Rare "Box Chair" by Enzo Mari
View Similar Items
Rare "Box Chair" by Enzo Mari
About the Item
- Creator:Enzo Mari (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 32.49 in (82.5 cm)Width: 17.13 in (43.5 cm)Depth: 16.93 in (43 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:C. 1975
- Condition:Minor structural damages. Missing a floor glide.
- Seller Location:Bridport, CT
- Reference Number:Seller: 33 Now llc1stDibs: LU90111144492
Enzo Mari
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.
- Set of 4 Mariolina Chair by Enzo Mari for MAGISBy Enzo Mari, MagisLocated in Brooklyn, NYMariolina recalls the fifties-style, but features a series of extra details. The legs in powder coated or chromed steel tube are in fact slimmer and more precise in section. The poly...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Enzo Mari 'Sedia 1' Chair for Artek, Finland, 2010By Enzo Mari, ArtekLocated in Antwerp, BEEnzo Mari; Sedia Chair; Artek; 1970s; Craftsmanship; Sedia 1; Autoprogettazione; Italy; Italian Designer; Italian Design; Finland; 2010; Finnish Furniture Brand Artek; ‘Sedia 1’ is a self-assembly chair originally designed in 1974 by Italian designer Enzo Mari and has been put into production by Finnish furniture brand Artek in 2010. This chair is part of the project ‘Autoprogettazione’, which was a collection of furniture that consisted of very basic and affordable materials. In line with the original idea of the project, customers purchase a set of pre-cut pinewood boards, nails and assembly instructions – with which this chair can be self-assembled using just a hammer. This ‘Sedia 1’ chair...Category
2010s Finnish Chairs
MaterialsPine
$3,700 / item - Zanotta Tonietta Chair in Polypropylene and Polished Aluminum Frame by Enzo MariBy Zanotta, Enzo MariLocated in Brooklyn, NYZanotta Tonietta Chair in Polypropylene with Polished Aluminum Frame by Enzo Mari Polished or black painted aluminum alloy frame. Seat and back in ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Chairs
MaterialsCowhide
- Zanotta Tonietta Chair in Polypropylene with Black Aluminum Frame by Enzo MariBy Enzo Mari, ZanottaLocated in Brooklyn, NYZanotta Tonietta Chair in Polypropylene with Black Painted Aluminum Frame by Enzo Mari Polished or black painted aluminum alloy frame. Seat and bac...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Chairs
MaterialsCowhide
- Enzo Mari Driade Sof Sof Chair in Graphite Gray, 1972By Enzo Mari, DriadeLocated in Brooklyn, NYMade by Driade in 1972, Sof Sof reflects the essential elegance of the design by Enzo Mari. Structure made of steel rod finished in graphite gray color epoxy p...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- "Sof Sof" Outdoor Fabric Steel Rod Chair Designed by Enzo Mari for DriadeBy Driade, Enzo MariLocated in Brooklyn, NY"Sof Sof" is an iconic chair, designed by Enzo Mari and manufactured by Driade, featuring a structure made of steel rod with protective cataphoresis treatment ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
MaterialsSteel