Alessandro Mendini was born in Milan in 1931. Through his work as an architect, designer, journalist, theorist and publisher, Mendini helped establish the Italian design sensibility on a global scale with a particular focus on neo-modern, avant-garde design as well as the crossover between art, design and architecture.
Mendini’s influential work spanned the arenas of graphics, furniture, interiors, architecture, stage design, writing and painting. He graduated from the Polytechnic University of Milan in 1959, and he began his career at the studio of artist-designer Marcello Nizzoli. He went on to become the publisher of the popular magazines Casabella (1970–76), Modo and Domus (each 1979–85).
In 1979, Mendini joined Ettore Sottsass and Michele de Lucchi as a partner at Studio Alchimia, a harbinger of the Memphis Group before he cofounded Domus Academy in 1982. In 1989, he and his brother Francesco established their architectural practice, Atelier Mendini, in Milan, where he worked until his death in February 2019. In recognition of his outstanding body of work, Mendini was awarded the Compasso d’Oro twice, in 1979 and 1981. He was also honored by the Architectural League of New York, made Chevalier des Arts et Lettres in France, and, in 2014, he was awarded the European Prize for Architecture.
Mendini’s work is included in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum and the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris, among others.
Find vintage Alessandro Mendini chairs, vases, table lamps and other furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by STUDIO CADMIUM)
Postmodern Classic Teapot Designed by Michael Graves for Alessi
By Alessi, Michael Graves (b.1934)
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Style of Alessi Vintage Memphis Tea Pot designed by Michael Graves stainless steel made Taiwan signed at bottom 10.5 h x 9 w 11.75 d Original vintage u...
Stainless Steel
Alessi Stainless Steel Coffee Pot, Mid-Century Modern, 1960s
By Alessi
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a stainless steel coffee pot tea kettle, circa the 1960s. Style of Kalmar. Mid-century modern silver with brown ton...
Stainless Steel
Alessi 9093 Whistling Tea Kettle Designed by Michael Graves Post-Modern
By Alessi, Michael Graves (b.1934)
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, an Alessi 9093 whistling tea kettle designed by Michael Graves. Originally released in 1985, it features a conical stainless steel body and a signature bi...
Stainless Steel
Vintage Alessi Espresso Coffee Maker Richard Sapper Italy
By Richard Sapper, Alessi
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Vintage Stovetop Alessi Coffee Espresso Maker Richard Sapper 9090 stainless steel Made Italy exhibited at MoMA New York 6.5 h 4.25 diameter x 5 d Preowned unrestored vintage conditio...
Stainless Steel
Vittorio Mazzuconni Firenze Bowl Silver-Plated Vide Poche Vase Post-Modern
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a Vittorio Mazzucconi silverplate modernist bowl (also referred to as a vide poche or vase). Designed and signed by Vitto...
Silver Plate
1960s Alvino Bagni for Raymor Modernist Colorful Ashtray Italy
By Raymor, Alvino Bagni
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s Modern Italian Colorful Ashtray attributed Alvino Bagni for Raymor Stamped Italy 1.5 h x 7.75 x 7.75 Unrestored original vintage preowned condition Ashtray has a crack. Review ...
Pottery
Pepper mill created by Alessandro Mendini in 1998 for Alessi.
By Alessandro Mendini, Alessi
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
Pepper mill created by Alessandro Mendini in 1998 for Alessi. Part of the Anna G collection, an ironic tribute to an authentic woman whose small smiling face has gained cult status o...
Steel
Postmodern Funnytime Kitchen Timer by Roberto Pezzetta for WikiDue
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A whimsical Italian postmodern multicolor kitchen timer designed by Roberto Pezzetta for WikiDue. Stacked light blue, red and yellow discs give it a ...
Plastic
Alessandro Mendini x Luigi Ontani 100% Make-Up Limited Lidded Vase, Alessi, 1992
By Luigi Ontani, Alessi, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Vienna, AT
A postmodern limited-edition porcelain vase with lid from the first edition of the “100% Make-Up” series by Alessi Tendentse, Italy, released in 1992. The vase’s shape was designed b...
Porcelain
Radical Memphis style table lamp clock, lacquered metal, 1980s
By Memphis Group
Located in taranto, IT
Table lamp clock in full Radical Memphis style, produced in the early 1980s, postmodern, made of lacquered metal, with white lamp-shaped dial on black background. Signature "Missiani...
Metal
1980s Postmodern Desk Clock by Shohei Mihara for Wakita
By Nathalie du Pasquier, Shohei Mihara, George Sowden, Wakita
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A fantastic Japanese postmodern vintage desk, mantel, or shelf clock by Shohei Mihara for Wakita. (This design can also be found with markings from NEOS, the clock company that spec...
Metal
Radical Memphis style table clock, lacquered metal, 1980s
By Memphis Group
Located in taranto, IT
Table clock in full Radical Memphis style, produced in the early 1980s, postmodern, made of lacquered metal, with white dial on black background. Designer's signature visible on the ...
Metal
Alessandro Mendini, Michael Graves, Ettore Sottsass and other design luminaries contributed to this unusual collection of porcelain wares representing a time capsule of late-20th-century decorative art.
Aided by photos taken of the maestro in his Milan studio, we honor the influential design talent who died last month at 87.
