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Gaetano Pesce Wall Lights and Sconces

Italian, b. 1939

Gaetano Pesce is of a generation of Italian architects who in the early 1960s rebelled against the industrial perfection of modernism by conceiving new furniture and objects that were at once expressive and eccentric in form; or you might say they were more like art than functionalist design.

Born in the picturesque coastal Italian city of La Spezia in 1939, Pesce was a precocious talent who could have forged a career as an artist but opted instead to go to Venice to study architecture because, as he has said, it was “the most complex of all the arts.” Rather than having new worlds opened to him at design school, however, he found the rationalist curriculum oppressive in its insistence on standardization and prescribed materials and technologies.

Pesce wanted to explore the latest of both materials and technologies to create objects and buildings never before imagined, with what he called “personalities” that spoke to the issues of the day. He was keen to examine ways to diversify mass production so that each manufactured work could be distinct.

In 1964, Pesce met Cesare Cassina, of the forward-looking furniture company C&B Italia in Milan (now known as B&B Italia), for whom he would create many important designs, beginning with a collection of what he called “transformational furniture” — two chairs and a loveseat — made entirely out of high-density polyurethane foam. To make the pieces easy to ship and cost-efficient, he proposed that after being covered in a stretch jersey, they be put in a vacuum, then heat-sealed flat between vinyl sheets. Once the foam was removed from its packaging, the piece returned to its original shape — hence, the name Up for the series, which debuted in 1969.

In addition to these pieces, Pesce proposed for the collection something he referred to as an “anti-armchair,” which took the shape of a reclining fertility goddess, the iconic Donna. Producing its complex form turned out to be a technical challenge. Bayer, the foam’s manufacturer, deemed it impossible to accomplish. Pesce persisted and came up with a new procedure, demonstrating not only the designer’s key role in researching the nature and potential of new materials but also his vital importance in “doubting rules.” The Up chair and accompanying ottoman were born, and they were revolutionary in more ways than one.

In the early 1970s, Pesce began exploring one of his key concepts, the idea of the industrial originals. Employing a mold without air holes, and adding a blood-red dye to the polyurethane, he cast a bookcase that resembled a demolished wall, the rough edges of the shelves and posts resulting from fissures in the material made by trapped air. Through his research into polyurethane, Pesce figured out a way to make a loveseat and armchair using only a simple wood frame and strong canvas covering as a mold. Since the fabric developed random folds during the injection process, the pieces were similar but not identical. Cassina named the suite of furnishings Sit Down and introduced it in 1975. By experimenting with felt soaked in polyurethane and resin, Pesce conceived I Feltri, another collection of armchairs introduced by Cassina in 1987.

Pesce has gone on to live a life that defies expectation and convention and along the way has become one of the most seminal figures in art and design.

Find vintage Gaetano Pesce chairs, sofas, vases and more on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Gaetano Pesce
Gaetano Pesce Moonshine wall sconce 1999
By Gaetano Pesce
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Rare wall sconce by Gaetano Pesce Studio, New York. This example was originally hardwired but has been rewired with a plug and switch for more functionality. A functional sculpture t...
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1990s American Post-Modern Gaetano Pesce Wall Lights and Sconces

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Pair of Sconces by Gaetano Pesce, Italy, 1970s
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Nickel-plated and polished brass structure holding four square acid-etched glass shades.
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1970s Italian Modern Vintage Gaetano Pesce Wall Lights and Sconces

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Gaetano Pesce Wall Sconce, Edited by "the Pesce, " circa 2000, Italy
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Gaetano Pesce, wall sconce, Meritalia production, edited by "The Pesce," polyurethane resin, circa 2000, Italy, piece unique. Measures: Height 80 cm, diameter 80 cm, depth 11 cm....
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Early 2000s Italian Mid-Century Modern Gaetano Pesce Wall Lights and Sconces

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Resin

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Gaetano Pesce wall lights and sconces for sale on 1stDibs.

Gaetano Pesce wall lights and sconces are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of resin and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Gaetano Pesce wall lights and sconces, although orange editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original wall lights and sconces by Gaetano Pesce were created in the modern style in italy during the late 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider wall lights and sconces by Ettore Sottsass, Maison Veronese, and Gianni Celada. Prices for Gaetano Pesce wall lights and sconces can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $6,000 and can go as high as $9,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $7,568.

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