UP 3
Chair
1969 (designed), 1970 (manufactured)
1969 (designed), 1970 (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Architect, designer and educator, Gaetano Pesce (1939-) was born in La Spezia, Italy. He studied architecture at the University of Venice and was a member of Gruppo N (founded 1959, Padua, Italy).
The Up 3 armchair was designed in 1969 for C&B Italia and Pesce had the idea for the chair whilst thinking about the composition of a sponge. The chair is made from a high-density polyurethane foam without an internal structure, an ingenious design that can be vacuum-packed and stored and shipped flat. The chair is part of his Up series of organic and pliable furniture, the most iconic and controversial of the series is the La Mamma chair. In 2019,Pesce commented, 'today, design is an art and because of that must express not only practical content, but also content related to a political, relgious, philosophical and existential reality.'
The Up 3 armchair was designed in 1969 for C&B Italia and Pesce had the idea for the chair whilst thinking about the composition of a sponge. The chair is made from a high-density polyurethane foam without an internal structure, an ingenious design that can be vacuum-packed and stored and shipped flat. The chair is part of his Up series of organic and pliable furniture, the most iconic and controversial of the series is the La Mamma chair. In 2019,Pesce commented, 'today, design is an art and because of that must express not only practical content, but also content related to a political, relgious, philosophical and existential reality.'
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
|
| Materials and techniques | polyurethane foam, nylon-jersey cover |
| Brief description | Chair, model 'Up 3'; Italian, 1969, designed by Gaetano Pesce and manufactured by C&B Italia, Milan |
| Physical description | A turqoise circle shaped chair with fabric stretched over polyurethane foam. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label | UP 3 chair
Gaetano Pesce (born 1939)
1969, manufactured 1970
The UP series of chairs were made from vacuum packed moulded polyurethane foam. Once purchased, the user unwrapped the PVC packaging and the chair would spring back into life, returning to its original form. The act of buying and using furniture was thus transformed into a performance.
Italy
Manufacturer: C&B Italia S.p.A, Novedrate
Polyurethane foam, nylon jersey cover
V&A: Circ.211.1970
image caption: UP Chair, publicity photograph, C&B Italia S.p.A., early 1970s(September 2008) |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Architect, designer and educator, Gaetano Pesce (1939-) was born in La Spezia, Italy. He studied architecture at the University of Venice and was a member of Gruppo N (founded 1959, Padua, Italy). The Up 3 armchair was designed in 1969 for C&B Italia and Pesce had the idea for the chair whilst thinking about the composition of a sponge. The chair is made from a high-density polyurethane foam without an internal structure, an ingenious design that can be vacuum-packed and stored and shipped flat. The chair is part of his Up series of organic and pliable furniture, the most iconic and controversial of the series is the La Mamma chair. In 2019,Pesce commented, 'today, design is an art and because of that must express not only practical content, but also content related to a political, relgious, philosophical and existential reality.' |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.211-1970 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | October 1, 2008 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
