Ico Parisi - Design London Tuesday, October 31, 2023 | Phillips
  • The 'Uovo' ('Egg') armchair, model 813, is best described by Flaminio Gualdoni: 'It has gone down in history as the "egg armchair" on account of the curved lines emanating from the central ring and the way the shape of the chair envelopes the body. The four diagonal metal legs accentuate its dynamic appearance'. It is surely one of Parisi's most celebrated works, creating as it does a kind of shell - almost a womb - within which one can curl up.

     

    The idea behind it so utterly innovative that it immediately piqued Gio Ponti’s the interest, who penned a memorable letter declaring its beauty with more than a dash of half-joking envy. In another letter, he simply wrote: 'Dear Parsi, please send Domus a photo of your armchair as soon as possible'.

     

    The armchair was made from a wooden shell and rubber foam covered with elastic fabric or filanca in a range of colours. The feet came in either black painted iron or brass. They are positioned at an angle with circular pads on the ends to support the armchair’s shell, which sits on a slight rear incline. The cushion is not removable. The armchair is developed using the same ergonomic principles as two- or three-seater sofas.

     

    The first artisanal models were made by Ariberto Colombo in 1951 and the Cassina production began in 1953.

     

    The armchair, manufactured by Figli di Amedeo Cassina, featured in the original furnishing of the Living Room Pavilion at the X Triennale di Milano exhibition in 1954. The building in Parco Sempione, Milan, is now a library.

     

    - By Roberta Lietti, Curator and Archivist at the Archivio del Design di Ico Parisi

     

    The present model armchairs exhibited in the 'Living Room Pavilion', X Triennale di Milano, 1954.
    Photo: © Courtesy Archivio del Design di Ico Parisi

     

    • Provenance

      Private collection, Milan

    • Literature

      'Mobili italiani per l'America', Domus, no. 292, March 1954, p. 66
      Roberto Aloi, Mobili Tipo: Presentazione Dell'Arch. Agnoldomenico Pica, Milan, 1956, p. 219
      Flaminio Gualdoni, ed., Ico Parisi & Architecture, exh. cat., Galleria Civica, Bologna, 1990, p. 208
      Roberta Lietti, Ico Parisi Catalogue Raisonné, 1936-1960, Milan, 2017, pp. 516-17

    • Catalogue Essay

      Phillips wishes to thank Roberta Lietti of the Archivio del Design di Ico Parisi for her assistance in cataloguing the present lot.

80

Pair of 'Uovo' armchairs, model no. 813

circa 1953
Fabric, painted iron.
Each: 80.8 x 80.6 x 80 cm (31 3/4 x 31 3/4 x 31 1/2 in.)
Manufactured by Cassina, Meda, Italy.

Full Cataloguing

Estimate
£15,000 - 20,000 

Sold for £48,260

Contact Specialist

Antonia King
Head of Sale, Design
+44 20 7901 7944
Antonia.King@phillips.com

 

Design

London Auction 31 October 2023