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)
Ghidini 1961 Le Ninfee Middle Side Table in Brass by Alessandro Mendini
By Alessandro Mendini, Ghidini 1961
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
As if they were large and flat lilies leaves that run, approach, float and mate while flowing on the water surface of a pond. So these small Ninfee tables float and can stand alone, ...
Brass
Ghidini 1961 Le Ninfee Right Side Table in Brass by Alessandro Mendini
By Alessandro Mendini, Ghidini 1961
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
As if they were large and flat lilies leaves that run, approach, float and mate while flowing on the water surface of a pond. So these small Ninfee tables float and can Stand alone, ...
Brass
Ghidini 1961 Medium Flowers Coffee Side Table in Brass by Stefano Giovannoni
By Stefano Giovannoni, Ghidini 1961
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Medium coffee side table The natural element is the focus of this project of a coffee table where the surface is shaped like a stylized flower. A triptych of distinct elements which...
Brass
Ghidini 1961 Large Flowers Coffee Side Table in Brass by Stefano Giovannoni
By Stefano Giovannoni, Ghidini 1961
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Large coffee side table The natural element is the focus of this project of a coffee table where the surface is shaped like a stylized flower. A triptych of distinct elements which ...
Brass
Ghidini 1961 Small Flowers Coffee Side Table in Brass by Stefano Giovannoni
By Stefano Giovannoni, Ghidini 1961
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Small coffee side table in brass. The natural element is the focus of this project of a coffee table where the surface is shaped like a stylized flower. A triptych of distinct eleme...
Brass
Ghidini 1961 Opera Small Round Table with Gold Finish by Richard Hutten
By Ghidini 1961, Richard Hutten
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Round table in stainless steel For the interior design of the Dutch national Opera and ballet Hutten designed these simple yet elegant and very useful side tables. Material: Sta...
Stainless Steel
Ninfee Side Table in Satin Brass By Alessandro Mendini
By Ghidini 1961
Located in Milan, IT
This charming side table was crafted entirely in brass and its structure comprises three legs joint together by a triangular structure at the center. The top has an irregular silhoue...
Brass
Ghidini 1961 Ninfee Left Coffee Table in Satin Brass Finish
By Ghidini 1961, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This charming side table was crafted entirely in brass and its structure comprises three legs joint together by a triangular structure at the centr...
Brass
Ghidini 1961 Ninfee Middle Coffee Table in Satin Brass Finish
By Ghidini 1961, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This charming side table was crafted entirely in brass and its structure comprises three legs joint together by a triangular structure at the cente...
Brass
Ghidini 1961 Ninfee Right Coffee Table in Satin Brass Finish
By Alessandro Mendini, Ghidini 1961
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This charming side table was crafted entirely in brass and its structure comprises three legs joint together by a triangular structure at the centr...
Brass
1960 Piero Fornasetti Italian Design Flower Metal Brass Gueridon Side Table
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Brescia, IT
Side Table Piero Fornasetti Italy, 1950 lithographic transfer print on lacquered metal Brass Frame Paper label on the bottom Wear consistent with age and use (shown in the pictures)
Metal
FORNASETTI Golden Kings Side Table
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage original round side table with transfer-printed wooden top depicting golden kings on black background / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti, 1970s Original label underside Meas...
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.
