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.
Manifesto - Sculpture in Reclaimed Briccola Riva 1920 Stendardo Design Enzo Mari
By Enzo Mari, Riva 1920
Located in Alcamo, IT
Banner - Poster in Reclaimed Briccola Oak Brand: Riva 1920 Model: Stendardo Design by: Enzo Mari The Stendardo is not merely an object, but a conceptual statement. Designed by Enzo...
Wood
Cast Marble Roman Child Bust Sculpture, Antique, 1920, Decorative Art
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
Cast marble bust of a Roman child set on a base size: 3.50 H x 5.25 W x 6 D.base size
Cast Stone
$59,500
H 15.36 in W 27.56 in D 12.6 in
"Galata Morente" Sculpture in Bronze, sign: F. Barbedienne Fonduer
By F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
F. Barbedienne fonduer Ferdinand Barbedienne (6 August 1810 – 21 March 1892) was a French metalworker and manufacturer, who was well known as a bronze founder. The son of a small farmer from Calvados, he started his career as a dealer in wallpaper in Paris. In 1838 he went into partnership with Achille Collas (1795-1859), who had just invented a machine to create miniature bronze replicas of statues. Together they started a business selling miniatures of antique statues from museums all over Europe, thus democratising art and making it more accessible to households.[2] From 1843 they extended their scope by reproducing the work of living artists and also diversified by making enamelled household objects. With the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war in 1870 the firm briefly had to switch to cannon founding owing to the shortage of metals but resumed business afterwards. Following Barbedienne's death in 1892, he was buried in the Père-Lachaise cemetery and the firm was carried on by his nephew Gustave Leblanc until 1952. Among the principal artists reproduced by the firm were Antoine Louis Barye and Auguste Rodin. The Dying Galata (Italian: Galata morente...
Bronze
Child sculpture in Bronze and marble
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Child sculpture in bronze and marble
Marble, Bronze
$8,500 / set
H 16 in W 28 in D 11 in
1920s Whippet Greyhound Dogs Concrete Entryway Wall Sculptures Vintage Mansion
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Large Heavy Greyhound Statues for Driveway Entry. Possibly English Made but procured in the states. Sold as found at the estate. These should be repainted if you want to use them ou...
Concrete
Pair of Reclaimed Bronze Armorial Lions
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A pair of early 20th century reclaimed bronze armorial lions, circa 1920. These decorative bronze lions could be used indoors as interior decoration or in the garden where exposure t...
Metal, Bronze
Hand-Carved Neolithic Fish Sculpture in Granite, Primitive Art, China
Located in Somis, CA
Beautiful Neolithic style fish is carved from a single boulder. Its design is typical of China's ancient Red Mountain Culture. The stone has a brownish green color and the texture of polished granite...
Granite
$2,450
H 22 in W 12 in D 10 in
Vintage French Stone Sculpture of Dog in Sitting Position from the 1920s-1940s
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French vintage stone dog sculpture with weathered appearance from the first half of the 20th century. This charming French vintage stone dog sculpt...
Stone
$5,500 / set
H 14 in W 31 in D 12 in
Pair of English 1920s Cast Stone Reclining Lion Sculptures on Conforming Bases
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of English cast stone reclining lions statues from the early 20th century, on rectangular bases. Created in England during the first quarter of the 20th century, each of this ...
Cast Stone
$50,232
H 70.87 in W 19.69 in D 15.75 in
Monumental Sculptures "The four Seasons" in Terracotta from Impruneta
Located in Madrid, ES
Life size Sculptures "The 4 Seasons" in Terracotta from Impruneta 20th Century with Base.Made at the bigining of 1900. Total height: 180cm Terracotta Impruneta - Florence
Terracotta
$43,434
H 74.81 in W 23.63 in D 19.69 in
Life-Size Greek Mythological Sculpture in Travertine Marble – Italy
Located in Madrid, ES
Magnificent life-size sculpture inspired by Greek mythology, finely carved in travertine marble. An impressive work showcasing the classical beauty and proportions of ancient Greek a...
Marble
$22,888
H 51.19 in W 19.69 in D 15.75 in
Monumental Sculptures "The four Seasons" in Terracotta from Impruneta
Located in Madrid, ES
Life size Sculptures "The 4 Seasons" in Terracotta from Impruneta 20th Century with Base.Made in the 70s Total height: 130cm Terracotta Impruneta - Florence
Terracotta
Reclaimed Pair of Monumental Stone Lions on their own Plinth
Located in Ware, GB
An impressive and imposing pair of stone lions perched on a stone and marble plinth. Very detailed, the life-size pair proudly stand on sandstone and marble plinths, the high quali...
Stone, Marble