Gaetano Pesce is an Italian-born architect and designer that has been producing objects in and using resin for over 40 years.  We recently heard from Gaetano Pesce’s studio that they have partnered with another Italian manufacturer to produce a series of objects and lights.

Unicahome’s relationship with Mr. Pesce began, as things usually do, at the beginning.  Our first purchase order was with his studio in New York City.  Many things attracted us to Mr. Pesce.  His design and concepts were different.  He was a ‘troublemaker’- willing to take on architectural projects and add a decidedly political tone.  He also was a genius, as his project for the Chiat-Day office proved.  Ahead of his time perhaps- an office where there were no offices- designed for person to person interaction.  The staff flipped but the story (and the design) is the stuff of legend. His product was colorful and different, looking like glass with the texture of resin, or looking like fabric with a rough solid form due to hardened resin providing rigidity. His sofas were conceptual, with the most notable being a New York Skyline (Tramonto a New York, or Manhattan) with buildings being the armrests and an ever-present sun always shining. He is probably most famous for the Donna (La Mona Up5/Up6) chair and ottoman, originally produced by C & B Italia. Representing a female form bound by a ball and chain, the original furniture formed from the box when opened. I kid you not.

For the most part, Pesce’s designs are based on the concept of ‘Production-Not in Production.’  Most of his resin pieces are molded forms- but the color of the resin and the process of manufacturing is different for each one, depending on the artist worker. Each piece is therefore unique in appearance, despite having a similar form. A concept that may  be applied to all  of mankind, I suppose.  In the early days we used to have Pesce parties when the product arrived. We sat on the floor with clients  in the middle of the store and unpacked the boxes, lining the product up one by one, admiring as we went. Sales of Pesce were like adoptions- you touched, felt, and gazed at the product before making a purchase.

The variety of current production is simply astounding. Many of the products made by the original Fish Design (NYC)  are available again.  Some of the designs, such as the WTC lamp, previously existed only as prototypes. In the case of the WTC lamp the original design was for the Italian firm Progetti, and involves a heart between the two towers.  For some reason I think it was originally called I (Heart) NY but don’t quote me on that.

 

Pesce’s experimentation with resin saturated fabric is represented in the collection with the Fare series of vases- a similar concept that Mr. Pesce pursued with Cassina’s Feltri Chair and the Yeti Series.

Overall a very exciting development. It is nice to see old friends come back again after so many years, and it is nice to see Mr. Pesce using his noggin to get some cool stuff out on the market again.

All of Mr. Pesce’s designs shown here are available on a special order basis.  I am uncertain if we can specify colors as in the past.  Please call.

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