Alessandro Mendini was born in Milan in 1931. Through his work as an architect, designer, journalist, theorist and publisher, Mendini helped establish the Italian design sensibility on a global scale with a particular focus on neo-modern, avant-garde design as well as the crossover between art, design and architecture.
Mendini’s influential work spanned the arenas of graphics, furniture, interiors, architecture, stage design, writing and painting. He graduated from the Polytechnic University of Milan in 1959, and he began his career at the studio of artist-designer Marcello Nizzoli. He went on to become the publisher of the popular magazines Casabella (1970–76), Modo and Domus (each 1979–85).
In 1979, Mendini joined Ettore Sottsass and Michele de Lucchi as a partner at Studio Alchimia, a harbinger of the Memphis Group before he cofounded Domus Academy in 1982. In 1989, he and his brother Francesco established their architectural practice, Atelier Mendini, in Milan, where he worked until his death in February 2019. In recognition of his outstanding body of work, Mendini was awarded the Compasso d’Oro twice, in 1979 and 1981. He was also honored by the Architectural League of New York, made Chevalier des Arts et Lettres in France, and, in 2014, he was awarded the European Prize for Architecture.
Mendini’s work is included in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum and the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris, among others.
Find vintage Alessandro Mendini chairs, vases, table lamps and other furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by STUDIO CADMIUM)
Alessandro Mendini wall lights. Set of nine
By Fidenza Vetraria, Alessandro Mendini
Located in London, GB
Rare set of 9 'Cubosfera' wall lights by Alessandro Mendini for Fidenza Vetraria. Italy c1960
Brass
$9,175 / set
H 6.7 in W 6.3 in D 7.09 in
Pair Alessandro Mendini 'Cubosfera' wall lights for Fidenza Vetraria c1960
By Alessandro Mendini
Located in London, GB
Pair Alessandro Mendini 'Cubosfera' wall lights Alessandro Mendini for Fidenza Vetraria. Italy c1960 Excellent condition. No nicks or chips to glasss
Brass
$12,131 / set
H 6.3 in W 6.3 in D 7.49 in
Pair of Cubosfera Wall Lights by Alessandro Mendini, Italy, 1960s
By Alessandro Mendini
Located in Brussels, BE
Pair of Cubosfera Wall Lights by Alessandro Mendini, Italy, 1960s 2 pairs available
Brass
$1,950Sale Price / set|50% Off
H 10 in W 4 in D 5.5 in
Alessandro Mendini Italian 1970 Crystal Wall Lamps Mid Century
By Fidenza Vetraria, Alessandro Mendini
Located in New York, NY
A masculine pair of heavy matte black steel framed wall lights with thick cubes crystal shades . The upper crystal is clear and the bottom has a very slight darker tint. Light emits ...
Crystal, Enamel, Steel
$11,596 / set
H 16.93 in W 17.33 in D 10.24 in
Massimo Vignelli 259/2 wall lamps for Arteluce Italy 1964
By Arteluce, Massimo Vignelli
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
A rare and exquisite set of 259/2 wall lights designed by the legendary Massimo Vignelli for Arteluce in 1964. These iconic sconces are a stunning example of mid-century Italian desi...
Aluminum
$10,109 / set
H 6.7 in W 6.3 in D 6.3 in
Rare Pair of Satin Cubosfera Lamps by Mendini for Fidenza Vetraria, 1960s
By Alessandro Mendini, Fidenza Vetraria
Located in Brescia, Brescia
An exceptionally rare pair of “Cubosfera” table lamps designed by Alessandro Mendini for Fidenza Vetraria, Italy, in the 1960s. Among the most distinctive expressions of Italian lig...
Brass
$4,995 / set
H 11.82 in W 6.7 in D 9.45 in
Pair of wall sconces model 2079/1 in brass and glass, Stilnovo, c. 1957.
By Stilnovo
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Rare pair of wall sconces mod. 2079/1 with polished brass frame, frosted glass diffuser, and cylindrical screen of colored perspex, yellow and red. Stilnovo, circa 1957.
Brass
Gino Sarfatti for Archimede Seguso sconce, Italy circa 1950s
By Archimede Seguso, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Long Island City, NY
Gino Sarfatti for Archimede Seguso sconce. Designed and manufactured in Italy in 1950s. Seguso bullicante glass and enameled metal frames. Rewired for US with custom made brass back ...
Metal, Brass
$1,189 / item
H 7.09 in W 13.78 in D 5.91 in
Murano glass ceiling/wall lamp, design by Carlo Nason for Mazzega
By AVMazzega, Carlo Nason
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Modular wall/ceiling lamps mod. LP 276 in Murano plate glass designed by Carlo Nason for A.V. Mazzega in ca. 1970. Diffusers available in clear/white, clear/smoked; metal frame paint...
Murano Glass
Gaetano Sciolari Set of 4 Chrome Wall Lamps, Italy 1970s
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Naples, IT
Set of four Space Age wall sconces from the middle in chrome-plated metal model attributed to Gaetano Sciolari's Futura. Each wall lamp mounts 2 bulbs, one upper and one lower.
Metal
Pair of Sconces by Flavio Poli for Seguso
By Seguso, Flavio Poli
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Sconces by Flavio Poli for Seguso, Italy, 1960s A sculptural and technically ambitious wall sconce by Flavio Poli for Seguso, the shade is a single piece of mouth-blown glas...
Brass, Steel
Pair of Model 2433 Sconces by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Model 2433 Sconces by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1960s This pair of sconces, model 2433 by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, reflects the designer's gift for pairing a...
Brass, Chrome
Pair of 'Omicron’ Sconces by Vico Magistretti for Artemide
By Artemide, Vico Magistretti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of 'Omicron' Sconce by Vico Magistretti for Artemide. Designed and manufactured in Italy, in 1961. Industrial steel frame wall sconce with vertical height adjustment and two-par...
Brass, Nickel
Pair of 'Montparnasse' Sconces by Sergio Asti for Candle
By Sergio Asti, Candle
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of 'Montparnasse' Sconces by Sergio Asti for Candle. Designed and manufactured in Italy, circa the 1970s. Double-breasted white acrylic shields form these minimal sconces...
Aluminum
Pairs of Sconces by Seguso Vetri d'Arte
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pairs of Sconces by Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Italy, 1950s Pulegoso Murano glass upper shade, in a translucent rose color; pink tones. This is matched with tubular clear glass bottom cou...
Brass
'Sigma' Wall or Ceiling Lights by Sergio Mazza for Artemide
By Artemide, Sergio Mazza
Located in Los Angeles, CA
'Sigma' Wall or Ceiling Lights by Sergio Mazza for Artemide. Designed and manufactured in Italy, circa 1960s. Patinated nickel plated brass, halophane glass. Custom back plates. Rewi...
Nickel, Brass
Alessandro Mendini, Michael Graves, Ettore Sottsass and other design luminaries contributed to this unusual collection of porcelain wares representing a time capsule of late-20th-century decorative art.
Aided by photos taken of the maestro in his Milan studio, we honor the influential design talent who died last month at 87.
