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Enzo Mari Sofas

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
"Elisa" Outdoor Two-Seat Sofa Designed by Enzo Mari for Driade
"Elisa" Outdoor Two-Seat Sofa Designed by Enzo Mari for Driade

"Elisa" Outdoor Two-Seat Sofa Designed by Enzo Mari for Driade

By Enzo Mari, Driade

Located in Brooklyn, NY

"Elisa" is an outdoor two-seat sofa, designed by Enzo Mari and manufactured by Driade, featuring a structure made of steel with protective cataphoresis treatment, finished in black-b...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Enzo Mari Sofas

Materials

Steel

"Elisa" Indoor Three-Seat Sofa Designed by Enzo Mari for Driade
"Elisa" Indoor Three-Seat Sofa Designed by Enzo Mari for Driade

"Elisa" Indoor Three-Seat Sofa Designed by Enzo Mari for Driade

By Driade, Enzo Mari

Located in Brooklyn, NY

"Elisa" is a three-seat sofa, designed by Enzo Mari and manufactured by Driade, featuring a structure made of steel finished in black-brown epoxy paint, cushions in polyurethane foam...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Enzo Mari Sofas

Materials

Steel

"Elisa" Indoor Two-Seat Sofa Designed by Enzo Mari for Driade
"Elisa" Indoor Two-Seat Sofa Designed by Enzo Mari for Driade

"Elisa" Indoor Two-Seat Sofa Designed by Enzo Mari for Driade

By Enzo Mari, Driade

Located in Brooklyn, NY

"Elisa" is a two-seat sofa, designed by Enzo Mari and manufactured by Driade, featuring a structure made of steel finished in black-brown epoxy paint, cushions in polyurethane foam o...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Enzo Mari Sofas

Materials

Steel

Mid-Century Modern Gambadilegno Sofa by Enzo Mari for Driade, Italy, 1974
Mid-Century Modern Gambadilegno Sofa by Enzo Mari for Driade, Italy, 1974

Mid-Century Modern Gambadilegno Sofa by Enzo Mari for Driade, Italy, 1974

By Enzo Mari, Driade

Located in Brussels, BE

Mid-Century Modern Gambadilegno Sofa by Enzo Mari for Driade, Italy, 1974 Enzo Mari (born April 27, 1932, in Novara, Italy–died October 19, 2020) was a noted Italian post-Modernist ...

Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Enzo Mari Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Wood

"Elisa" Outdoor Three-Seat Sofa Designed by Enzo Mari for Driade
"Elisa" Outdoor Three-Seat Sofa Designed by Enzo Mari for Driade

"Elisa" Outdoor Three-Seat Sofa Designed by Enzo Mari for Driade

By Enzo Mari, Driade

Located in Brooklyn, NY

"Elisa" is an outdoor three-seat sofa, designed by Enzo Mari and manufactured by Driade, featuring a structure made of steel with protective cataphoresis treatment, finished in black...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Enzo Mari Sofas

Materials

Steel

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H 32.6 in W 36.6 in D 31.5 in

"Elisa" Outdoor Armchair Designed by Enzo Mari for Driade

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Previously Available Items
ENZO MARI  Sheep model sofa  Driade production 1979
ENZO MARI  Sheep model sofa  Driade production 1979

ENZO MARI Sheep model sofa Driade production 1979

Sold

H 25.6 in W 59.06 in D 31.5 in

ENZO MARI Sheep model sofa Driade production 1979

By Enzo Mari

Located in Vigevano, PV

Sheep model sofa. Turned wood, padded fabric. Driade production 1979. G. Gramigna, 'Repertoire 1950-1980,' Mondadori, 1985, p. 467.

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Enzo Mari Sofas

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ENZO MARI  Sheep model sofa  Driade production 1979
ENZO MARI  Sheep model sofa  Driade production 1979

ENZO MARI Sheep model sofa Driade production 1979

Sold

H 25.6 in W 80.71 in D 31.5 in

ENZO MARI Sheep model sofa Driade production 1979

By Enzo Mari

Located in Vigevano, PV

Sheep model sofa. Turned wood, padded fabric. Driade production 1979. G. Gramigna, 'Repertoire 1950-1980,' Mondadori, 1985, p. 467.

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Enzo Mari Sofas

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Enzo Mari Gambadilegno Sofas Driade, Italy, 1974
Enzo Mari Gambadilegno Sofas Driade, Italy, 1974

Enzo Mari Gambadilegno Sofas Driade, Italy, 1974

Sold

H 27.56 in W 82.68 in D 37.41 in

Enzo Mari Gambadilegno Sofas Driade, Italy, 1974

By Driade, Enzo Mari

Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant

Playful and cosy Gambadilegno sofa's designed by Enzo Mari and manufactured by Driade, Italy 1974. These sofa's were made in very small production only and makes these very difficult...

Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Enzo Mari Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Pine

Enzo Mari sofas for sale on 1stDibs.

Enzo Mari sofas are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of steel and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Enzo Mari sofas, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 2 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 4 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original sofas 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 sofas by Officina Ciani, Kemistry of Style, and Marco Corti. Prices for Enzo Mari sofas can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $3,843 and can go as high as $10,010, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $6,800.