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)
Rare Pair of Unused Barovier & Toso Pink Murano Glass Table Lamps, 1970s
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier&Toso
Located in Brescia, Brescia
An exceptional and increasingly rare discovery: a pair of original Barovier & Toso table lamps dating to the late 1970s, preserved as old warehouse stock and never used since their o...
Gold Leaf
Rare Pair of Table Lamps Model 2552/2 by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden
By Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank
Located in Brescia, Brescia
Designed in 1938 by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, this rare pair of table lamps, model 2552/2, showcases the refined ingenuity and lyrical elegance of Frank’s vision for modern light...
Brass
Pair of "LP19 Monaco" Wall Lights by Luigi Caccia Dominioni for Azucena, 1980s
By Azucena, Luigi Caccia Dominioni
Located in Brescia, Brescia
This substantial pair of LP19 Monaco wall sconces by the renowned Luigi Caccia Dominioni for Azucena showcases the designer’s signature fusion of elegance and bold form. Measuring ge...
Metal, Brass
Pair of Seguso Vetri d'Arte Style Pulegoso Glass Chrome Wall Sconces, 1970s
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Brescia, Brescia
A refined pair of Italian wall sconces from the 1970s, executed in the unmistakable style of Gino Sarfatti and Seguso Vetri d'Arte. Their understated architectural composition combin...
Metal, Chrome
Rare Pair of Carlo Scarpa Reticello Murano Glass Sconces for Venini, 1940
By Carlo Scarpa, Venini
Located in Brescia, Brescia
An exceptionally elegant and rare pair of wall sconces designed by Carlo Scarpa for Venini, Murano, circa 1940s. Each sconce features a beautifully proportioned cup-shaped diffuser...
Brass
Rare Large Pair of Carlo Scarpa Reticello Murano Glass Sconces for Venini, 1940s
By Carlo Scarpa, Venini
Located in Brescia, Brescia
Rare Large Pair of Carlo Scarpa Reticello Murano Glass Sconces for VeniniAn exceptionally rare and unusually large pair of wall sconces designed by Carlo Scarpa for Venini, Murano, c...
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
Set of Two Hand-Blown Ice-Glass Cube Table Lamps by Müller & Zimmer Germany
By Alessandro Mendini, Fidenza Vetraria
Located in München, BY
Set of two elegant Mid-Century Modern hand blown ice glass cube table lamps in the style of Cubo Sfera by Allessandro Mendini. These ones are designed and manufactured by Müller & Zi...
Blown Glass
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
Pair of Emma Gismondi Schweinberger 'Chi' table lamps Artemide, Italy, 1962
Located in London, GB
An elegant pair of 1960s glass table lamps by Italian designer Emma Gismondi Schweinberger Nickeled brass, satinated glass.
Brass, Nickel
Set of Two Hand Blown Cubic Table Lamps by Müller & Zimmer, 1970s, Germany
By Alessandro Mendini, Fidenza Vetraria
Located in München, BY
Set of two elegant Mid-Century Modern hand blown ice glass table lamps in the style of Cubo Sfera by Allessandro Mendini. These ones are desinged and manufactured by Müller & Zimmer ...
Blown Glass
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
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.
