Pair of "Gemello" Metal Single Beds by Enzo Mari for Interflex, Italy, 1990s
About the Item
- Creator:
- Dimensions:Height: 16.54 in (42 cm)Width: 71.66 in (182 cm)Depth: 31.5 in (80 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1990-1999
- Date of Manufacture:1990
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading.
- Seller Location:Milan, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU945134340042
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Milan, Italy
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- "Tappeto Volante" Metal Double Bed by Enzo Mari for Interflex, Italy, 1980sBy Interflex, Enzo MariLocated in Milan, IT"Tappeto Volante" double bed by Enzo Mari for Interflex. Sculptural metal frame and round metal twin headboards.Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsMetal
- "Arazzo Raffaello" by Enzo Mari for Interflex, Italy, 1990sBy Interflex, Enzo MariLocated in Milan, ITBeautiful "Arazzo Raffaello" by Enzo Mari for Interflex. The piece comes together with a metal frame to hang it.Category
Late 20th Century Italian Decorative Art
MaterialsCotton
- Set of Two "Griglia" Floor Ashtrays by Enzo Mari for Danese, Italy, 1970sBy Danese Milano, Enzo MariLocated in Milan, ITSet of two Griglia floor ashtrays by Enzo Mari for Danese. Upper part can be also used as a table ashtray.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Ashtrays
MaterialsAluminum
- Set of Two "Ventotene" Desk Sets by Enzo Mari for Danese, Italy, 1960sBy Danese Milano, Enzo MariLocated in Milan, ITSet of two Ventotene desk sets by Enzo Mari for Danese. Polished stainless steel elements featuring Vertical spaces to slip notepaper in, horizontal planes to put pencils on.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Desk Sets
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Minimal Metal and Wicker Single Bed with Integrated Shelves, Italy, 1960sLocated in Milan, ITRare wicker single bed. The piece features a metal frame on wheels and an integrated night stand with two shelves.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsMetal
- Sculptural Single Chrome Bed, Italy, 1960sLocated in Milan, ITSculptural single bed with chrome steel frame and leather upholstery.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Space Age Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsChrome
- 80's Interflex, Bed, Post-Modern StyleBy InterflexLocated in Milano, LombardiaBed designed in the 1980s by Giovanni Ronzoni for Interflex. The bed's jagged headboard colored with this bright blue clearly demonstrates its intent to belong to the colorful experi...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Adam Style Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsMetal
- Pair of Italian 1950s Metal BedsLocated in Milan, ITWhimsical pair of Italian 1950s metal beds Bottle green and brass.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Midcentury pair of single beds by Luigi Caccia Dominioni for AzucenaBy Azucena, Luigi Caccia DominioniLocated in Piacenza, ItalyStunning pair of single beds model Francesco Giuseppe with tinted iron structure designed by Luigi Caccia Dominioni for Azucena, original structure in perfect vintage condition with ...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsBrass
- Antique Single Bed Metal HeadboardLocated in Sheffield, MAThe antique country iron twin size headboard has a wonderfully, natural distressed look with just enough paint remaining to add interest and character. We have cleaned it up and ha...Category
Antique 19th Century North American Victorian Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsIron
- Enzo Mari Coat Stand for Danese, Italy 1960By Danese Milano, Enzo MariLocated in Amsterdam, NLBeautiful coat rack with umbrella stand and storage tray designed by Enzo Mari, manufactured by Danese, Italy in 1968. This original piece is completely made of black plastic with a...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Coat Racks and Stands
MaterialsPlastic
- Richard Schultz Pair of Single Beds for Knoll, Will Also Serve as a King BedBy Knoll, Richard SchultzLocated in Dallas, TXPair of steel-reinforced bedframes with tilting cane headboards and walnut legs produced by Knoll in the early 1950s. The body is upholstered in the original Alexander Girard striped material. The two frames can be placed side by side and will support a king mattress...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsSteel