Ico Parisi (19161996)

Domenico ‘Ico’ Parisi was one of the most important Italian furniture designers of the 1950s. A close friend of Gio Ponti, he defined himself as a renaissance artist, devoted to all forms of art. He purposefully avoided categorisation as an architect, industrial designer, painter, photographer or installation artist, pursuing all these activities for over fifty years. Parisi spent most of his life in Como, where his father worked as an art teacher. Throughout his career he designed interiors, furniture (primarily in wood and metal), glass, and jewellery. He also worked on architectural projects, both independently and with his wife, Luisa. Their studio was a meeting place for artists and designers, and their clients included Singer & sons, Altamira, M.I.M., Longhi, and Cassina.