Enzo Mari was an influential industrial designer and a beloved curmudgeon who revered Marxism. His vintage mid-century modern designs are simple, functional and poetic. Widely known Mari-designed objects include desk accessories, such as the Formosa perpetual wall calendar, vases, cocktail tables and chandeliers.
Enzo Mari's work is embedded within the city of Milan, the Italian capital of all things design. In fact, the traffic bollards he devised are part of the city itself: Shaped like "panettone" cakes, they simultaneously direct traffic and provide seating for pedestrians.
In 1974, Mari published Autoprogettazione? (roughly translated as self-design), a Marx-inspired, anti-industrial, do-it-yourself handbook for the everyday person to use to build furniture without the assistance of a glitzy designer or knowledge of complex joinery. Mari’s intent with the publication was to remove the alienation of the creator and manufacturer from the end product by teaching anyone to develop a critical eye for production.
Artek relaunched kits based on the blueprints in the manual in an exhibition at Spazio Rossana Orlandi in 2010. The subsequent collectability of his work was reportedly irksome for Mari because he abhorred the industrial production for which he was becoming known.
Mari’s meager upbringing heavily influenced his politics, and even in childhood, he would come up with ingenious ways to support the family financially. As a designer, the desire to envision and build significant pieces was more important to Mari than devising new marketing and retail sales tactics. He optimistically believed objects could change the world. This view went against the rising consumer mania for every next trend that surfaced in the late 20th century. Not surprisingly, his ecological and economical stance led him to produce fewer objects.
Mari's philosophy did not stop people from desiring his creations, nor prevent other designers from wanting to collaborate with him. Following World War II, he worked for companies like Danese, Olivetti, Artemide, Driade and Alessi, who brought his prodigious designs to the public, and Mari’s work was widely celebrated.
The Golden Compass, Italy's highest honor for industrial design, was awarded to Mari four times before he died from COVID in 2020, and New York’s Museum of Modern Art has a permanent collection of his objects on display.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Enzo Mari decorative objects, folk art and serveware.
Bowl by Enzo Mari, 1962
By Enzo Mari, Danese Milano
Located in Berlin, DE
Bowl with two flexible wings, Aluminum, partly lacquered. Dimensions / H.23cm o 31cm Designer / Enzo Mari 1962 Manufacturer / Danese Milano With stamp on bottom.
Aluminum
Bowl by Lorenzo Burchiellaro approx. 1970
By Lorenzo Burchiellaro
Located in Berlin, DE
This extraordinary bowl was created by Lorenzo Burchiellaro (1933–2017), an Italian designer and sculptor who preferred to work with all kinds of metals. The bowl is hammered and han...
Copper
$276Sale Price|30% Off
H 3.75 in W 15.75 in D 15.5 in
Arte Cuoio Saddle Leather Bowl Acqua by Enrico Tonucci Italy
By Arte Cuoio, Enrico Tonucci
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, AC&T sculptural acqua bowl- catch it all plate in saddle leather. Made in Italy by Arte Cuoio. Design by Enrico Tonucci for Arte Cuoio Triangolo. Dimensions: ...
Leather
Salvino Marsura 'Foglia III' bowl - Italy, 2000s
By Salvino Marsura
Located in London, GB
Shades of autumnal red gleam in this delicately wrought leaf-shape bowl by Salvino Marsura. The piece is in good vintage condition with patination true to its age. Salvino Marsura...
Metal
1970 Salvino Marsura style Brutalist Sculpture Irone Bowl
By Salvino Marsura
Located in Brescia, IT
Sculpture Iron Bowl Salvino Marsura attr. Italy, 1970 Striking hand-forged metal bowl in the Brutalist style, dating from the mid-20th century. This sculptural piece is composed of...
Iron
Large Bowl Barro Dining by Sebastian Herkner
Located in Geneve, CH
Large bowl barro dining by Sebastian Herkner Materials: Heat-resistant black ceramic. Technique: Glazed. Oven cooked and polished with semi-precious stones. Dimensions: Diameter 38 cm x height 12 cm Available in sizes: Medium, small, and X small. This vase belongs to the Barro dining range, a collection of unique and high-quality ceramics made using traditional pottery crafts. It’s designed by Sebastian Herkner who has taken inspiration from the archetypal forms of jewelry shown in the Museo del Oro in Bogotá. The result is a rustic-elegant range of vases, bowls, and pots that can also be used as plant...
Ceramic
Italian modernist center by Lino Sabattini
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Italian Modernist Centerpiece by Lino Sabbatini A sculptural centerpiece of modern design crafted from polished metal, a creation of renowned designer Lino Sabbatini. This piece comb...
Metal
Art Deco Discometal Bowl by Just Andersen, 1930s, Denmark
By Just Andersen
Located in Værløse, DK
Art Deco Discometal Bowl made Just Andersen in the 1930s. An exquisite piece for a beautiful table. * A curvy metal bowl * Designer: Just Andersen * Model: D1830 * Year: 1935 * Cond...
Metal
$1,335 / item
H 4 in Dm 12 in
fferrone Contemporary Decorative Dark St. Steel Medium Bowl Vessel Centerpiece
By Felicia Ferrone
Located in Chicago, IL
With strong contemporary architectural forms emphasizing the tension between positive and negative space, the minimal Maison collection is comprised of a serving tray, medium bowl, a...
Stainless Steel
O'Connor Bowl by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
O'Connor bowl by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 41.5 cm D 16 cm H 9.5 cm. Materials: dark bronze. FAKASAKA is a design company focused on pro...
Bronze
