Visionary designer Paco Rabanne first made a name for himself in the 1960s when he introduced dresses, handbags and other clothing and accessories that went against the common sensibilities of the time and challenged the public's perception of what fashion should be. By working with unlikely materials such as paper and Rhodoid — a cellulose acetate plastic often used to line baking pans — Rabanne forced the fashion world to reconsider materials and form.
Rabanne was born Francisco Rabaneda y Cuervo in Spain’s Basque region. His mother was the head seamstress at Balenciaga when she relocated herself and her son to France in 1939 to escape the Spanish Civil War. Once in France, he took on the name Paco Rabanne.
Rabanne studied architecture at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris but pivoted toward fashion and began to design accessories and costume jewelry. Rabanne collaborated with many acclaimed luxury houses — his early clients included Charles Jourdan, Givenchy, Pierre Cardin and Dior.
By 1966, Rabanne was working on avant-garde designs in his own newly-opened studio. He introduced a couture collection titled “Twelve Unwearable Dresses in Contemporary Materials.” The garments — made of aluminum, plastic and eco-friendly paper and fastened with wire — were unveiled at a show that featured music and models of color (both uncommon characteristics for such an event). Sculptural, sexy and solidly Space Age in appearance, Rabanne’s experiments turned heads. Pop star-actresses Brigitte Bardot and Françoise Hardy would soon be seen in the designer’s iconic metallic dresses, and Rabanne found enthusiasts in the likes of revolutionary couturier Elsa Schiaparelli and art collector Peggy Guggenheim. In 1968 Rabanne designed leather boots and erotically charged dresses made of molded plastic and chain-mail mesh for the science fiction film Barbarella.
Rabanne called Salvador Dalí a close friend and drew on the Surrealist movement in his designs. He continued to use unconventional materials in his work. From aluminum jersey and fur to ostrich feathers and Velcro, everything was suitable for his pioneering garments. And Rabanne’s talents are diverse — his prolific output even includes stylish furniture.
In 1999 Rabanne retired from the fashion business. In 2010 he was named Officer of the Legion d’Honneur by the French culture minister. Today, under the creative direction of French designer Julien Dossena, the Paco Rabanne brand continues to innovate and offer looks that nod to the past as well as the future.
Find vintage Paco Rabanne clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
Paco Rabanne Electric Blue Space Curtain for Baumann AG, Switzerland 1970s
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Milan, IT
Fashion Designer Paco Rabanne Rare Electric Blue and Silver Space Curtain for Baumann AG, Switzerland 1970s
Plastic
J.C. Mahey for Paco Rabanne Black Portoro Marble Dining Table Brass, 1979
By Paco Rabanne, Jean Claude Mahey
Located in Paris, IDF
Incredible Portoro French marble table signed Paco Rabanne 1979 on the top base area, and designed by Jean-Claude Mahey. With its impeccable design, ...
Marble, Brass
Paco Rabanne 1970s Console Table in Gilt Brass & Quartz, French Design
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Queens, NY
French (1970s) postwar design console table with a gilt brass base supporting a brown lacquered top having a protruding quartz sculpture (signed: Paco Rabanne on top edge). There i...
Quartz, Brass
$15,040Sale Price|20% Off
Paco Rabanne Monumental Space Curtain, Baumann AG, Switzerland, Italy, 1968
By Paco Rabanne, Baumann Kölliker AG
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Monumental custom space curtain, Paco Rabanne for Baumann AG, Switzerland, 1960s. 107” x 91”. Gorgeous glittery orange metal geometric curtain/room divider by Paco Rabanne. Made of thin plasticized metal plates (rare version with multiple shapes -- square, circle and triangle plates-- that create a diagonal design from a distance). Made in the same manner as his couture dresses of the 1960's. Each plate is individually connected to the next with small hooks. Stunning piece and at a monumental scale. Francisco Rabaneda Cuervo (born 18 February 1934), more commonly known under the pseudonym of Paco Rabanne is a Spanish fashion designer who became known as an enfant terrible of the 1960s French fashion...
Metal, Brass
Alexander Black Marble Dining Table - Oval Customizable Marble Table
Located in İnegöl, TR
Alexander Black MARBLE DINING TABLE Type of Marble: Alexander Black Dimensions: 80" x 40" Leg Model: Alexander Black Shape: Oval / Elliptical Finish: High-Polished (or Honed) Seatin...
Travertine, Marble
Contemporary Italian Thick Metallic Rope Curtain Tiebacks
Located in Toronto, ON
A pair of Italian thick golden metallic thread curtain tiebacks. Measuring 1" diameter and 36" long unfolded. Each has 2.75" long openings on each end, allowing 16" from ends to cent...
Metallic Thread
Ceramic Wall Decoration for Anonymous artist
Located in Sagaponack, NY
Ceramic wall decoration comprised of various sized ceramic shapes strung together with thin black wire each with a matte finish orange to black glaze. The three largest and irregular...
Ceramic
Large Pedro Friedeberg Relief Sculpture/Wall Art, 1970s
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An early and spectacular example. "Comprendtendo Mu" (I Understand) Acrylic, pen and Ink and carved wood. Signed, titled and dated 1970.
Acrylic
Argentine Designer, Console Table, Brass, Marble, Argentina, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A wall mounted black-lacquered brass and marble console table designed and produced in Argentina, c. 1970s. Wear consistent with age and use. Overall Dimensions (inches): 28.5"H x ...
Marble, Brass
J.C. Mahey cherry red lacquer & brass console table, 1970s
By Jean Claude Mahey
Located in Miami, FL
Mahey is known for his use of luxurious materials such as brass, mahogany and glass. He has created furniture, lighting and accessories for brands such as Hermès, Pierre Cardin and S...
Brass
6' Marble Dining Table
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Long solid marble dining table with striking unique grain throughout. Simple top at over six feet in length set atop a matching base. Sleek modern design for your home or office. Ple...
Marble
$3,800Sale Price|20% Off
H 29 in Dm 36 in
Alexander Black Round Table - Fully Black Marble Dining Round Table
By Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in İnegöl, TR
ALEXANDER BLACK MARBLE DINING TABLE Type of Material: Alexander Black Dimensions: 36 Inches (91 cm) Leg Model: Alexander Black Customizable: Available! Production Time: 2-3 Weeks S...
Marble
$5,680
H 12.8 in W 47.25 in D 23.63 in
French Faux Tortoise Shell Lacquer & Brass Coffee Table J.C. Mahey C.1970
By Jean Claude Mahey
Located in London, GB
French Faux Tortoise Shell Lacquer & Brass Coffee Table Designed by Eric Maville and Jean Claude Mahey for Maison Romeo C.1970 A lacquered coffee table, with gilt edges, raised on a black rectangular block base, makers plaque to the side. Known for his French chic...
Brass
$8,225Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.53 in W 88.98 in D 53.55 in
Midcentury Ivory Jean-Claude Mahey Dining Table France lacquered wood brass
By Jean Claude Mahey
Located in Valladolid, ES
One of a kind and exquisite table clearly embodies the spirit of high-end French design from the 1970s and 1980s, characteristic of Jean-Claude Mahey. Its precise geometry and lacquer finish evoke an aesthetic that fuses Art Deco, reinterpreted with modern glamour. The octagonal shape of the tabletop is particularly striking. This formal choice breaks with rectangular or circular tradition, providing dynamism and sophistication. The golden brass lines, which divide the surface into triangular planes, reinforce the compositional structure and allude to a sense of almost architectural order. These golden lines function not only as decorative accents but also as visual guides that direct the eye toward the center, generating visual balance. Jean Claude Mahey often used this contrast between polished lacquer and shiny metals to highlight geometric shapes. The ivory or cream lacquer finish provides a polished surface, typical of Mahey's style, which amplifies the sense of luxury and modernity. This type of finish is often associated with Hollywood-inspired interior design and the refined opulence of the mid-20th century. The square-sectioned, also lacquered base presents itself as a solid, geometric volume, generating an elegant tension between the visual mass of the base and the lightness of the tabletop. The gilded metal profiles that frame the edges of the base reinforce the idea of geometric luxury and add stylistic continuity with the design of the tabletop. The table is extendable. Its basic shape is square, but the two extensions (which fold in half) are hidden within the base and fit into rails that are concealed beneath the tabletop. Overall, this table is a paradigmatic example of Jean Claude Mahey's style: refined, geometric, glamorous, and deeply linked to an artistic vision of furniture as functional sculpture. Jean-Claude Mahey (Mayenne, France, 1944–) Jean-Claude Mahey is a French designer famous for his burlwood furniture...
Brass
$5,612
H 30.71 in W 63.39 in D 16.15 in
Antique Venetian Console Table, Antiqued Mirror, Italy, 1970s Design
Located in London, England
Stunning console table clad in antiqued mirror panels with a repeating reverse etched convex decoration, one side panel replaced at some point. Italy 1970s. W 161cm x H 78cm x D 41cm
Glass, Mirror
Dining Table Steel Foot top Marble Portoro 1970 Italy
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Round Table Steel foot and Portoro Marble top 1970
Marble, Steel
French Designer, Console Table, Elm, France, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
An elm console table likely designed and produced in France, c. 1970s. Wear consistent with age and use. Overall Dimensions (inches): 34.75"H x 65.15"W x 14.15"D All items ship fr...
Elm
Vintage Console in Brass , 1970s design Renato Zevi
By Willy Rizzo
Located in taranto, IT
console in brass from the 70s, made of polished brass tubing , designed by Renato Zevi it measures 130 cm in length, approximately 70 cm in height an...
Brass
Black Lacquered Console Table with Brass Detailing, 1970s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A refined Italian console table from the 1970s featuring a sleek black lacquered frame enriched with inset brass trim running along the legs and perimeter. The linear brass accents h...
Lacquer
Sold
H 826.78 in W 43.31 in D 0.04 in
Rideau d'Espace Chrome-Plated Plastic Wall Sculpture, Circa 1970
By Paco Rabanne
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
The Rideau d'Espace model was designed by Paco Rabanne circa 1970. Made of round chrome-plated plastic discs linked by small metal rings, it reflects the couturier's experiments w...
Plastic
Sold
H 78.75 in W 35.44 in D 0.2 in
Two Paco Rabanne Disco-Ready Silver Space Sequin-Disc Curtain for the Party Girl
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Stockholm, SE
Paco Rabanne Disco-ready silver space sequin-Disc curtain for the well-dressed party girl. Created by Julien Dossena, Creative Director of Paco Raba...
Metal
Sold
H 78.75 in W 35.44 in D 0.2 in
Paco Rabanne Disco-Ready Silver Space Sequin-Disc Curtain for the Party Girl
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Stockholm, SE
Paco Rabanne Disco-ready silver space sequin-Disc curtain for the well-dressed party girl. Created by Julien Dossena, Creative Director of Paco Raba...
Metal
Paco Rabanne & Jean Clemmer "NUES" Book, France 1969
By Paco Rabanne, Jean Clemmer
Located in Naples, IT
Original edition. 84 plates of erotic off-text photographs, some double-page, printed in heliogravure. "NUES" is the fruit of a valuable collaboration between Paco Rabanne and master...
Paper
Drawing signed by Paco Rabanne, 2005
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Nice, FR
Mixed media on paper (felt pen and graphite). Signed, dated 2005. Less known for his talents as a draftsman than as a fashion designer or furniture designer, Rabanne reveals remarkab...
Crayon
Sold
H 30.32 in W 82.68 in D 48.04 in
Dining table in lacquered wood and gilded brass, Designed by Paco Rabanne
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Peyraud, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Dining table by designer Paco Rabanne (1934-2023) published in the 1970s. This octagonal-shaped dining table features a top, base and two legs in burgundy lacquered wood, elegantly h...
Brass
Sold
H 13.98 in Dm 21.66 in
Mid-Century Pair of Paco Rabanne Side Tables, Glass, Rope and Metal, 1980s
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Pair of Paco Rabanne Side Tables, Glass, Rope and Metal, 1980s D: 45 (without glass) cm H: 35,5 cm W: 55 cm (21.65")
Metal
Sold
H 105 in W 36 in D 0.25 in
Paco Rabanne Space Curtain Wall Sculpture Screen Room Divider 106" x 36"
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sculptural "Space Curtain", designed by Paco Rabanne for Baumann AG, Switzerland, circa 1970s. It is a versatile size and can be used as a curtain or curtains, room divider, or wall ...
Metal
Paco Rabanne Space Curtain
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sculptural "Space Curtain", designed by Paco Rabanne for Baumann AG, Switzerland, circa 1970s. It is a versatile size and can be used as a curtain or curtains, room divider, or wall ...
Metal
Paco Rabanne Space Curtain
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sculptural "Space Curtain", designed by Paco Rabanne for Baumann AG, Switzerland, circa 1970s. It is a versatile size and can be used as a curtain or curtains, room divider, or wall ...
Metal
Brass and Agate Side Table by Paco Rabanne
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Montreal, QC
Rare acid brass coffee table side table by Paco Rabanne inset with polished agate, resting on a red lacquered and brass plinth base.
Paco Rabanne Dress Designed by Régine, 1968
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Saint-Didier, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Paco Rabanne Dress designed by Régine circa 1968 sequins, sequins and metal Colors: black, grey, silver and purple Size 36 Restored in the couturier's workshops Selling price:...
Metal
Paco Rabanne Space Curtain or Room Divider
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Atlanta, GA
Paco Rabanne Space curtain or room divider, French, circa 1970s. It has a wonderful patinated aluminum color that looks more platinum or cha...
Plastic
Rare 1970s Black Lacquer and Inlay Bar Cabinet by Paco Rabanne
By Paco Rabanne
Located in London, GB
A rare 1970s black lacquer and inlay bar cabinet by Paco Rabanne. The handles are shaped as the Paco Rabanne logo. The top doors open to reveal a b...
Wood, Lacquer
Paco Rabanne Space Curtain or Room Divider
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Atlanta, GA
Paco Rabanne space curtain or room divider, French, circa 1970s. It has a wonderful patinated chrome color that looks more platinum in certa...
Plastic