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.
Enzo Mari Wall Hanging Quilted Tapestry Arazzo Canova Adone e Venere, Italy
By Interflex, Enzo Mari
Located in Vienna, AT
Enzo Mari Wall Hanging Quilted Tapestry Arazzo Canova Adone e Venere, 1999, Italy- Dimensions 102" x 59" x 1" This large wall hanging designed by Mari was produced in 1999 and is no...
Cotton
Enzo Mari Danese Original Poster, 1973
By Enzo Mari, Danese Milano
Located in Milan, IT
"Una proposta per la lavorazione a mano della porcellana" rare poster designed by Enzo Mari for his new collection presented by Danese in 1973. Printed by Lucini.
Paper
Enzo Mari Danese Exhibition Stedelijk Museum Original Poster, 1966
By Danese Milano, Enzo Mari
Located in Milan, IT
Rare poster designed by Enzo Mari "Ontwerp en Produktie. Voorwerpen van Angelo Mangiarotti, Enzo Mari, Bruno Munari. Produktie B. Danese" exhibition held in 1966/67 at Stedelijk muse...
Paper
Enzo Mari Dima Modular Wall Shelving System
By Simon Furniture, Enzo Mari
Located in Chicago, IL
Enzo Mari Dima Modular Wall Shelving System for Simon International Dima Italy, circa 1970 Enameled steel, shelves adjustable with solid plastic holders....
Steel
$3,800 / set
ICI Reflections Complete Set of Seven Prints
By Norman Ives 1, Enzo Mari, Dieter Roth 1, Armin Hofmann
Located in New York, NY
Complete set of seven prints commissioned by the Plastics Division of chemical giant ICI in 1971 as a promotional endeavor to show the potential of stamping foils in graphic design. ...
Polyester, Paper
"Arazzo Raffaello" by Enzo Mari for Interflex, Italy, 1990s
By Enzo Mari, Interflex
Located in Milan, IT
Beautiful "Arazzo Raffaello" by Enzo Mari for Interflex. The piece comes together with a metal frame to hang it.
Cotton
$750Sale Price|55% Off
H 54 in W 61 in D 0.25 in
Italian Tapestry, Linen Wall Hanging, Circa 1920s, 54x61 Inches
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
Italian tapestry, circa 1920s.
Linen
$1,010 / item
H 33 in W 24 in D 1 in
SALE 80s Original David Hockney Pool & Steps Louisiana Museum Exhibition Poster
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
1987 Original David Hockney "Pool and Steps" Louisiana Museum Exhibition Lithograph Poster Gorgeous Original David Hockney's "Pool and Steps" Lithograph Exhibition Poster for the Lo...
Paper
$440Sale Price|20% Off
H 22.25 in W 16.63 in D 0.07 in
Original Italian Art Exhibition Poster - Ferruccio Garopesani
Located in Miami, FL
Original Italian art exhibition poster by painter and designer Ferruccio Garopesani. Presented in 1975 at the Galleria International d'Arte - Diorena - Ascona, Italy. A native of ...
Paper
Vintage Tapestry Wall Hanging Decor Hunting Scene
Located in Barntrup, DE
This colorful vintage tapestry depicts a European hunting scene from the 18th century. It is made from wool and cotton and features four loops for easy hanging. Crafted in Belgium d...
Wool, Cotton
1950s French Industrial Modular Shelving System
By Pierre-Paul Prud’hon
Located in London, Lambeth
Industrial modular shelving with 20 adjustable shelves in a amazing color mounting on a black frame.
Steel
Fabienne Jouvin Imari Japanese Asian Porcelain Wall Plates 1990s
By Fabienne Jouvin
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Fabienne Jouvin French designer decorative Imari Asian wall plates. from the French Parisian designer Fabienne Jouvin the plates with irregular shapes and quite shallow with a beautiful Oriental Asian Japanese style depicting a man and woman portrait on each plate. The portrait are period Imperial style, with Japanese kimono and hair style, vivid colors on each panel of the plate depicting different Asian traditional design motifs. Colorful modern Asian motif decorative plates or shallow bowls made by Fabienne Jouvin Paris...
Porcelain
$8,920 / set
H 120.87 in W 79.53 in D 12.8 in
Large 1950s Italian Mid Century Teak Maple Freestanding Shelving System 18 Piece
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
Recently imported from Italy, this is a good example of post war Italian Avant Garde design. Measuring an impressive 3-metres from floor to ceiling – a common height in Italian apartments – with opportunity to arrange the shelves to suit. This impressive freestanding storage...
Brass
$3,500 / item
H 62 in W 53 in D 0.5 in
Antique Moroccan Moorish Silk Textile Tapestry Wall Hanging Hiti
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique Moroccan Moorish Silk Textile Tapestry Wall Hanging Hiti Ottoman voided silk velvet wall covering. Silk velvet cut designs, light browns, yellow, cream and blue, the panel consist on two arches with Islamic floral designs. Antique textiles from early 1900s. Each arch panel is 62" height X 26"5 wide Antique silk...
Silk
Lovely Large Vintage Hanging French Tapestry Wall Art
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A striking French tapestry having black background and gorgeous rich floral in gold, blue, pink and green. There's a rod opening at the top for easy hanging.
Wool, Cotton
$4,666Sale Price|50% Off
H 88.59 in W 102.76 in D 16.93 in
Modular Wall Mounted Storage System by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset
By Michel Ducaroy
Located in Basildon, London
The Modular Wall Mounted Storage System by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset is a versatile and modern storage solution. Designed by the renowned Mic...
Metal
$2,931
H 61.03 in W 63.78 in D 14.77 in
Poul Cadovius Mid- Century Modern Modular Teak Wall Unit Shelving for Cado, 1960
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in The Hague, NL
Danish modern teak wall unit designed by Poul Cadovius, Denmark, circa 1960s. This piece is contains one cabinet with drawers and 7 shelves This piece is completely adjustable, and...
Teak
French Vintage Tapestry Wall Hanging Gallant Scene
By JP Paris Panneaux Gobelins
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Vintage Tapestry Gallant Scene by JP Paris Panneaux Gobelins from the late 20th century. A beautiful French tapestry, wall hanging in Aubusson style, within a flower border fe...
Fabric, Cotton
Tapestry by Enzo Mari for Interflex - Flou
By Enzo Mari, Interflex
Located in Milan, Italy
Tapestry designed by Enzo e Elio Mari Hand-tufted and doubled textile panel. Printed by silk-screen printing. Interflex- Flou production, 1999. Without iron support for hanging. Bi...
Textile
Caravaggio Tapestry Model by Enzo Mari for Interflex - Flou
By Interflex, Enzo Mari
Located in Milan, Italy
Caravaggio Tapestry designed by Enzo Mari. Hand-tufted and doubled textile panel. Printed by silk-screen printing. Interflex- Flou production, 1999. Biography Enzo Mari, born in N...
Textile
Italian Modern Press-Print Erupting Volcano by Enzo Mari, 1984
By Enzo Mari
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Press-print erupting volcano by Enzo Mari, 1984 Print named il Vulcano (the volcano) from the Natura series on white paper. The painting represent the silhouette of a brown volcano that is spewing smoke and red and yellow lava...
Wood, Paper
Italian Modern Press-Print Black Panther by Enzo Mari, 1984
By Enzo Mari
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Press-print la Pantera by Enzo Mari, 1984 Print named la Pantera (the panther) from the Natura series on white paper. The painting represent...
Wood, Paper
Sold
H 20.87 in W 28.75 in D 1.58 in
Italian Modern Press-Print La Mela E La Pera with Fruit by Enzo Mari, 1984
By Enzo Mari
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Press-print la Mela e la Pera with fruit by Enzo Mari, 1984 Print named la Mela e la Pera (the apple and the pear) from the Natura series on wh...
Wood, Paper
Enzo Mari Wall Hanging Tapestry Tratteggio, Italy, 1991
By Enzo Mari, Interflex
Located in Vienna, AT
Interflex Flou tapestry 'Tratteggio' by Enzo Mari produced 1991, Italy Dimensions 113.8" x 54.3" x1" Tratteggio This large wall hanging designed by Mari was produced in 1991 and is...
Cotton
Enzo Mari Wall Hanging Tapestry Arazzo Segesta, Italy, 1991
By Enzo Mari, Interflex
Located in Vienna, AT
Interflex Flou tapestry by Enzo Mari produced 1991, Italy Dimensions 107" x 56.3" x1" This large wall hanging designed by Mari was produced in 1991 and is no longer in producti...
Cotton
Enzo Mari Segusso Wall Hanging by FLOU, Italy, 2000
By FLOU, Enzo Mari
Located in London, GB
Enzo Mari is one of the masters of modernist Italian design – his work spanning several mediums: furniture, painting, graphic design and installations. All of his work is tightly bou...
Cotton