Alessandro Mendini

Italian, 1931-2019

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)

Average Sold Price

$4,155

Styles

Materials

Related Creators

Rare Set of 3 “Cubosfera” Wall Lights by Alessandro Mendini for Fidenza Vetraria

$15,275 / set

H 7.09 in W 6.3 in D 7.29 in

Rare Set of 3 “Cubosfera” Wall Lights by Alessandro Mendini for Fidenza Vetraria

By Alessandro Mendini, Fidenza Vetraria

Located in Brescia, Brescia

Extremely rare set of three Cubosfera wall lights designed by Alessandro Mendini for Fidenza Vetraria in the 1960s — iconic sculptural objects that sit at the intersection of art, gl...

Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Alessandro Mendini

Materials

Metal, Brass

Alessandro Mendini Quilted Wall Hanging Tapestry Interflex, Italy, 1993

$4,900 / item

H 62 in W 104 in D 1 in

Alessandro Mendini Quilted Wall Hanging Tapestry Interflex, Italy, 1993

By Alessandro Mendini, Interflex

Located in Vienna, AT

Alessandro Mendini Quilted Wall Hanging Tapestry Interflex, Italy, 1993 Dimensions 104" x 62" x1" This large wall hanging tapestry designed by Al...

Category

1990s Italian Post-Modern Alessandro Mendini

Materials

Cotton

20th Century, Alessandro Mendini Pair of Wall Lights mod. Cubosfera

$10,657 / set

H 7.49 in W 6.3 in D 7.49 in

20th Century, Alessandro Mendini Pair of Wall Lights mod. Cubosfera

By Fidenza Vetraria, Alessandro Mendini

Located in Turin, Turin

From the late 70s Alessandro Mendini was among the renewers of Italian design, both as a theoretical intellectual and as an influential member of the Alchimia group. He then worked f...

Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Alessandro Mendini

Materials

Brass

Agrilo Console Table by Alessandro Mendini

$2,320

H 35.4 in W 31.5 in D 15.75 in

Agrilo Console Table by Alessandro Mendini

By Alessandro Mendini

Located in Doral, FL

Agrilo Console Table by Alessandro Mendini for Zanotta Edizioni 1984 Mod. 7400 Signed original. Frame in black lacquered wood. Hand-decorated edge in blue and green. Feet in silver-p...

Category

1980s Italian Vintage Alessandro Mendini

Materials

Silver

Pair Alessandro Mendini 'Cubosfera' wall lights for Fidenza Vetraria c1960

$9,031 / set

H 6.7 in W 6.3 in D 7.09 in

Pair Alessandro Mendini 'Cubosfera' wall lights for Fidenza Vetraria c1960

By Alessandro Mendini

Located in London, GB

Pair Alessandro Mendini 'Cubosfera' wall lights Alessandro Mendini for Fidenza Vetraria. Italy c1960 Excellent condition. No nicks or chips to glasss

Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Alessandro Mendini

Materials

Brass

Magis Proust LowChair in White by Alessandro Mendini

$1,443Sale Price / item|20% Off

H 41.34 in W 40.95 in D 35.44 in

Magis Proust LowChair in White by Alessandro Mendini

By Magis, Alessandro Mendini

Located in Brooklyn, NY

“I think many people will already know my “Proust armchair”. It is a romantic, baroque chair, on which an endless number of multi-coloured dots are hand-paint- ed using the pointillism technique. These dots cover the whole armchair, both the fabric and the wooden decorations. It’ s a re-design work. It is, in fact, a combination of a mock-antique armchair with a detail from a painting of a garden by French artist Signac. From 1978 onwards, the “Proust armchair” was produced in many versions, using different colours, ma- terials and dimensions, and was even made of ceramics and bronze. It travelled all around the world and was hosted in many museums. But now some truly revolutionary news, as a paradox comes true: the “Proust armchair” has now been transformed into an industrial rotational-moulded piece. Ladies and gentlemen, we bring you “ Magis Proust...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Alessandro Mendini

Materials

Polystyrene

Zanotta Edizioni Calamobio Chest of Drawers in Wood by Alessandro Mendini

$21,970Sale Price / item|20% Off

H 32.29 in W 44.1 in D 17.33 in

Zanotta Edizioni Calamobio Chest of Drawers in Wood by Alessandro Mendini

By Alessandro Mendini, Zanotta

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Zanotta Edizioni Calamobio Chest of Drawers in Wood by Alessandro Mendini Nine originals numbered and signed. Frame and feet in wood, polychrome inlay. Handles in red anodised alu...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Alessandro Mendini

Materials

Wood

Ritratto Blue Wall Hanging Flower Vase Alessandro Mendini Postmodern

$750

H 8.86 in W 6.5 in D 3.55 in

Ritratto Blue Wall Hanging Flower Vase Alessandro Mendini Postmodern

By Marutomi, Alessandro Mendini

Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

"Ritratto" flower vase for the wall designed by Alessandro Mendini for Marutomi. Designed in the late 90s and start production in 2000. No longer production. New old stock in box. W...

Category

Early 2000s Japanese Post-Modern Alessandro Mendini

Materials

Plastic

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Alessandro Mendini Sale Prices

Sold Date

Sold Price

Category

Material

Creation Year

2025	$600	Vases	Plastic	2000
2025	$5,151	Table Lamps	Metal, Glass	1960
2025	$1,804	Armchairs, Chairs	Polystyrene	2023
2025	$7,200	Wall Lights and Sconces	Brass, Glass	1960
2025	$3,179	Table Lamps	Glass	1969
2025	$765	Armchairs	Fabric, Wood	1970
2025	$1,545	Decorative Bowls, Vases	Murano Glass	2015
2025	$1,804	Armchairs, Chairs	Polystyrene	2023
2025	$1,683	Table Lamps	Glass	1968
2025	$3,472	Table Lamps	Glass	1968
2025	$4,500	Figurative Sculptures	Ceramic	2008
2025	$4,500	Figurative Sculptures	Ceramic	2008
2025	$6,894	Table Lamps	Metal, Glass	1960
2025	$11,045	Armchairs	Fabric, Wood	1990s
2025	$1,486	Vases	Ceramic	2008

$4,155

Average sold price of items in the past 12 months

$600-$11,045

Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

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This Rare Set of 100 Alessi Vases Includes Designs by Scores of International Artists

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.

Remembering Alessandro Mendini, a Towering Figure in Italian Design

Aided by photos taken of the maestro in his Milan studio, we honor the influential design talent who died last month at 87.

Alessandro Mendini furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Alessandro Mendini furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of murano glass and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Alessandro Mendini furniture, although blue editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Alessandro Mendini were created in the modern style in italy during the 21st century and contemporary. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Memphis Milano, Fulvio Bianconi, and Memphis Group. Prices for Alessandro Mendini furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $992 and can go as high as $2,876, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,658.

Questions About Alessandro Mendini

What is Alessandro Mendini famous for?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertJanuary 10, 2025
Alessandro Mendini is famous for his designs and writings. 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. His work is included in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris, among others. Explore a collection of Alessandro Mendini furniture on 1stDibs.