109 - ICO PARISI (Palermo, 1916 – Como, 1996) and LUISA PARISI (Cantù, 1914–1990)

ICO PARISI (Palermo, 1916 – Como, 1996) and LUISA PARISI (Cantù, 1914–1990) Pair of chairs, Italy, 1950s. Polished maple wood. Seats reupholstered in gray fabric. Measurements: 88 x 44 x 51 cm (x2); 49 cm (seat height, x2). A pair of elegantly crafted chairs made of polished maple wood, featuring a slender, sculptural frame that culminates in an arched backrest with an organic, enveloping profile. The lightness of the legs is a hallmark of the set, contrasting with the expressiveness of the backrest. The gray upholstery lends the set a sense of understated elegance and a contemporary feel. Its design reflects the quest for balance between ergonomics, artisanal refinement, and modernity—a hallmark of postwar Italian furniture. These pieces are part of the design language developed by Ico and Luisa Parisi during the 1950s, when they explored new relationships between architecture, furniture, and interior design. Their designs combined dynamic forms, fine woods, and meticulous craftsmanship, in tune with the renewal of Italian interior design and the growing collaboration between designers and specialized manufacturers. Ico Parisi, an architect and designer, trained in construction and completed an apprenticeship at Giuseppe Terragni’s studio before furthering his architectural studies with Alberto Sartoris in Lausanne. In 1948, he founded the La Ruota studio in Como with Luisa, conceived as a space for design, exhibition, and artistic experimentation. Luisa Aiani Parisi, who studied architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan and was associated with Gio Ponti’s circle, played a fundamental role in the development of their furniture and interior design projects. Together, they collaborated with firms such as Cassina and contributed to the renewal of Italian design in the mid-20th century. Among Ico’s accolades is the Gold Medal from the 10th Milan Triennale in 1954, awarded for the Padiglione Soggiorno project, created in collaboration with Silvio Longhi and Luigi Antonietti. Her legacy is documented in institutions such as the Pinacoteca Civica in Como, which houses the Ico Parisi Collection, and the Toledo Museum of Art, which features furniture designed by both of them.