As one of the founding fathers of modern Italian design, prolific architect and industrial designer Ludovico Magistretti (known by his nickname Vico) was guided by his philosophy, “There is no excuse for bad design.” His architectural projects are widely revered, and an ingenious meld of form and function can be found in his stylish and deceptively simple table lamps, sofas, armchairs and other mid-century furnishings.
Born in Milan, Magistretti followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather (both architects) to study architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan. At the outbreak of World War II, he fled to Switzerland, and it was there he met his role model and mentor, renowned humanist architect Ernesto Nathan Rogers. Magistretti was inspired by Rogers’s vision to revive postwar Italy, and they collaborated on several reconstruction projects. Among Magistretti’s first architectural designs is a “poetic” round church, which he created for the QT8, an experimental Milanese neighborhood.
When Magistretti returned to Milan in 1945, he worked at his father’s architectural firm. It wasn’t until the early 1950s that he expanded his talents into design while working with furniture artisans.
In the 1960s, Magistretti began his 30-year working relationship with famed entrepreneur Cesare Cassina of the Cassina furniture manufacturing company. In their design approach, the two men shared a vision of the relationship between modernity and tradition and enjoyed a close bond (Magistretti designed Cassina’s luxurious villa in 1965). However, their friendship was not without contention.
Legend has it that upon seeing the prototype for Magistretti’s Maralunga sofa, Cassina hated it so much that he punched it, breaking the back of the sofa, which crumpled into itself.
“Right, great, it looks perfect to me like that,” an unfazed Magistretti allegedly responded, and the Maralunga’s slumped, adjustable-height backrest was born. Incidentally, the Maralunga sofa won Italy’s Compasso d’Oro award as did his Eclisse lamp for Artemide and his Atollo lamp for Oluce.
Magistretti died in 2006, but his designs live on in galleries, museums and private residences and offices around the world.
Find a range of vintage Vico Magistretti furniture and lighting on 1stDibs.
H 29.93 in W 27.17 in D 27.17 in
Italian modern office chair by Ico Parisi for MiM, 1970s
By Ico Parisi, MIM Roma
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern office chair by Ico Parisi for MiM, 1970s Office chair or armchair with padded seat and backrest, upholstered in brown leather with a wooden frame. The four-spoke meta...
Metal
H 29.93 in W 27.17 in D 27.17 in
Italian modern office chairs by Ico Parisi for MiM, 1970s
By MIM Roma, Ico Parisi
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern office chairs by Ico Parisi for MiM, 1970s Pair of office chairs or armchairs with padded seat and backrest, upholstered in brown leather with a wooden frame. The four...
Metal
H 33.47 in W 20.87 in D 23.63 in
Terni Series Office Chair by Ico Parisi for MIM Roma, Italy, 1958
By Ico Parisi, Ico & Luisa Parisi
Located in Antwerp, BE
Office chair by Ico Parisi for MIM Roma, a timeless masterpiece of mid-century Italian design. This office chair from Ico Parisi's renowned Terni series was crafted in 1958. Made of ...
Metal
H 39.38 in W 28.75 in D 23.63 in
Set of Two MIM Armchairs, Desk, Office chairs designed by Ico Parisi, 1963
By MIM Roma
Located in Antwerp, BE
MIM Roma Mid-Century Modern executive swivel chair, Italy, 1963, Designed by Ico Parisi for M.I.M Roma. The chair is in height adjustable and offers a custom ergonomic experience. . ...
Aluminum
H 26.78 in W 16.93 in D 17.33 in
Set of four chairs by Ico Parisi for Mim, Italy, 1960s
By Ico Parisi
Located in Argelato, BO
Set of four chairs by Ico Parisi for Mim, Italy, 1960s. Four chairs with wooden structure and red fabric padding, designed by Ico Parisi for the MIM company in Rome. An elegant and ...
Fabric, Wood
H 30.32 in W 22.45 in D 24.81 in
Ico Parisi Italian Midcentury Fabric Wood Armchair Model 814 for Cassina, 1960s
By Cassina, Ico Parisi
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian Mid-Century Modern design set of two armchairs model 814 designed by Ico Parisi for Cassina in 1961, solid wood structure and new fabric covering, Italy 1960s Original Cassin...
Fabric, Wood
H 35.44 in W 29.93 in D 26.78 in
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
H 19.69 in W 28.35 in D 30.71 in
Ico Parisi Italian Midcentury Armchairs for Mim
By MIM Roma, Ico Parisi
Located in bari, IT
Set of four armchairs in white fiberglass Kubilia series of Ico Parisi for M.I.M. Rome, Italy. Ico Parisi was born in Palermo in 1916. He gained a diploma in construction and served his apprenticeship in Giuseppe Terragni's studio. In 1937 he carried out, for the magazine Quadrante, a photographic study of the Casa del Fascio that marked the entire research that Parisi conducted in "meditating on the legacies and contradictions of the enormous baggage of ideas and forms constituted by the experience of the masters". His activity, marked by continuous experimentation, is an incessant quest in the fields of architecture, art and design. Between 1948 and 1950 he devoted himself to the study of furniture elements. In the field of design, crucial encounters with Munari and Fontana (1951) and Melotti profoundly marked his experience. In 1948 he founded the studio La ruota with his wife Luisa Aiani, a designer and designer, which ceased its activity in 1995. In 1954 he was awarded the Gold Medal at the X Milan Triennale with the work Padiglione Soggiorno, with Silvio Longhi and Luigi Antonietti. In 1957 he presented at the exhibition Colori e forme della casa d'oggi the work Casa per vacanze, which was the result of a collaboration with Manlio Rho...
Velvet, Fiberglass
H 33.47 in W 32.68 in D 34.26 in
Rare Lounge Chair by Ico Parisi for Mim Roma, 50s Italy
By MIM Roma, Ico Parisi
Located in Landgraaf, NL
Rare lounge chair by Ico Parisi for MIM Roma (Mobili Italiani Moderni), 50s Italy. Rosewood shell with Cognac leather upholstery and cast aluminum base. Leather has been reupholstere...
Leather, Rosewood
H 28.35 in W 24.02 in D 27.96 in
Lounge chairs in the style of Ico Parisi for MIM, Italy, 1960's
By Ico Parisi, MIM Roma
Located in Melbourne, VIC
Presenting an exceptionla example of Italian Mid-Century modern design: rare lounge chairs by Ico Parisi for MIM. The legs are cast aluminium and the seat and backrest has been newly...
Bouclé
Italian Sofa and the Chair by Ico Parisi for Mim Roma
By Ico Parisi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ico Parisi set 1960s period in original condition. Rosewood base and original Mim upholstery
Rosewood
Italian Vintage Lounge Chair in Style of Ico Parisi Produced for MIM Roma
By Ico Parisi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian vintage lounge chair attributed to Ico Parisi produced for MIM Roma during 1960s. The chair has stainless steel and chrome frame with stitched leather supports and seat with ...
Metal
Italian Pair of Office - Dining Room Chairs
By Matteo Grassi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The chairs have chrome tubular steel frames with sturdy black leather seating attributed to Matteo Grassi . Continental shipping in home delivery 15-30 days $300
Chrome
Vintage Office Chairs Set of Three
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Three office chairs from the 1960 s. Chairs can be sold separately. Chairs are fully functional and reupholstered. Office chairs are sign and they are from the different company in U...
Metal
Italian Modern Swivel Chairs with Swivel Ottoman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage, Mid-Century, Italian swivel leather and cow hide chair. Ottoman is also swivel and is original condition. Both the chair and ottoman swive...
Leather, Cowhide
Italian Coffee Table in Style of Mim Roma
By MIM Roma
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1960s Italian rosewood coffee table, brushed aluminum base. Sipping to US continental in home delivery $375
Metal
