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Enzo Mari More 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
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 More Desk Accessories

Materials

Travertine

Enzo Mari Letter and Pen Holder for Danese 1962, in Blue and Green
By Danese Milano, Enzo Mari
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 More Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

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 More Desk Accessories

Materials

Steel

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Enzo Mari, Rare Cube Resin with Black Ball Sphere, Sculpture/Paperweight
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1970s Original Travertine Elephant Sculpture by Enzo Mari for F.lli Mannelli
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Brutalist travertine sculpture of cat, Enzo Mari F.lli Mannelli, Italy 1970s
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Pair of Cubes by Enzo Mari for Danese Milano, 1950s
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Two resin cubes, each containing a sphere, designed by Enzo Mari. Made in Italy by Danese Milano, 1950s.
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Pair of Cubes by Enzo Mari for Danese Milano, 1950s
Pair of Cubes by Enzo Mari for Danese Milano, 1950s
$3,500 / set
H 1.5 in W 1.5 in D 1.5 in
Enzo Mari, Rare Resin Cube, Sculpture, Paperweight, with Polyhedral Inside
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16 Animals Vintage Puzzle by Enzo Mari for Danese Milano, Italy
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Enzo Marie (1932-202) was an Italian designer and artist. The Animali puzzle, which became a design classic over the years, was designed around 1957. The puzzle offered here dates fr...
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Mid-Century Travertine Elephant Letter Holder / Sculpture by Fratelli Mannelli
By Fratelli Mannelli
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A very cool mid-century modern Italian travertine elephant letter holder / sculpture by Fratelli Mannelli, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good vintage condition with no chips or c...
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1970s Large Travertine Giraffe Sculpture by Enzo Mari for F.lli Mannelli
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1970s Original large travertine giraffe sculpture by Enzo mari for F.lli Mannelli. The item is in excellent condition. Made in Italy. Dimension: 2,75 w x 1,18 D x 7,87 H inches L 7 ...
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Modern Lucite and Steel Desk Organizer
Modern Lucite and Steel Desk Organizer
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H 3.25 in W 8.75 in D 10.75 in
Previously Available Items
Enzo Mari Calendar
By Enzo Mari
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Enzo Mari for Danese Milano 1967 white flip calendar. Nice condition!
Category

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

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Plastic

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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1960s Italian Vintage Enzo Mari More Desk Accessories

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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
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This wonderful ball has a inspired Sol Lewitt grid graphic astern on the inside. It is signed by the noted Italian modernist furniture and graphic designer: Enzo Mari. The grid is ...
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Enzo Mari more desk accessories for sale on 1stDibs.

Enzo Mari more 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 more desk accessories, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 4 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 36 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original more 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 more desk accessories by Danese Milano, Stefano Giovannoni, and Ghidini 1961. Prices for Enzo Mari more 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 $857, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $65.

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