Although he was best known as a leading figure of organic architecture in Italy, architect Luigi Pellegrin also created sleek and luxurious mid-century modern furniture that included designs for modular seating and more, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s.
Born in 1925 in Courcelette, Pellegrin attended school in Rome, where he met legendary American architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1951. Upon meeting Wright — and later seeing his work in person — Pellegrin became greatly influenced by Wright’s organic approach to architecture. This philosophy, which refers to buildings that exist in harmony with their natural surroundings — had a profound influence on the shape of modern life.
Pellegrin became a member of the A.P.A.O. Association for Organic Architecture, an organization founded by his mentor, Italian architect Bruno Zevi in 1945. Zevi, who studied with Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius at Harvard Graduate School of Design, encountered Wright’s work in America and suggested Pellegrin visit the United States, where the mentee experienced Wright's architecture at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. He later wrote about Wright’s work in a monthly periodical founded by Zevi called L'architettura Cronache e storia.
At the Art Institute of Chicago, Pellegrin was shown drawings made by Louis Sullivan, an architect and mentor to Wright as well as others who came to be associated with the Prairie School. From the 1950s onward, Pellegrin established a reputation for his gigantic urban infrastructures and complex, technologically intricate designs. The influence of Wright can be found in Pellegrin’s designs for private and public buildings in Lombardy and Rome. He patented prefabrication systems, built hundreds of schools (more than 70 of which were in Saudi Arabia) and much more.
During the late 1950s and 1960s, Pellegrin turned his attention toward furniture design, collaborating with award-winning postwar furniture manufacturer MIM Roma, where he was mentored by Ico Parisi, a Palermo-born architect and one-half of a prolific furniture design duo he comprised with his wife, Luisa. The company, founded in 1957, focused on producing pieces created by new, visionary designers such as Pellegrin, Carlo Scarpa, Gio Ponti and others that were innovative, visually artistic and embraced Italian modernism.
Pellegrin designed several seating pieces for MIM Rosa, including sectional sofas, modular living room sets and armchairs featuring sculptural bases and square or rectangular forms. The furniture was made using materials such as metal and fiberglass and often came upholstered in velvet, faux leather, polyester and bouclé wool.
Today, Pellegrin’s furniture is coveted by architects, interior designers and collectors of Italian 20th-century modernist design.
Find a range of vintage Luigi Pellegrin furniture on 1stDibs.
Sofa Set 'Vignola' by Luigi Pellegrin for MIM Roma incl. Coffee- and Bar Table
By MIM Roma, Luigi Pellegrin
Located in Hellouw, NL
Luigi Pellegrin’s work for MIM Roma in the 1960s includes low, box-like seating built around moulded bases and continuous upholstered volumes. This set, comprising a three-seat sofa,...
Fabric, Plastic
Mid-Century Modern Pair of Armchairs by Luigi Pellegrin for MIM Roma, Italy
By Luigi Pellegrin
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Pair of Armchairs by Luigi Pellegrin for MIM Roma, Italy, 1950s
Leather, Plastic
$12,750 / set
H 28 in W 68 in D 33 in
Restored Rattan Sofa & Chair Livingroom Set by John Wisner for Ficks Reed
By Ficks Reed
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Restored single-strand rattan living room set designed by John Wisner with Campaign-style anodized goldtone capped armrests and beautiful zen-style arched poles. The set features a t...
Rattan
$2,000Sale Price / set|50% Off
H 34.65 in W 28.75 in D 31.5 in
Pair of Paolo Buffa Mid-Century Modern Italian Armchairs, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Beautiful pair of armchairs with curved armrests, made by Paolo Buffa in 1950. The structure in curved and padded wood, the upholstery was redone more than twenty years ago but is in...
Fabric, Beech
$3,200 / set
H 33.47 in W 29.14 in D 29.14 in
Pair of Mid-century Modern Italian Design Armchairs, 1950s
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Pair of armchairs covered in eco-leather and brass feet, 1950s Italian design. The armchairs have original upholstery, as shown in the photos in good condition but with small signs o...
Brass
$1,957Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 28.35 in W 26.38 in D 24.81 in
Easy Chairs And Coffee Table Set By Karin Mobring For Ikea, 1970s
By IKEA
Located in Zohor, SK
Beautiful set of two armchairs with a coffee table. Sold as a set with all three pieces. The set was designed by Karin Mobring for Ikea in 1970s. The beautiful design is made of squa...
Linen, Pine
$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
A Pair of Mid-Century Italian Armchairs
Located in Forest Row, East Sussex
A pair of Mid-Century armchairs . Solid Elm angular frame with fabric re-upholstery. Dimensions: H 95cm W 65cm D 68cm Seat H 36cm W 57cm D 52cm Origin: Italian Date: Circa 1950
Fabric, Elm
$1,483Sale Price / set|53% Off
H 36.23 in W 33.47 in D 29.93 in
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Italian Real Leather Armchairs by Cinova, 1964s
Located in Puglia, Puglia
This pair of armchairs upholstered in genuine leather-colored leather were produced by the famous Italian company Cinova, in the 1960s. Cinova made use of the collaboration of great...
Leather
$18,171
H 26.38 in W 85.83 in D 30.71 in
Mid-Century Modern RZ62 Sofa Set by Dieter Rams For Vitsoe, 1962
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Rosendahl, DE
For sale is a seating group consisting of a three-seater sofa, a lounge chair, and a rare stool, designed by Dieter Rams in 1962 and produced by Vitsœ. Part of the modular 620 seat...
Fabric, Fiberglass, Down
$5,142 / set
H 25.99 in W 33.47 in D 35.44 in
Pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Armchairs, 1960s
Located in Milano, IT
Pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Armchairs, 1960s – Space Age Style An elegant pair of vintage lounge armchairs dating from the 1960s, distinguished by their rounded shapes...
Metal
$32,000 / set
H 29.53 in W 39.38 in D 90.56 in
Rare Set Sofa and 2 Armchairs Design Gio Ponti for Casa e Giardino, 1940
By Gio Ponti
Located in taranto, IT
Splendid and rare living room, production "Casa & Giardino", designed by Gio Ponti, 40s Composed of a three-seater sofa and a pair of shell-shaped armchairs , upholstered in bur...
Velvet, Wood
$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 MIM Roma, Ennio Fazioli
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
MIM Roma Mid-Century Modern Executive Swivel Chair, Italy
By MIM Roma
Located in Naples, IT
Office armchair with armrests and five-spoke aluminium base with castors, seat and backrest shell made of curved plywood, original foam and skai upholstery. A rare piece of iconic de...
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
$6,800Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 30 in W 34.5 in D 80 in
Milo Baughman Thayer Coggin Mid Century Modern Platform Sofa Coffee Table Set
By Milo Baughman, Thayer Coggin
Located in Dayton, OH
Rare mid century modern Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin platform / sectional sofa set with coffee / side tables. Original fabric. Dimensions: Side Tables 34.5" x 34.5" x 10" h, sof...
Upholstery, Hardwood
$9,250 / set
H 29.5 in W 92 in D 31.5 in
Veranda Sofa and Armchair Set by Vico Magistretti for Cassina
By Vico Magistretti, Cassina
Located in Austin, TX
Sofa and armchair set by Vico Magistretti for Cassina from Italy. This adjustable sofa and armchair was designed in the 1980s by Italian designer Magistretti and is known as the “Ver...
Leather
Luigi Pellegrin for MIM Roma Sofa with Metal Base
By Luigi Pellegrin, MIM Roma
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Luigi Pellegrin for MIM Roma, signed sofa, fabric, metal and polyester, Italy, late 1950s This sofa by Luigi Pellegrin is upholstered with a beige fabric and features a polyester tr...
Metal
Sold
H 26.38 in W 79.53 in D 30.71 in
Package deal for Lindsey: Luigi Pellegrin for MIM Roma Sofa and two chairs
By Luigi Pellegrin, MIM Roma
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Package deal for Lindsey: Luigi Pellegrin for MIM Roma Sofa and two single armchairs The price includes reupholstery in Pierre Frey fabric Archibald (definitive fabric to be decided)...
Metal
Sold
H 25.6 in W 104.34 in D 31.5 in
Modular sofa designed by Luigi Pellegrin for MIM Roma, Italy, 1960s.
By Luigi Pellegrin, MIM Roma
Located in amstelveen, NL
Luigi Pellegrin sofa, MIM Roma, camel cotton velvet, 1960s. A striking example of Italian modernist design, defined by its sculptural low-slung silhouette, generous proportions, and...
Cotton, Velvet
Sold
H 13.39 in W 16.34 in D 16.34 in
Mid-Century 'Il Kubile' Cubic Stool, by Pellegrini for MIM Roma, Italy, 1970s
By Luigi Pellegrin, MIM Roma
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning cube-shaped pouf stool "Il Kubile". This fantastic piece was designed by Luigi Pellegrin for MIM (Mobili Italiani Moderni), Ico Parisi's historic company, in Italy during th...
Resin, Velvet
Luigi Pellegrin for MIM "Il Kubile" Cubic Stool, Italy 1970s
By Luigi Pellegrin, MIM Roma
Located in Naples, IT
Rare cube pouf stool model "Il Kubile designed by Luigi Pellegrin for MIM (Mobili italiani Moderni), Ico Parisi's historic company. Dating from the 1970s, it is made of black plastic...
Fabric, Resin, Polyester
MIM Roma Sectional Sofa in Bouclé Wool by Luigi Pellegrin
By Luigi Pellegrin, MIM Roma
Located in Antwerp, BE
Postmodern modular couch by Luigi Pellegrin for MIM Roma. A newly upholstered piece in luxury bouclé wool by Pierre Frey. Consisting of fou...
Wool, Fiberglass
Sold
H 27.56 in W 30.71 in D 30.71 in
Brown Velvet Fiberglass Armchair by Luigi Pellegrin for MIM Roma, 1950s, Italy
By Luigi Pellegrin, MIM Roma, Mobili Italiani Moderni (MIM)
Located in Rome, IT
Brown velvet armchair by Luigi Pellegrin for MIM, Roma, 1950s, Italy. Featuring a fiberglass base in good condition, some signs or bumps visible in the pictures, the cushions should...
Velvet, Fiberglass, Polyester
Lounge Set by Luigi Pellegrin for MIM Roma, Italy, 1950s
By MIM Roma, Luigi Pellegrin
Located in Brussels, BE
Set of two armchair and one sofa by Luigi Pellegrin for MIM Roma, Italy, 1950s Measures: Armchairs W: 77 cm, D 80 cm, H total 68 cm, H seating 37 cm Sofa: W 200 cm, D 80 cm, H to...
Faux Leather