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.
Travertine candle holder by Fratelli Mannelli, Italy 1970s
By Fratelli Mannelli, Enzo Mari
Located in ECHT, NL
Solid travertine candle holder. Designed by Enzo Mari for Fratelli Mannelli in the 1970s. Its can hold three standard diameter candles. The piece is still in very good condition. N...
Travertine
Pair of Two Travertine Candlesticks by Fratelli Mannelli, 1970s
By Fratelli Mannelli
Located in Brussels, BE
Pair of Two Travertine Candlesticks by Fratelli Mannelli, 1970s
Travertine
Fratelli Mannelli Travertine Desk Organizer, 1970s
By Fratelli Mannelli
Located in Skokie, IL
Fratelli Mannelli Travertine Desk Organizer, Italy 1970s Additional information: Dimensions: 4" W x 4" D x 4" H
Travertine
$220
H 1.57 in W 1.77 in D 0.39 in
Original Travertine Horse Sculpture by Fratelli Mannelli, Italy, 1970s
By Fratelli Mannelli
Located in Milano, IT
1970s Original travertine horse sculpture by F.lli Mannelli. The item is in excellent condition. Made in Italy. Dimension: 1,77 w x 0,39 D x 1,57 H...
Travertine
$566Sale Price|20% Off
H 6.3 in W 3.94 in D 1.58 in
Nesting Candle Holders by Fratelli Mannelli Italian Travertine Marble Puzzle
By Fratelli Mannelli
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
The vintage Fratelli Mannelli travertine nesting candle holders are exquisite examples of Italian craftsmanship and design. Fratelli Mannelli is a renowned Italian company known for ...
Travertine, Marble
$540
H 7.25 in W 7.63 in D 1.63 in
Midcentury Picture Frame Travertine Marble by Fratelli Mannelli, Italy 1970s
By Fratelli Mannelli
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This beautiful picture frame in Travertine Marble is a wonderful example of Italian decorative objects production during the 1970s. Made by Fratelli Mannelli, the color and the textu...
Travertine
Mid-Century Italian Brutalist Travertine Candleholder by Fratelli Mannelli
By Fratelli Mannelli
Located in Hamburg, DE
Schlichter candlesticks made of travertine, designed by Fratelli Mannelli from the 60s. A no-nonsense design that draws its elegance from the minimalist design and the particular mat...
Travertine
$420 / set
H 4.13 in W 4.75 in D 3.88 in
Midcentury Brutalist Travertine Marble Italian Bookends Fratelli Mannelli, 1970s
By Fratelli Mannelli
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This beautiful set of bookends in Travertine Marble is a wonderful example of Italian decorative objects produced during the 1970s. Made by Fratelli Mannelli, the color and the texture of the marble, together with the pure and geometrical design, make it a wonderful example of midcentury elegance. This item is perfect for a desk in an office room or for being the focal center of a living room or a hallway entry...
Travertine
$875
H 4.34 in W 5.91 in D 2.37 in
Travertine Elephant Sculpture / Bookend by Fratelli Mannelli, Italy 1970s
By Fratelli Mannelli
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury amazing sculpture / bookend in travertine marble in the shape of elephant by Fratelli Mannelli. Made in Italy in the 1970s. Perfect desk object or gift idea.
Travertine, Marble
$440
H 4.5 in W 3.13 in D 3.13 in
Midcentury Travertine Marble Italian Box Catchall by Fratelli Mannelli, 1970s
By Fratelli Mannelli
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This beautiful square-shaped box in Travertine Marble is a wonderful example of Italian decorative objects production during the 1970s. Made by Fratelli Mannelli, the color and the texture of the marble, together with the pure and geometrical design, make it a wonderful example of midcentury elegance. This item is perfect for a desk in an office room or for being the focal center of a living room or a hallway entry...
Travertine
$1,187
H 1.58 in W 9.85 in D 9.85 in
Letter Holder Paperweight in in Travertine by Fratelli Mannelli, Italy, 1970s
By Fratelli Mannelli
Located in Rome, IT
Letter holder or paperweight in travertine marble by the designers Fratelli Mannelli, Italy, 1970s. Weight: 5 kilos.
Travertine, Marble
$240 / set
H 3.88 in Dm 2.25 in
Set of Two Beautiful Travertine Candle Holder by Fratelli Mannelli, Italy 1970s
By Fratelli Mannelli
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This beautiful set of Candlesticks in Travertine Marble is a wonderful example of Italian decorative objects production during the 1970s. Made by Fratelli Mannelli, the color and the...
Travertine
$260 / set
H 2 in W 2.38 in D 2.38 in
Set of Three Travertine Candle Holder by Fratelli Mannelli, Italy 1970s
By Fratelli Mannelli
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This beautiful set of Candlesticks in Travertine Marble is a wonderful example of Italian decorative objects production during the 1970s. Made by Fratelli Mannelli, the color and the...
Travertine
Sold
H 4.93 in W 8.47 in D 1.58 in
Travertine Candelabra Candleholder by Fratelli Mannelli, Italy 1970s
By Fratelli Mannelli, Enzo Mari
Located in ROUEN, Normandie
Travertine Candelabra by Fratelli Mannelli, Italy 1970s. Superb vintage 3-branch candleholder in travertine, crafted by Fratelli Mannelli in the 1970s. Elegant appearance with a m...
Travertine, Marble