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.
$7,601Sale Price|20% Off
Ico Parisi Cabinet and Dry Bar Manufactured by De Baggis, Italy 1950s
By Ico Parisi, Angelo De Baggis
Located in Milan, IT
Splendid Ico Parisi Grissinato Wood Cabinet and Dry Bar. Manufactured by De Baggis, Original Label Italy 1950s
Brass
$5,700Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage italian "Number 58" wood and glass bar cart by Ico Parisi for De Baggis
By Ico Parisi
Located in Milano, IT
Offered is a very rare and extremely well preserved bar cart designed by Ico Parisi around the mid 1950s. Created for the Italian furniture firm De Boggis, its official denomination ...
Brass
1950s Black Lacquer Trolley by Ico Parisi with Removable Serving Trays
By Ico Parisi
Located in London, GB
A 1950s cart trolley in black lacquer by Ico Parisi with the top two trays being removable serving trays with orignal castors.
Wood, Lacquer
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
$2,791
H 26.38 in W 30.32 in D 15.75 in
1950s Art Deco Mid-Century Italian Walnut Burl and Mirror Mosaic Dry Bar Cabinet
By Ico & Luisa Parisi, Vittorio Dassi, Gio Ponti, Paolo Buffa, Guglielmo Ulrich
Located in Carimate, Como
Very elegant Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern dry bar cabinet, in beautiful wood, two doors and brass handles. When opened, on the right side an amazing interior part in mirrors m...
Brass
$2,731
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 Guglielmo Ulrich, Vittorio Dassi, 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
$9,135 / item
H 31.11 in W 13 in D 29.93 in
Bar Trolley in Black Pen Shell with 3 Removable Trays by Kifu Paris
By Kifu Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by ...
Brass
$1,959
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 Ico & Luisa Parisi, Vittorio Dassi, Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti, Guglielmo Ulrich
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
1970s Vintage Wall Display Cabinet with Dry Bar, Brass & Glass
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below. Shipping Quote Information The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and handle all the shipping details. However, if you let us know what 1st Dibs is quoting you and give us your zip code, we can sometimes ship it for less and get it to you faster. For a shipping quote, click on "ASK THE SELLER" under the purchase button and provide your zip code. Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of A Vintage 3 Piece 1970s wall display...
Brass
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
$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
$2,719
H 29.53 in W 36.23 in D 16.93 in
Italian Mid-Century Modern Bar Cart Wood Brass Trolley bar Attributed Ico Parisi
By Ico Parisi
Located in Nicolosi, IT
Elegant Italian Mid-Century Modern bar cart from the 1960s, attributed to Ico Parisi and crafted in wood, brass and glass. The piece has a refined architectural structure with a rect...
Brass
$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
$1,543
H 24.81 in W 18.9 in D 31.5 in
1960s Italian Two-Tier Brass and Glass Bar Cart with Dark Glass Top
By Romeo Rega, Maison Jansen, Maison Baguès, Milo Baughman, Willy Rizzo
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful and stylish 1960s Hollywood Regency Italian two-tier brass and smoked glass bar cart. A great piece that perfectly adds to every home decor the typical glitz, glamour and g...
Brass
Ico Parisi Style Italian Brass Serving Trolley by Cesare Lacca
By Cesare Lacca, Ico Parisi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian Mid-Century Ico Parisi style, two tiered, brass and lacquered wood bar cart or tea trolley with graceful, curved lines. Manufactured by Cesare Lacca. Brass accents complemen...
Brass
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
Refined Brass and Mahogany Bar Cart Trolley by Ico Parisi
By Ico Parisi, Angelo De Baggis
Located in Utrecht, NL
Beautiful refined bar cart/trolley by Italian grand designer Ico Parisi (1916-1996) made of solid mahogany and brass. The trolley is equipped with two glass shelves and rests on fou...
Brass
Ico Parisi 1950's Bar Cart
By Ico Parisi
Located in New York, NY
1950's Bar cart designed by Ico Parisi for Angelo De Baggis & Fliglio, in vintage newly lacquered in black with some wear and patina due to age and use.
Brass
Ico Parisi Rare "Itri" Rotating Table Bar
By Ico Parisi
Located in Hanover, MA
***September Sale*** Rare "ITRI" rotating table bar by Ico Parisi (Palermo, 1916-Como, 1996) for MIM, Italy, 1958. Rosewood, enameled steel, nickel-pla...
Brass, Steel, Nickel