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.
J.C. Mahey for Paco Rabanne Black Portoro Marble Dining Table Brass, 1979
By Jean Claude Mahey, Paco Rabanne
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
Rare and Important Acid Etched Brass Dining Table by Paco Rabanne
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Montreal, QC
Rare and important acid etched brass dining table with agate inset by Paco Rabanne. Signed: “Paco Rabanne”. Designed by Paco Rabanne and exe...
Brass
Philip and Kelvin LaVerne “Chan” Coffee Table, Acid Etched Brass, 1960s
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Bradenton, FL
This is an iconic Philip and Kelvin Laverne "Chan" coffee table made of acid etched brass over pewter over wood and patinated brass. The table features a substantial 47.25" round top...
Brass, Pewter
$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
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 54 in
Bernhard Rohne for Mastercraft Acid Etched Brass Hexagonal Pedestal Table
By Bernhard Rohne, Mastercraft
Located in Chicago, IL
Artistic Mastercraft hexagonal pedestal table base finished in brass corners and Bernhard Rohne acid etched panels mounted to a wood frame. Th...
Glass
$5,723
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
$14,500
H 29 in W 78.75 in D 43.25 in
Willy Rizzo for Jean Charles Italian Marble & Brass Dining Table, 1960
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Chicago, IL
Willy Rizzo for Jean Charles Italian Marble & Brass Dining Table, 1960’s. Measures 78.75” long 43.25” deep 29” tall
Marble, Brass
$5,400 / set
H 17 in W 54 in D 21 in
Rare Tommi Parzinger Mid-Century Modern Cocktail Table and Stools
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Tommi Parzinger Mid-Century Modern two-tier cocktail table with stained walnut top featuring an inlaid dot motif in a contrasting blonde finish and having a glass top. Four pull out ...
Walnut
$7,931Sale Price|25% 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
$14,500
H 29.9 in W 55 in D 15.5 in
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
$7,995
H 29 in W 85 in D 38 in
Paul McCobb for Directional Black Lacquer and Brass Dining Table, Refinished
By Paul McCobb, Directional, Calvin Furniture
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Mid-Century Modern extension dining table By Paul McCobb for Directional and produced by Calvin Furniture USA, 1950s Black lacquered mahogany, with brass stretchers...
Brass
Very Rare Dining or Coffee Table T41 by Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Munich, DE
For tecno/ Italy. Wonderful height adjustable table. Can be used in every high between 50 and 77cm. Remarkable table top with amazing veneer.
Wood
$3,840Sale Price|20% Off
H 31.23 in W 47.37 in D 13.98 in
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
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 Paris, FR
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 27 in W 80 in D 44 in
Paco Rabanne Black Portoro Marble Dining Table Bronze Detail, France, 1980
By Paco Rabanne
Located in New York, NY
Paco Rabanne black Portoro marble dining table bronze detail, France, 1980 Incredible Portoro French marble table. It is signed Paco Rabanne 1982 on the top base area. The bronze detail is incredible. The table comes in two pieces the top and the base. Workmanship is visible in every angle. This table is very heavy and the perfect size dining or office table for the discerning buyer. Available for viewing by appointment. Paco Rabanne started his career in fashion by creating jewelry for Givenchy, Dior, and Balenciaga and founded his own fashion house in 1966. Using unconventional materials such as metal, paper, and plastic for his Metal Couture...
Marble