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.
Natural Landscape Tapestry "Arazzo", Screen-Printed Cotton, Enzo Mari 1993
By Enzo Mari, Interflex
Located in Vienna, AT
Tapestry Natural Landscape "Arazzo" by Enzo Mari and Elio Mari for Interflex, Italy, 1993 This large wall hanging rug designed by Elio and Enzo Mari was produced in 1993 and is no l...
Cotton
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
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
Vintage French Scenic Tapestry Wall Hanging, 1950s
Located in Barntrup, DE
This vintage scenic tapestry shows courting couples in an idyllic country setting by a lake, a cherub statue, waterfall. It is made in a soft, light color palette of greens, pinks, a...
Fabric, Tapestry
$875Sale Price|47% 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
Nice French Aubusson Style screen printed by hand tapestry
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Immerse yourself in the allure of this mid-20th-century French tapestry, showcasing a design inspired by a 16th century masterpiece museum tapestry. Nice 20th-century tapestry repro...
Cotton, Linen
$1,900
H 50 in W 48 in D 0.5 in
Modern Colorful Geometric Fiber Art Wool Tapestry Wall Hanging by Helga Berry
Located in Troy, MI
Handwoven tapestry by Helga Berry "Ten Squared Minus One" February 1985 Vibrant colorful textile with an abstract arrangement of architectural forms rendered in richly saturated col...
Wool
$320Sale Price|20% Off
H 32.3 in W 19.7 in D 0.1 in
Vintage Swedish Woven Tapestry: Scandinavian Folk Art Wall Hanging
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
Vintage SwedishVintage Swedish Handwoven Wall Hanging “Gubbatäcke” / “Rosengång” — Traditional Folk Art Textile A beautiful vintage Swedish handwoven wall hanging, known as a Gubbat...
Wool, Cotton, Linen
$1,809
H 27.56 in W 71.66 in D 0.32 in
Pretty Vintage French screen printed by hand Tapestry “medieval life”
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Discover the elegance of this mid-century French screen printed tapestry by hand featuring the exquisite design of the renowned medieval museum tapestry, “falcon hunting” or (Medieva...
Wool, Cotton, Linen
Enzo Mari Dima Modular Wall Shelving System
By Enzo Mari, Simon Furniture
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
Handwoven Wool Wall Hanging Tapestry
Located in North Miami, FL
This organic and beautiful two-tone hand-woven wool tapestry/ wall art hangs on a custom designed brass rod easily mountable to wall. THIS ITEM IS LOCATED AND WILL SHIP FROM OUR EAS...
Brass
$1,924
H 48.82 in W 72.45 in D 0.28 in
Wonderful Vintage French screen printed by hand Tapestry “fountain concert”
By atelier robert four
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Discover the elegance of this mid-century French screen-printed by hand tapestry featuring the exquisite design of a medieval museum tapestry titled “fountain concert “ This tapestr...
Wool, Cotton, Linen
"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
Kuba Textile Wall Hanging, Antique Tapestry, Circa 1930, Zaire
By Kuba
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Long rare African textile from Kuba, Zaire: with small shells as ornament: to put wherever You want, to use , to admire. B/1676.
Cotton, Raffia
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
1950's Italian Tapestry Swan in the Lake, Renaissance Style Wall Hanging
Located in Dallas, TX
74749 Vintage Italian Tapestry Swan in the Lake, 03'05 x 05'11. This exquisite vintage Italian jacquard-woven tapestry, titled "Verdure with Pine Tree and Swans," gracefully captures...
Wool
Belgium Verdure Tapestry Wall Hanging Needlepoint Aubusson
Located in Potters Bar, GB
You are viewing classic Belgium / Flemish verdure tapestry a design that became hugely popular in Europe from the 17th century onwards The word verdure comes from the French for gree...
Wood
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