in
Pair of Nightstands by Ico Parisi for MIM with Gino Sarfatti Lamps, 1958
By MIM Roma, Ico Parisi
Located in Rome, IT
Very rare set of two Mid-Century Modern bedside tables from the "Positano" series designed by Ico Parisi for MIM Roma in 1958 Veneered teak case and black painted iron. The two meta...
Metal
1950s Ico Parisi Wood Cabinet with Brass Details
By Ico Parisi
Located in London, Charterhouse Square
Two-door Ico Parisi cabinet, manufactured in Italy during the 1950s, with tapered legs and brass details: angled handles and lock with original key. Ico Parisi was an Italian arch...
Brass
Ico Parisi Style 1960 Midcentury Design Rosewood Bar Cabinet
By Ico Parisi
Located in Palermo, IT
A nice Italian bar cabinet in rosewood with one door decorated with geometric theme, and two drawers. Opening the door there is an enlightedened space, and there are two glass shelv...
Rosewood