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.
"Fratello" Low Tempered Glass Double-Top Table Designed by Enzo Mari for Driade
By Driade, Enzo Mari
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Fratello" is a low double-top table, designed by Enzo Mari and manufactured by Driade, with a black anthracite painted steel sections structure braced through a solid beechwood beam...
Steel
Enzo Mari for Driade "Fratello" Coffee Table
By Enzo Mari
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed by Italian master modernist Enzo Mari in 1973, the Fratello coffee table stands as a hallmark of rationalist, industrial architecture. Produced by the Italian design house D...
Metal
"Cuginetto" Tempered Glass and Steel Table by Enzo Mari for Driade
By Driade, Enzo Mari
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Cuginetto" is a coffee table, designed by Enzo Mari and manufactured by Driade, featuring a black anthracite painted steel sections structure with round or square tempered glass th....
Steel
Italian modern coffee table metal glass Cuginetto by Enzo Mari for Driade, 1970s
By Driade, Enzo Mari
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern coffee table in metal and glass Cuginetto by Enzo Mari for Driade, 1970s Coffee table model Cuginetto with a thick square glass top and rounded corners. The base is ma...
Ironstone, Glass
H 13.3 in W 85 in D 23.6 in
"Waterfall" Lacquered Coffee Table Designed by Fredrikson Stallard for Driade
By Fredrikson Stallard, Driade
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Waterfall" is a white, gold or blue lacquered polyurethane Baydur iconic coffee table, designed by Fredrikson Stallard and manufactured by Driade. White lacquered version only is available in quick ship. Indoor use only. DIMENSIONS: D. 23.6", W. 85", H. 13.3" Even a coffee table can become a piece of art if it can transcend typological limitations. Fredrikson Stallard deal with the issue by the strength of the material to be bent and shaped. The result is a completely new form, marked by an important and expressionistic depression in the centre of the top. PATRIK FREDRIKSON and IAN STALLARD began their collaboration in 1995 and have since become internationally recognized as leading exponents of British avant-garde design. They are well known for their ability to translate their creativity into simple yet emotionally engaging fine artwork and furniture. Their cutting edge, conceptually rigorous work has been regularly discussed and praised in the design press and is sought after by discerning collectors and furniture producers. Their work has been acquired by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, twice by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the French National Art Collection, and shown at the Design Museum in London, MoMA and the Museum of Art and Design in New York. Their clients include some of the leading names in contemporary design including Swarovski, Chanel, Veuve Clicquot, Comme des Garcons, Dunhill, Remy Martin, The London Design Festival, Bernhardt Design, David Gill Galleries, Contrasts Gallery, Tools Gallery, Mitterand & Cramer, The Savoy Hotel, Soho & Tribeca Grand, Tarkett and Iittala. Fredrikson Stallard has exhibited widely including in London, Milan, Paris, Madrid, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, Basel and Miami. Their work is given extensive coverage by press and print, featuring in books and publications such as The International design Yearbook, The Furniture Machine by Gareth Williams, Collecting Design in a Contemporary Market, 21st Century design by Marcus Fairs, The New York Times, Art & Auction, The London Times...
Plastic
H 16.15 in Dm 22.64 in
Modern Vintage Gold Metal Coffee Table Side Table with Smoked Glass 1970s Italy
Located in Vienna, AT
Modern vintage coffee table or side table in round shape with two swiveling glass plates from 1970s Italy. The function is very practical so it allows to enlarge the table if it is ...
Metal
H 18.51 in W 21.66 in D 17.72 in
Side Table Basalt Model by Fredrikson Stallard for Driade, Italy
By Driade, Fredrikson Stallard
Located in Milan, Italy
Much of Fredrikson Stallard’s work is about fragmentation and deconstruction. There are many similarities between studying the beauty of the resulting forms, when deconstructing an object and the veneration of objects, or pieces of objects. Structure in drawn steel with polished gold finish. Top in lightened concrete with wax finish late-gray color. Indoor use only. Biography Patrik Fredrikson and Ian Stallard began their collaboration in 1995 and have since become internationally recognized as leading exponents of british avant-garde design. They are well known for their ability to translate their creativity into simple yet emotionally engaging furniture and product design. Their work has been acquired by the french national art collection and the Victoria and Albert museum, and shown at the design museum in London, Moma and the museum of art and design in New York. their clients include some of the leading names in contemporary design. Fredrikson Stallard has exhibited widely including in London, Milan, Paris, Madrid, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, Basel and Miami. Fredrikson Stallard has been the recipient of some of the most prestigious design awards, including the red dot design award and the arts foundation...
Cement, Steel
H 32.29 in W 29.53 in D 20.28 in
Italian Smoked Glass & Metal Serving Trolley by Enzo Mari for Alessi, circa 1980
By Enzo Mari, Alessi
Located in Labrit, Landes
Elegant modern trolley designed by Enzo Mari for Alessi in 1989. Handlebar above a cylindrical shaft side support, on three wheels, stamped Alessi. Very hard to find, especially in t...
Faux Leather, Rattan
H 283.47 in W 393.71 in D 393.71 in
Enzo Mari for Driade 'Cugino' Table in Glass and Steel
By Driade, Enzo Mari
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Enzo Mari for Driade, table 'Cugino', glass, steel, Italy, 1973. A pure and understated design by Enzo Mari for Driade. This table features a clear construction. The base consists o...
Steel
H 28.5 in Dm 46.75 in
Cugino Dining Table by Enzo Mari for Driade, Italy, 1973
By Enzo Mari, Driade
Located in Toronto, CA
Enzo Mari’s rigorously bent steel bars counterbalance its light transparencies, provided by its thick glass top. Designed in 1973, and in production ever since, the Cugino is conside...
Steel
H 28.35 in W 90.56 in D 30.32 in
Enzo Mari For Driade Rectangular Table "Friar," Italy 1970s
By Enzo Mari, Driade
Located in Naples, IT
Dining table mod. Frate with rectangular tempered glass top with rounded corners. The central structure consists of a solid wood beam that connects to anthracite black painted steel ...
Steel
H 28.35 in W 78.75 in D 23.63 in
"Frate" Tempered Glass Top Benchwood Beam and Steel Table by E. Mari for Driade
By Driade, Enzo Mari
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Frate" is a table, designed by Enzo Mari and manufactured by Driade, featuring a black anthracite painted steel sections structure braced through a solid beechwood beam with rectang...
Steel
H 28.35 in W 51.19 in D 31.5 in
"Frate" Tempered Glass Top Benchwood Beam and Steel Table by E. Mari for Driade
By Driade, Enzo Mari
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Frate" is a table, designed by Enzo Mari and manufactured by Driade, with black anthracite painted steel sections structure braced through a solid beechwood beam with rectangular te...
Steel
H 28.3 in W 47.2 in D 47.2 in
"Cugino" Tempered Glass and Painted Steel Dining Table by Enzo Mari for Driade
By Driade, Enzo Mari
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Cugino" is a dining table, designed by Enzo Mari and manufactured by Driade, featuring a black anthracite painted steel sections structure with round or square tempered glass th. 0....
Steel
H 28.35 in W 88.59 in D 31.5 in
"Frate" Tempered Glass Top Benchwood Beam and Steel Table by E. Mari for Driade
By Enzo Mari, Driade
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Frate" is a table, designed by Enzo Mari and manufactured by Driade, featuring a black anthracite painted steel sections structure braced through a solid beechwood beam with rectang...
Steel
H 28.3 in W 78.7 in D 31.4 in
"Frate" Tempered Glass Top Benchwood Beam and Steel Table by E. Mari for Driade
By Enzo Mari, Driade
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Frate" is a table, designed by Enzo Mari and manufactured by Driade, featuring a black anthracite painted steel sections structure braced through a solid beechwood beam with rectang...
Steel
H 15.75 in W 43.31 in D 27.56 in
Enzo Mari “Ambo” pair of coffee tables glass Zanotta Italy 1987
By Zanotta, Enzo Mari
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Beautifully kidney-shaped “Ambo” coffee tables by renowned Italian designer Enzo Mari for Zanotta, Italy 1987. These elegantly shaped tables exemplify a sophisticated blend of minima...
Metal, Bronze
H 19.75 in W 24.5 in D 24.5 in
Petite Iron + Glass Top 'Cuginetto' Coffee Table by Enzo Mari, Italy 1970s
By Enzo Mari
Located in Chicago, IL
A petite Mid-Century Modern ’Cuginett’ coffee table designed by Enzo Mari for Driade in the 1970s. This minimalistic coffee table features a patinated black anthracite iron base with...
Iron
H 19.69 in Dm 23.63 in
Italian Modern Iron and Glass Cuginetto Coffee Table, Enzo Mari for Driade 1970s
By Driade, Enzo Mari
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern cast iron and glass Cuginetto coffee table by Enzo Mari for Driade, 1970s. Cuginetto model coffee table, with round glass top and central leg in cast iron with four spokes with a rectangular section, with the end parts of the leg bent, to create an original aesthetic detail. Project by Enzo Mari for Driade, around 1970s. Good conditions. Measurements in cm 60x50H If you are interested in this product or need photos or additional information, we are available to respond any question as soon and quickly as possible. Remember to check our product in the listing of this our store, where we present fantastic original vintage products...
Iron
H 19.69 in Dm 24.41 in
1970s "Cuginetto" Design Enzo Mari for Driade Coffee Tables Vintage, Set of 2
By Enzo Mari, Driade
Located in Brescia, IT
Design 1973 Black anthracite painted steel sections structure with round tempered glass Perfect condition Measure: Diameter 62 cm.
Metal
H 19.69 in W 24.41 in D 24.41 in
Occasional Table “Cuginetto”, Designed by Enzo Mari for Driade, Italy, 1970s
By Enzo Mari
Located in Stockholm, SE
Steel and glass. Measures: H 50 cm/ 19 2/3" W 62 cm/ 2' 2/3" D 62 cm/ 2' 2/3".
Steel
H 19.69 in W 78.75 in D 19.69 in
Coffee table by Enzo Mari for Driade
By Enzo Mari
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Very nice Iron, wood and glass coffee table designer Enzo Mari for Driade,1973,Italy
Iron
H 15.75 in W 43.31 in D 27.56 in
Enzo Mari Ambo Tables for Zanotta 1987
By Enzo Mari, Zanotta
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Fantastic pair of low coffee tables by famous Italian designer Enzo Mari. This is a pair of early tables with bronze colored feet.
Steel
H 19.75 in W 32 in D 32 in
Side Table by Enzo Mari for Driade
By Enzo Mari
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare early example of this design by Enzo Mari.