Ico Parisi and Luisa Parisi for MIM.

ICO PARISI (Palermo 1916 - Como, 1996) and LUISA PARISI (Cantù, 1914- 1990) for MIM.
Chest of drawers, 60's.
Wood grain.
Presents very good state of preservation.
Measurements: 84 x 135 x 45 cm.
Representative example of Italian modernist design of the mid-twentieth century. This chest of drawers was conceived by designers Ico and Luisa Parisi for the firm MIM (Mobili Italiani Moderni) during the 1960s. Made of wood with a marked grain, the piece is distinguished by its refined functional aesthetics and a formal composition that favors purity of lines and structural sobriety. The façade, conceived with a clearly minimalist approach, houses nine symmetrically arranged drawers, whose refined metal handles blend in with the overall design with discreet elegance. In the top row, recessed locks underline the practicality of the piece.
The architect-designer Domenico "Ico" Parisi trained in the construction industry in Como between 1931 and 1935, and in 1936 he began working in the office of the rationalist architect Giuseppe Terragni in Como, which marked the beginning of his professional career, which was also briefly linked to the world of cinema in the late 1930s. Returning to his initial vocation, design, Parisi was one of the founding members of two architectural groups: Alta Quota and Gruppo Como.
In 1947 he married fellow designer Luisa Aiani, a former student of Gio Ponti, also a member of Alta Quota, and the two founded their studio La Ruota in Como in April 1948. Between 1949 and 1952, Parisi studied architecture with Alberto Sartoris at the Athenaeum Institute in Lausanne (Switzerland). In 1952 he became a member of the Milan Art Club, and in 1956 of the Association of Industrial Design (ADI).
Parisi designed many interiors, furniture (mainly wood and metal), glass, jewelry and architectural projects, both alone and with Luisa. His studio was a meeting point for collaborations between established artists and emerging designers. His clients included: Singer & Sons, Altamira , M.I.M. , Longhi , and Cassina. Ico, in collaboration with architects Silvio Longhi and Luigi Antonietti, designed the Living Room pavilion for the 10th Milan Triennale.
The couple's collaboration with Cassina was very fruitful, resulting in many famous designs, such as the Model 691 (1955) and Model 839 chairs, both nominated for the Compasso d'Oro in 1955.