Bowl By Enzo Mari
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
Aluminum
Vintage 1970s Italian Space Age Serving Bowls
Plastic
Vintage 1960s Italian Abstract Sculptures
Marble
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Umbrella Stands
Aluminum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Umbrella Stands
Aluminum
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
Sheet Metal
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Antique 19th Century Italian Greco Roman Figurative Sculptures
Carrara Marble
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures
Ceramic
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Slipper Chairs
Fabric, Cotton
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures
Earthenware
Vintage 1960s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
Earthenware
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures
Ceramic, Earthenware
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Vases
Glass, Murano Glass
20th Century Italian Sofas
Leather
Vintage 1970s Italian Chaise Longues
Velvet
Vintage 1970s French Organic Modern Pottery
Ceramic
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vases
Ceramic
Vintage 1950s European Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
Ceramic
Vintage 1950s French Modern Figurative Sculptures
Terracotta
Vintage 1970s Sofas
Leather
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
Ceramic, Earthenware
Recent Sales
Vintage 1950s Italian Modern Decorative Bowls
Steel
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Decorative Bowls
Plastic
2010s European Vases
Ceramic
Vintage 1970s Italian Decorative Bowls
Plastic
Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Decorative Bowls
Stainless Steel
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
Cement
Vintage 1930s Italian Mid-Century Modern Tea Sets
Porcelain
Late 20th Century Italian Centerpieces
Carrara Marble
Enzo Mari for sale on 1stDibs
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.