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
Rare pair Max Ingrand wall lights Model 1598. Italy c1956
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in London, GB
Rare pair of wall lamps /sconces Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte. Model "1598" Italy c1956. Thick curved glass diffusors, partially satin-finished with 5 chiseled sections in each. ...
Bronze
Pair of Carlo Nason wall lights. Italy c1960
By Mazzega, Carlo Nason
Located in London, GB
A pair of Carlo Nason wall lights for Mazzega. Italy c1960 Opalescent glass Each light takes 2 x SES E14 light bulb
Brass
Pair of 'Cubosfera' table lights by Alsessandro Mendini. Italy c1958
By Alessandro Mendini
Located in London, GB
Two pairs of Alessandro Mendini 'Cubosferra' table lights. In excellent condition. No chips, cracks or scratches...
Nickel
Carlo Scarpa for Venini Poliedri pair wall lights. Italy circa 1960
By Venini, Carlo Scarpa
Located in London, GB
Exquisite pair of authentic Venini wall lights by Carlo Scarpa. Model 'Poliedri'. c1960 Mix of pink and smoke glass. *** These are original 1960s blown glass lights... Not recent!
Metal
Rare pair of Flavio Poli wall lights for Seguso
By Flavio Poli, Seguso
Located in London, GB
Wonderful pair of Flavio Poli sconces for Seguso. Italy c1967 In excellent condition.
Brass
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
Pair of Midcentury Wall Lamps in style of Gaetano Sciolari, Italy, 1970s
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Praha, CZ
- very nice style of lighting - rare type - very good original condition
Brass
Rare Pair of Model 1937 Wall Lights by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1958
By Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte
Located in Brescia, Brescia
A rare and atmospheric pair of wall lights, model 1937, designed by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte in the late 1950s — an iconic example of the designer’s refined use of glass, light, ...
Metal, Brass
Pair of Wall Lights Lamps Carlo Nason Mazzega Glass Midcentury Italy 1970
By Carlo Nason, Mazzega
Located in Palermo, IT
Carlo Nason, large pair of 4-light wall lamps. Painted metal structure. 9 glasses for each wall lamp, divided into 5 levels. Transparent glass and oval-shaped lattimo. Once mounted t...
Metal
Pair of wall lights by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy 1950's
By Max Ingrand
Located in Trieste, IT
Pair of chrome plated and satinated glass wall lights designed by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte.
Brass, Chrome
Pair of Doria Wall Lights, 1960s
By Doria Leuchten Germany
Located in Rijssen, NL
This wall lamps are designed by Doria. The wall fixture is made from brass, chrome (from the side) and metal and it features four thick hand blown glass tubes with gold flakes. Each ...
Metal, Brass, Chrome
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.
