Serie Up Compasso d'Oro - Limited Edition

We are proud to announce the release of the highly acclaimed Serie UP chair, designed by Gaetano Pesce and recognised with the prestigious XXVII Compasso d'Oro "Award for Product Career 2022" last June—a true testament to its iconic status.

In celebration of this remarkable achievement, B&B Italia has released a limited edition version of the Serie UP chair, aptly named the "Compasso d'Oro Edition." Limited to only 500 pieces worldwide, this extraordinary chair is now available exclusively through Matisse.

The Serie Up chair is upholstered in the exclusive CD fabric in an alluring antique gold hue, adding a touch of timeless elegance to any space. Accompanying this masterpiece is a spherical ottoman, wrapped in luxurious bronze fabric. The ottoman is ingeniously linked to the armchair through an aluminium chain, finished with a captivating corten texture.

Be among the privileged few to own this coveted piece of design history. Visit Matisse today and immerse yourself in the unparalleled craftsmanship and artistry of the Gaetano Pesce Compasso d'Oro Edition—truly a collector's dream. Don't miss out on this extraordinary opportunity.

By pre-order only, please email design@matisse.co.nz for more information. 

Designed in 1969, right from the onset, the Serie Up has been one of the most outstanding expressions of design with its expressive shapes upholstered with elastic fabric. This innovative solution, poised midway between design and art, and conceived to be offered to a wide audience, stems from B&B Italia's extensive technological know-how in terms of polyurethane injection moulding.

Particularly noteworthy among the armchairs is the iconic UP5_6, with its unmistakable anthropomorphic references: a metaphor of a large womb, it calls to mind ancient statues of the goddesses of fertility. But that's not all: a spherical ottoman tied to the armchair contrasts the image of comfort and convenience with a more figurative one of a woman with a ball and chain tied to her foot.

Gaetano Pesce described the project as follows: "At that time, I was seeking to tell a personal story about my concept of women: I believe that women have always unwittingly been their own jailer. This is why I decided to give this armchair the shape of a woman with a ball and chain, reflecting the traditional image of a prisoner."

This armchair also comes in a junior version for children aged 3 and up - a perfectly faithful replica of the original design, only smaller. The Series also includes the UP7 "foot," a large sculptural object in painted polyurethane that poses as an archaeological relic of the modern era.