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Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Italian, 1939-2024

Gaetano Pesce was of a generation of Italian architects who in the early 1960s rebelled against the industrial perfection of modernism by conceiving new furniture and objects that were at once expressive and eccentric in form; or you might say they were more like art than functionalist design.

Born in the picturesque coastal Italian city of La Spezia in 1939, Pesce was a precocious talent who could have forged a career as an artist but opted instead to go to Venice to study architecture because, as he has said, it was “the most complex of all the arts.” Rather than having new worlds opened to him at design school, however, Pesce found the rationalist curriculum oppressive in its insistence on standardization and prescribed materials and technologies.

Pesce wanted to explore the latest of both materials and technologies to create objects and buildings never before imagined, with what he called “personalities” that spoke to the issues of the day. He was keen to examine ways to diversify mass production so that each manufactured work could be distinct.

In 1964, Pesce met Cesare Cassina, of the forward-looking furniture company C&B Italia in Milan (now known as B&B Italia), for whom he would create many important designs, beginning with a collection of what he called “transformational furniture” — two chairs and a loveseat — made entirely out of high-density polyurethane foam. To make the pieces easy to ship and cost-efficient, he proposed that after being covered in a stretch jersey, they be put in a vacuum, then heat-sealed flat between vinyl sheets. Once the foam was removed from its packaging, the piece returned to its original shape — hence, the name Up for the series, which debuted in 1969.

In addition to these pieces, Pesce proposed for the collection something he referred to as an “anti-armchair,” which took the shape of a reclining fertility goddess, the iconic Donna.

Producing the piece's complex form turned out to be a technical challenge. Bayer, the foam’s manufacturer, deemed it impossible to accomplish. Pesce persisted and came up with a new procedure, demonstrating not only the designer’s key role in researching the nature and potential of new materials but also his vital importance in “doubting rules.” The Up chair and accompanying ottoman were born, and they were revolutionary in more ways than one.

In the early 1970s, Pesce began exploring one of his key concepts, the idea of the industrial originals. Employing a mold without air holes, and adding a blood-red dye to the polyurethane, he cast a bookcase that resembled a demolished wall, the rough edges of the shelves and posts resulting from fissures in the material made by trapped air.

Through his research into polyurethane, Pesce figured out a way to make a loveseat and armchair using only a simple wood frame and strong canvas covering as a mold. Since the fabric developed random folds during the injection process, the pieces were similar but not identical. Cassina named the suite of furnishings Sit Down and introduced it in 1975. By experimenting with felt soaked in polyurethane and resin, Pesce conceived I Feltri, another collection of armchairs introduced by Cassina in 1987.

Pesce went on to live a life that defied expectation and convention and along the way became one of the most seminal figures in art and design.

Find vintage Gaetano Pesce chairs, sofas, vases and more on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Gaetano Pesce
Original Sculpture/ Seat Designed by Gaetano Pesce, B&B Italia
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Berlin, Berlin
Seat UP7 designed by Gaetano Pesce. Italy, B&B Italia, 2000 series. Large sculpture/ seat made of cold-shaped polyurethane foam painted black. Produced as part of the UP series, P...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Modern Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Polystyrene

Scultura di Gaetano Pesce per Cassina 1963
By Gaetano Pesce, Cassina
Located in Rivoli, IT
Original art sculpture designed by Gaetano Pesce; signed and dated 1963, Per Cassina 1968-1963. Red frame with lamented wood on metal feet.
Category

1960s Italian Modern Vintage Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Gaetano Pesce Pair of Resin Invitations Shaped like Fish
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Hamden, CT
A very rare pair of Gaetano Pesce resin invitations each of which is shaped like a fish. Wildly divergent in their shapes and demeanor, they complement each other well as Pesce celeb...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Post-Modern Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Resin

Recent Gorgeous Gaetano Pesce Resin Invitation, Exhibition in Australia!
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Hamden, CT
We've shown you the oldest of the Pesce resin invitations and now here's one of the newest: Fish In Australia. Created in the shape of that faraway continent, this largely red and ye...
Category

2010s American Post-Modern Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Resin

Original Sculpture / Seat Mod Up7 Designed by Gaetano Pesce, B&B Italia
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Ibiza, Spain
Large seat / sculpture mod. Up7 designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1969 and edited by B&B Italia, 2000 series. Made of polyurethane foam painted in color black. Produced as part of the UP series...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Plastic

Related Items
Gaetano Pesce ''Big Mama'' lounge chair and ottoman, serie UP 5/6, 1970s, B&B
By Gaetano Pesce, B&B Italia
Located in Quarrata, IT
Gaetano Pesce ''Big Mama'' lounge chair and ottoman, serie UP 5/6, 1970s, B&B Italia.
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1970s Italian Vintage Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

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Gaetano Pesce Feltri Armchair by Cassina
By Gaetano Pesce, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Armchair model Feltri designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1987. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. Crafted using a patented Cassina production technique, Feltri is a symbol of cutting-edge design, the result of representational research played out on the hybrid field between art and practicality. Made entirely of thick felted wool, this design armchair by Gaetano Pesce combines an enveloping pliable backrest with a rigid lower section; a quilted topper creates an inviting cocoon. Available in many versions, through quilt and structure combinations in different colors. The seat is attached to the structure with black hemp ties that also outline the upper borders of the chair. A familiar figure on many modern antiques’ and collectors’ sites, Feltri is a summation of thinking about figuration in the hybrid zone where the artistic meets the functional. One of a kind, this piece stands out for its enormous flexibility and for the fact that the mattress-like seat can be upholstered in wide array of fabrics. These can be mixed and matched with the six new colour options of the frame, to provide a total of ten colourways. Feltri was created within Cassina’s Research Centre, a place synonymous with experimentation and constructional avant-garde thinking. Here, Gaetano Pesce dedicated time and thought to the design, in the process thinking up a complex new manufacturing process that was later patented by the company. Created entirely from dense wool felt, the pliable, wrap-around back is all one piece. The lower section, meanwhile, is rigid and sturdy, thanks to being impregnated with a thermosetting resin. The seat is attached to the frame using hemp ties; these also extend around the chair’s upper part. A comfortable quilt, coupled with polyester wadding, serves to upholster the inner section of the chair. Important information regarding images of products: Please note that some of the images show other colors and variations of the model, these images are only to present interior design proposals. The item that is selling is on the first image. Important information regarding color(s) of products: Actual colors may vary. This is due to the fact that every computer monitor, laptop, tablet and phone screen has a different capability to display colors and that everyone sees these colours differently. We try to edit our photos to show all of our products as life-like as possible, but please understand the actual color may vary slightly from your monitor About the designer: Gaetano Pesce was born in La Spezia in 1939. He studied architecture at the IUAV in Venice, and attended the Venice Institute of Industrial design. At this experimental school, he met Milena Vettore with whom he opened a studio in Padua, founding in 1959 the “N” Group which focussed on with studies in programmed art. He carries out research in the field of kinetic and serial art. He is in the theatre and the cinema, concerned with lighting, movement and sound as means of expression. Since 1962 he has worked in design, experimenting with new materials and unusual shapes. In 1971 he collaborated with BracciodiFerro (in the Cassina group) for the production of certain experimental objects (like Moloch, 1971, a table lamp blown up to the dimensions of an ironic and emblematic item). In 1972 he took part in the famous exhibition “Italy: The New Domestic Landscape” at MoMA in New York, with a dwelling module. Experimentation and irony are also exhibited in his projects for Cassina, amongst which the Tramonto a New York sofa (1980) and the Feltri armchair...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Wool

Gaetano Pesce Feltri Armchair by Cassina
Gaetano Pesce Feltri Armchair by Cassina
H 51.19 in W 28.75 in D 25.99 in
Feltri Low Armchair by Gaetano Pesce for Cassina
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
In 1987 Gaetano Pesce designed the amazing armchair Feltri for Cassina. Feltri was created within Cassina’s Research Centre, a place synonymous with experimentation and constructiona...
Category

1980s Italian Modern Vintage Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Felt

Feltri Low Armchair by Gaetano Pesce for Cassina
Feltri Low Armchair by Gaetano Pesce for Cassina
H 38.59 in W 28.75 in D 25.99 in
Design Vase "Goto", Designer Gaetano Pesce, 1995
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Delft, NL
Design vase "Goto", Designer Gaetano Pesce 1995 Vase "Goto", sculpture-object in resin, designed by the Architect/Designer Gaetano Pesce, realized for the 'Caffè Florian' during t...
Category

20th Century Italian Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

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Plastic

Spaghetti Large Vase by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in Milan, IT
Delightfully mouthwatering, this vase is a tribute to traditional Italian cuisine. An absolute artwork by Gaetano Pesce for the Fish Design Collection, it features a semi-transparent...
Category

2010s Italian Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Resin

Spaghetti Large Vase by Gaetano Pesce
H 14.18 in W 8.67 in D 0.4 in
Contemporary Gaetano Pesce Spaghetti M Vase Soft Resin Red
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in barasso, IT
Spaghetti vase, red. Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. Measures: L ø 16cm x H 26cm Other sizes available. Colours: Red. Va...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Resin

Nugget Large Vase by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in Milan, IT
This stunning vase belongs to the Fish Design Collection of iconic, unique pieces designed by Gaetano Pesce. Chalice shape, it is strikingly han...
Category

2010s Italian Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Resin

Broadway Chair by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Long Island City, NY
Sculptural Broadway chair designed by Gaetano Pesce for Bernini. Each chair features a marble green hue.Supported by flexible and dynamic brushed steel frame. The seat and back are c...
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20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

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Broadway Chair by Gaetano Pesce
Broadway Chair by Gaetano Pesce
H 29 in W 15 in D 17 in
UP2 Chair by Gaetano Pesce, Newly Upholstered
By B&B Italia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, CA
The iconic 'UP 2' armchair designed by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia. Newly upholstered in a rich Kvadrat Baru mustard boucle fabric. The lounge chair is light, fun and geometric, com...
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1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

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Bouclé, Foam

Armchair "la mama" by Gaetano Pesce for B&b Italia
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in PARIS, FR
In the early 1960s, the chemist Bayer developed a polyurethane foam with a new resin, allowing the creation of various and simple shapes. In the middle of the decade, the Italian des...
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Early 2000s Italian Mid-Century Modern Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

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UP1 Lounge Chairs by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia, 2000s
By Gaetano Pesce, B&B Italia
Located in Renens, CH
UP1 Lounge Chairs, designed in 1969 by Gaetano Pesce for C&B Italia (now B&B Italia): These lounge chairs are known for their distinctive, sculptural round form, and due to their structure being completely built up from polyurethane foam, they are incredibly comfortable. Like the Big Mama Chair...
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Early 2000s Italian Post-Modern Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Fabric, Foam

Armchair & Footrest Mod Le Bambole Designed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Madrid, ES
Armchair with footrest Mod Le Bambole designed by Mario Bellini (1935) for B&B Italy. Reupholstered in withe bouclé fabric. Italy 70s. B&B Italia label on the back of both pieces. I...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Bouclé

Previously Available Items
"UP 7" Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italian Sculptural Foot
By B&B Italia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Part of the smooth, somewhat futuristic collection of sculptural furniture pieces known as the UP Series by Gaetano Pesce is a giant polyurethane rubber foot dubbed the UP7. Strangel...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Mid-Century Modern Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Rubber

Rare Gaetano Pesce Prototype, "XXXL" Tabletop Serving Platter
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Hamden, CT
One of only three examples - each in a different size - made for XXXL, a 2005 Gaetano Pesce exhibition at Moss Gallery in New York. The other two examples of this sculptural, lava-li...
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Early 2000s American Post-Modern Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

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Resin

Gaetano Pesce Resin Invitations, Set of 2 with Dramatic Cityscapes
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Hamden, CT
Here's a pair of very recent Gaetano Pesce resin invitations that have a highly stylized cityscape as their primary or shared feature. Each of thes...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Post-Modern Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Resin

Gaetano Pesce Set of 8 Resin Invitations, A School of Fish
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Hamden, CT
This set of 8 resin invitations each hand-crafted by Gaetano Pesce, each different, ?for a 2000 MOSS exhibition, Some Of Us. Assembled together they do remind one of a school of colo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Post-Modern Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Resin

Gaetano Pesce Set of 4 Resin Invitations, Four Great Faces
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Hamden, CT
A discerning selection of rare Pesce invitations from exhibitions at galleries in Milan and New York City, from 2001, 2003, 2008, and 2015. Much of Pesce's most important work focuses on the human face and these invitations are vivid examples of that focus. We have led with the largest, which celebrates a show called Modern Art at a gallery in Milan in 2001. The yellow face...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Post-Modern Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Resin

Italian Modern Black UP7 Foot Sculpture by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia, 2000s
By B&B Italia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian moder polyurethane with black coating UP7 foot sculpture by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia and reissued around 2000. UP7 model foot sculpture, in injection polyurethane with b...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Modern Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Plastic

Set of 2 Gaetano Pesce Profile Resin Invitations to Iconic Works 1969-2015
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Hamden, CT
"Art was always a product" - Gaetano Pesce This pair of resin Invitations for the Allouche Gallery exhibition of Gaetano Pesce One of a Kind Iconic Works 1969 - 2015 may be from the ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Post-Modern Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Resin

Extraordinary Gaetano Pesce "Age of Contaminations" Resin Exhibition Invitation
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Hamden, CT
This Age of Contaminations invitation to his 2019 exhibition at the Friedman Benda Gallery is arguably the most complex of Pesce's many extraordinary resin invitations. It is a unique piece because of that complexity but also because each invitation is made by Pesce himself. It's rare to find one available and rarer still to find one in such absolutely perfect condition. Pesce is himself a rarity among designer/artists in that in his 80s, he has never been busier, with simultaneous exhibitions in China and Europe and the US, as well as entering the fashion world with his scenic designs...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Post-Modern Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Resin

Resin Vase Mod. Indian Summer, Designed by Gaetano Pesce, Italy, 2022
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Madrid, ES
Contemporary vase designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 and edited by Fish design. Made in Clear Blue, Dark Ruby, Blue Klein resin. Unique piece. Italy Measurements: Diameter 22cm x H...
Category

2010s Italian Post-Modern Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Resin, Epoxy Resin

Contemporary Resin Vase MOD. AMAZONIA , Designed by Gaetano Pesce, Italy, 1995.
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Madrid, ES
Contemporary vase designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 and edited by Fish design. Made in matte red, blue and yellow soft resin. Unique piece. Italy Measurements: Diameter 22cm x H 36cm
Category

1990s Italian Post-Modern Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Resin, Epoxy Resin

Original Sculpture / Seat Mod Up7 Designed by Gaetano Pesce, B&B Italia
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Madrid, ES
Large seat / sculpture mod. Up7 designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1969 and edited by B&B Italia, 2000 series. Made of polyurethane foam painted in color black. Produced as part of the ...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Plastic

Original Sculpture / Seat Mod Up7 Designed by Gaetano Pesce, B&B Italia
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Ibiza, Spain
Large seat / sculpture mod. Up7 designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1969 and edited by B&B Italia, 2000 series. Made of polyurethane foam painted in color black. Produced as part of the ...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Gaetano Pesce Sculptures

Materials

Plastic

Gaetano Pesce sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Gaetano Pesce sculptures are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of resin and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Gaetano Pesce sculptures, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 3 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 1 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original sculptures by Gaetano Pesce were created in the modern style in united states during the 21st century and contemporary. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider sculptures by Superego, Enzo Mari, and Luciano Gaspari. Prices for Gaetano Pesce sculptures can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $200 and can go as high as $10,430, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,550.

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