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Enzo Mari Desk Accessories

Italian, 1932-2020

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.

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Creator: Enzo Mari
Enzo Mari, Rare Cube Resin with Black Ball Sphere, Sculpture/Paperweight
By Enzo Mari
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very nice modern resin cube by the very well known designer Enzo Mari, Measures in cm 7 x 7 x 7.
Category

1960s Italian Modern Vintage Enzo Mari Desk Accessories

Materials

Resin

Original 'Benbecula' Letter Opener by Enzo Mari for Danese Milano. Italy, 1960s
By Enzo Mari, Danese Milano, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Malmö, SE
Original 'Benbecula' Letter Opener in Stainless Steel. Designed by Enzo Mari in 1961. Produced by Danese Milano in the 1960s. Great condition, only a few light scratches. Stamped wi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Enzo Mari Desk Accessories

Materials

Stainless Steel

Enzo Mari, Rare Resin Cube, Sculpture, Paperweight, with Polyhedral Inside
By Enzo Mari, Danese Milano
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a very rare Mari resin cube from the 1950s, it measures in cm 7 x 7 x 7, has a couple of flee bites in 2 corners. Similar sample with black inside i...
Category

1950s Italian Modern Vintage Enzo Mari Desk Accessories

Materials

Resin

Pair of Cubes by Enzo Mari for Danese Milano, 1950s
By Danese Milano, Enzo Mari
Located in Sagaponack, NY
Two resin cubes, each containing a sphere, designed by Enzo Mari. Made in Italy by Danese Milano, 1950s.
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Enzo Mari Desk Accessories

Materials

Resin

Mannelli F.Lli Travertine Ornaments Three Swans Minimalist Style
By Fratelli Mannelli, Enzo Mari
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. A ni...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Minimalist Enzo Mari Desk Accessories

Materials

Travertine

Steel 1960s Ventotene Desk Organizer, Model 3054A by E. Mari for Danese Milano
By Danese Milano, Enzo Mari
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Ventotene desk organizer, model 3054A in polished steel designed by Enzo Mari for Danese Milano in 1964. Good condition: this is a vintage item, not a brand new product. Signs of we...
Category

1960s Italian Space Age Vintage Enzo Mari Desk Accessories

Materials

Steel

20th Century, Enzo Mari for Danese Paperweight Mod. Tokelau
By Enzo Mari, Danese Milano
Located in Turin, Turin
Very modernist Paperweight designed by the great designer Enzo Mari for the manufacturer Danese Milano in 1983. The paperweight is called model "Tokelau" that is a Polynesian word me...
Category

1980s Italian Modern Vintage Enzo Mari Desk Accessories

Materials

Stainless Steel, Iron

Enzo Mari Letter and Pen Holder for Danese 1962, in Blue and Green
By Enzo Mari, Danese Milano
Located in Milan, IT
Early Enzo Mari Letter and Pen Holder for Danese 1962. In the colors of Blue and Green. Carries the Danese label.
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Enzo Mari Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Enzo Mari "Colleoni" Pencil Holder for Danese Milan
By Enzo Mari
Located in Oakland, CA
1970s "Colleoni" pencil holder designed by Enzo Mari for Danese Milano. In excellent vintage condition. Stamped with makers mark on underside.
Category

1960s Italian Space Age Vintage Enzo Mari Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic

Set of Two "Ventotene" Desk Sets by Enzo Mari for Danese, Italy, 1960s
By Enzo Mari, Danese Milano
Located in Milan, IT
Set of two Ventotene desk sets by Enzo Mari for Danese. Polished stainless steel elements featuring Vertical spaces to slip notepaper in, horizontal planes to put pencils on.  
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Enzo Mari Desk Accessories

Materials

Stainless Steel

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Italian Brass Letter Opener
Italian Brass Letter Opener
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H 9.25 in W 0.88 in D 0.13 in
Enzo Mari for F.lli Mannelli Pair of Travertine Marble Swans, Italy 1970s
By Enzo Mari, Fratelli Mannelli
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Enzo Mari for Fratelli Mannelli Travertine Elephant Sculpture
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Enzo Mari Cicladi Plant Stand for Danese 1977
By Enzo Mari, Danese Milano
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Enzo Mari Cicladi plant stand for Danese 1977 production Italy, Unglazed porcelain. Stamped manufacturer's mark to underside ‘Danese Milano Enzo Mari 1977 Made in Italy’.
Category

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Enzo Mari Cicladi Plant Stand for Danese 1977
Enzo Mari Cicladi Plant Stand for Danese 1977
$4,550
H 8.5 in W 11 in D 11 in
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Enzo Mari "Colleoni" Pencil Holder for Danese Milan
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Previously Available Items
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Enzo Mari Travertine Elephant Sculpture for Fratelli Mannelli
By Enzo Mari, Fratelli Manelli
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Enzo Mari Desk Set or Travertine Decoration
By Enzo Mari
Located in Milano, IT
Decorative set by Enzo Mari made of travertine from the 1970s. The set consists of three animal-shaped sculptures, an ashtray made of travertine and steel, a flower holder also made...
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Enzo Mari Desk Set or Travertine Decoration
Enzo Mari Desk Set or Travertine Decoration
H 9.85 in W 5.91 in D 1.19 in
Enzo Mari Calendar
By Enzo Mari
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Enzo Mari for Danese Milano 1967 white flip calendar. Nice condition!
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Enzo Mari Calendar
Enzo Mari Calendar
H 6 in W 7 in D 3.5 in
Enzo Mari Perpetual Calendar, 1967
By Enzo Mari
Located in Geneva, CH
Acrylic perpetual calendar by Enzo Mari for Danese Milano, 1967. Very good condition.
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Materials

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Enzo Mari Perpetual Calendar, 1967
Enzo Mari Perpetual Calendar, 1967
H 6.3 in W 7.09 in D 3.94 in
Signed Enzo Mari Architectural Grid Resin Ball
By Enzo Mari
Located in North Miami, FL
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Enzo Mari "Lampedusa" Pencil Stand
By Enzo Mari
Located in New York, NY
Monolithic pencil holder of polyurethane designed by Enzo Mari for Danese, c. 1967. An early production of the iconic "Lampedusa" design in excellent original condition with only fi...
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Enzo Mari "Lampedusa" Pencil Stand
Enzo Mari "Lampedusa" Pencil Stand
H 3.75 in W 3.75 in D 2.5 in

Enzo Mari desk accessories for sale on 1stDibs.

Enzo Mari desk accessories are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of plastic and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Enzo Mari desk accessories, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 8 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 37 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original desk accessories by Enzo Mari 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 desk accessories by Danese Milano, Stefano Giovannoni, and Kartell. Prices for Enzo Mari desk accessories can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $15 and can go as high as $3,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $65.

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