Since its first appearance, the Up Series, designed in 1969 by Gaetano Pesce, has been one of the most talked about examples of modern furniture design. The exceptional visual impact of six models of ball-like seats in various sizes, entirely made of polyurethane foam covered in stretch fabric, revolutionized the furniture industry.

Up5/6 is the collection's most famous piece and the only one in the collection to take on human overtones where the seat resembles an abstracted female form with a spherical ottoman attached by a rubber cord. According to the designer, UP5/6 symbolizes ‘the shackles that keep women subjugated' with the ottoman representing a ball and chain. Whether it’s a fetishistic piece or a comment on women’s rights is still hotly debated but UP5/6 (affectionately known as 'La Mamma’, 'Blow-Up' or ‘Donna’ in Italy), represents one of the earliest pieces of post-modern and Italian radical design and remains one of the most important designs of the modern era.

This version of UP5/6 features stretch fabric in ‘Soara’ - a unique striped textile that accentuates the design’s feminine curves even more.

In excellent like-new condition and features the manufacturer's label on the underside.

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Gaetano Pesce is an Italian architect and a design pioneer of the 20th century. He studied architecture in Venice and attended the Venice Institute of Industrial design. At this experimental school, he met Milena Vettore with whom he opened a studio in Padua, founding in 1959 the "N" Group which focused on studies in programmed art. Since 1962 he has worked in design, experimenting with new materials and unusual shapes. In 1971 he collaborated with Bracciodi Ferro (then part of the Cassina group) for the production of certain experimental objects and in 1972 he took part in the famous exhibition 'Italy: The New Domestic Landscape' at MoMA in New York.

Examples of his work, such as the UP5/6 are found in the most important design museums all over the world.