Domenico “Ico” Parisi was one half of a prolific postwar design duo he comprised with his wife, Luisa. Their furniture designs are known for running the stylistic gamut, with celebrated mid-century modern pieces ranging from elegantly skeletal — like dramatic ebonized dining chairs — to plush and shapely, like the iconic 1951 Egg chair, in a plethora of materials.
The son of an art teacher father, Ico Parisi was exposed to art at an early age. Born in 1916 in the Sicilian capital of Palermo, he and his family moved to Como in 1925. There, the young Parisi would begin to develop his interest in architecture and design. After earning a degree as a building inspector in 1936 and working as a civil engineer, Parisi took on an apprenticeship in the studio of Giuseppe Terragni, the modernist, fascist Italian architect, pioneer of the Rationalist movement and creator of the iconic Casa del Fascio.
While working for Terragni, Parisi crossed paths with such contemporary design talents as Lucio Fontana, Bruno Munari and Pietro Lingeri, though he briefly moved away from design and architecture to explore photography and film. His artistic work would soon be interrupted, however, by the outbreak of World War II, during which he served at the front before returning to Como in 1943. There, he resumed work as a designer and architect, founding two architecture groups: the Alta Quota and the Gruppo Como.
Through his creative circles, Parisi met Luisa Aiani, a former student of the prolific architect and furniture designer Gio Ponti, who was affiliated with the Alta Quota. They married in 1947 and founded the studio La Ruota — a cross between a design firm and an intellectual salon — in Como shortly thereafter. In 1950, Parisi finally completed his architectural schooling, studying under the nationalist architect Alberto Sartoris at the Athenaeum Architecture School in Lausanne, Switzerland. He and Aiani began several decades of sophisticated output, designing curved sofas upholstered in yellow velvet and armchairs with slender mahogany frames for enduring Italian manufacturers such as Cassina and others.
Much like Charles and Ray Eames in America, the Parisis worked as a team and relied on experimentation in style and material for many of their designs. Ico Parisi died in Como in 1996.
Find a collection of vintage Ico Parisi coffee tables, dining chairs and more on 1stDibs.
Sideboard by Ico Parisi 1960s Production Brugnoli Cantù
By Ico Parisi, Brugnoli Mobili Cantú
Located in Milano, IT
Sideboard cabinet with hinged doors and exposed drawers, made of exotic wood veneer with brass handles. Completely Restored.
Wood
Ico Parisi Mid-Century Modern Jatoba Wood Credenza
By Ico Parisi
Located in Weesp, NL
Mid-Century Modern Jatoba wood Ico Parisi cabinet A spectacular bespoke trumeau designed by Ico Parisi and very likely produced by Ariberto Colombo, by special order only. Very few p...
Brass
Sideboard with Wheels, Sliding Door Credenza di Ico Parisi for MIM Roma, Italy
By MIM Roma, Ico Parisi
Located in Roma, IT
Sliding door Wood sideboard by Ico Parisi for MIM, Rome. Sideboard with wheels, two scooped doors and four shelves.
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Early Knoll Walnut 2-Door Credenza
By Florence Knoll
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Diminutive credenza from the early 1950s. Walnut top is new veneer replacing worn Formica. Leather pulls a signature Florence Knoll design mark. Two sliding doors open to reveal two ...
Steel
$1,754
H 31.89 in W 38.98 in D 15.75 in
Cabinet Credenza Sideboard with Sliding Door by Ico Parisi for MiM, Italy 1960s
By MIM Roma
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning small sideboard with sliding doors in wood and aluminum designed by Ico Parisi and produced by MiM Roma in Italy during the 1960s. The sideboard is signed inside. In amazin...
Metal, Aluminum
Italian Mid-Century Sideboard in style of Ico Parisi
By Ico Parisi
Located in New York, NY
Italian vintage cabinet in the manner of Ico Parisi featuring ceramic handles, brass pulls and cartouche decorations by Richard Ginori. Constru...
Ceramic, Wood
CraftAssociates Credenza, Peabody Modern Walnut Credenza, Cane
By Craft Associates, Lawrence Peabody
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
CraftAssociates Credenza, Peabody Modern Walnut Credenza, Cane The CraftAssociates Credenza, Peabody Modern Walnut Credenza, Cane is expertly hand crafted. The Peabody collection pieces are licensed reintroductions for Craft Associates®. This cabinet is built with a solid oak frame, door fronts, interior shelf and legs. It features beautiful cane front door that have slide left to right covering an adjustable shelf. This cabinet is amazing and has perfect proportions to be used in multiple settings. It is available in custom wood and variations (different sizes). Craft Associates® Furniture is proud each modern piece is made in the US. We strive to craft a product that will stand the test of time. We use the best materials and have the best craftsman and upholstery in the business. We stand 100% behind our product. History Lawrence “Larry” Peabody (1924-2002) was an architect, interior designer, and furniture designer. As an American born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, his distinctive design were often influenced by his Scandinavian roots. Lawrence studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, Denmark and at the Rhode Island School of Design. His early career with Selig Mfg. Co. was prolific and helped put both himself and Selig on the map for modern furniture. He then started Lawrence Peabody & Associates in 1955, a design firm in Boston which included a vast client list (Sears, Roebuck & Co., Kohler, Regal Rugs, Boyd Lighting, Chapman Lamps, and Richardson Brothers). In 1961, Mr. Peabody won a Citation for Merit for his Peabody Collection for Richardson/ Nemschoff. Winner of the 1962 International A.I.D. design award for his wood frame rattan cradle chair...
Cane, Oak
Ico Parisi, Dresser, Wood, Brass, Italy, 1960s
By Ico Parisi
Located in High Point, NC
A dark-stained wood and brass dresser designed by Ico Parisi and produced by Colombo e Clerici, Italy, 1960s. Red staining on tabletop surface. Wear consistent with age and use. Ov...
Brass
1960s sideboard
Located in SAN PIETRO MOSEZZO, NO
Sideboard from the 1960s made of teak wood with iron legs and brass braces. In perfect modernist style, it features clean and functional lines typical of the 1950s and 1960s. The f...
Metal, Brass
Mid-Century Modern Mirrored Credenza
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This stunning vintage modern credenza features ample room behind its four cabinet doors. A mirrored front and top makes this a unique addition...
Brass
$3,021
H 30.32 in W 54.34 in D 16.93 in
Danish Rosewood Sideboard made by Hundevad & Co with sliding doors , 1960s
By Hundevad & Co., Carlo Jensen
Located in Breda, Netherlands
Danish Design sideboard Designed by Carlo Jensen and made by Hundevad & Co. Finished in a beautiful palissander veneer this cabinet comes with great construction finesse and qual...
Rosewood
Sideboard in the Style of Ice Parisi, 1960
By Ico Parisi
Located in Budapest, HU
Fine sideboard in elmwood. The doors have two figures inlaid women in ceramics. The four drawers have ceramic handles. Of the same furnishings are the cabinet bar with mirror.
Ceramic, Elm
Beautiful Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Credenza
By Tobia Scarpa
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful Rosewood Credenza with removable hutch. Partly solid and veneered. Hutch is removable and has two glass sliding doors. Bottom credenza has four sliding doors, 4 drawers and...
Metal, Chrome
$8,480 / set
H 35.04 in W 28.75 in D 15.36 in
Mid-Century Modern Ico Parisi Edited by Mim Pair of Italian Bedside Tables
By Ico Parisi
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of bedside tables designed by Ico Parisi edited by MIM. Composed of solid walnut wood structure and metal legs. Interior lighting “mod. 222" designed by Gino Sarfatti for Artel...
Metal
Midcentury Sideboard in the Style of Ico Parisi, 1950s
By Ico Parisi
Located in taranto, IT
Splendid original 1950s sideboard, in full Ico Parisi style, consisting of an upper open compartment, two large compartments with compass doors and four lower drawers It measures...
Wood
Sold
H 37.41 in W 98.04 in D 21.26 in
Ico Parisi Credenza in Teak Executed by Fratelli Rizzi, Italy 1950s
By Ico Parisi, Fratelli Rizzi
Located in Hellouw, NL
Ico Parisi was an influential Italian architect and designer, renowned for his innovative contributions to mid-century modern design. He collaborated with numerous architects and art...
Teak
Sold
H 39.25 in W 52.5 in D 19.5 in
Pair of Mid-Century Modern French Tambor Door Credenza Cabinets by Ico Parisi
By Ico Parisi
Located in North York, ON
Pair of Mid-Century Modern French Tambor Door Credenza Cabinets by Ico Parisi. These mid-century modern style credenzas with unique tambor doors are sure to make a statement in any h...
Glass, Wood, Teak
Trumeau Ico Parisi for Fratelli Rizzi 1940s
By Ico Parisi, Fratelli Rizzi
Located in Milano, IT
Trumeau designed by Ico Parisi for a 1940s Fratelli Rizzi production. Characterized by two outer side uprights, with organic shape. The cabinet has an upper compartment, with shelve...
Glass, Wood
Italian Modern Credenza After Ico Parisi
By Ico Parisi, Osvaldo Borsani, Vittorio Dassi, Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Modern credenza after Ico Parisi. This stunning Italian Mid-Century Modern credenza, commode or console table has shapely legs, six drawers with brass hardware and an interes...
Brass
Sideboard by Ico Parisi for MIM, Roma, Italy
By Mobili Italiani Moderni (MIM), Ico Parisi
Located in Antwerp, BE
A MIM sideboard with aluminium handles is a perfect example of this creating and a beautiful detail designed by Ico Paresi. Two compartments with one shelve and one with three drawer...
Aluminum
Sold
H 34.26 in W 31.5 in D 17.72 in
Beautiful Rosewood Ico Parisi 'Taormina' Companion, Credenza Cabinets, 1958
By Ico Parisi
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Stunningly elegant and extremely rare rosewood 'Taormina' companion, credenza cabinets designed by Ico Parisi in 1958 and produced by MIM, Rome, Italy. Both these credenza cabinets a...
Aluminum, Brass, Chrome, Steel
Sliding Door Credenza by Ico Parisi for MIM Roma
By Ico Parisi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sliding door credenza by Ico Parisi for MIM Roma. Label to interior. Profesionally restored
Sold
H 33.86 in W 56.7 in D 17.72 in
Superb Ico Parisi rosewood 'Taormina' credenza with matching side cabinet, 1958
By Ico Parisi
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Superb and very rare "Taormina" credenza complete with its rarely seen companion side cabinet designed by Ico Parisi in 1958 and produced by MIM,Rome,Italy . Both cabinets are comp...
Rosewood