
Enzo Mari 1932–2020
Irascible, polemical, and influential are just a few of the words most commonly associated with Italian artist, designer, critic, and theorist Enzo Mari, who is perhaps most famous for his favorite (and oft-repeated) quote: “Design is dead”. Born and raised in Cerano, a region of Piedmont, Mari moved to Milan in 1947 and worked a variety of jobs before enrolling in the prestigious Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera in 1952. He studied art and literature with a specific focus on the psychology of vision, the planning of perceptive structures, and the methodology of design. Not long after graduating he met Bruno Danese, co-founder of the eponymous design brand Danese; it was an encounter that would shape the remainder of Mari’s career.
Danese and Mari both felt strongly that good design should be accessible, economic, and affordable. Mari designed a multitude of creations for the company, including the much admired 16 Animali wooden puzzle. Inspired by his own children as well as his research into Scandinavian toys, it was a toy made from a single piece of oak that, with one continuous cut, came apart into 16 separate animals. Mari went on to conceive of over 1500 designs for many premier Italian design companies including Driade, Artemide, Zanotta and Magis. He also created illustrations, books with Einaudi and Bollati Boringhieri, and works for children. One of his most memorable projects, and the one which best demonstrates his belief that design should be accessible to all, was his Proposta per un’Autoprogettazione (Proposal for a Self-design) series. It consisted of a set of diagrams that allowed anyone to build DIY furniture with cuts of pine and some nails, the instructions for which Mari would mail to anyone who sent him postage.
Upcoming Lots Enzo Mari

400
Enzo Mari
Grande Cubo, series R
estimate: $1,500–2,000

401
Enzo Mari
Oggetto a composizione autocondotta
estimate: $4,000–6,000

402
Enzo Mari
Grande Cubo, series E
estimate: $3,000–5,000

403
Enzo Mari
Cubos model 3018A, set of four
estimate: $3,000–5,000

404
Enzo Mari
Sedici Variazioni
estimate: $2,500–3,000

405
Enzo Mari
Grande Cubo, series E
estimate: $3,000–5,000

406
Enzo Mari
Grande Cubo, series L
estimate: $3,000–5,000

407
Enzo Mari
Rare 16 Animali puzzle, model 3015D
estimate: $1,500–2,000

411
Enzo Mari
Samos vase, model U
estimate: $5,000–7,000

412
Enzo Mari
Samos vase, model Z
estimate: $5,000–7,000

413
Enzo Mari
Samos vase, model W
estimate: $5,000–7,000

414
Enzo Mari
Sifnos box, model 3065CB
estimate: $2,000–3,000

416
Enzo Mari
Samos centerpiece, model P
estimate: $7,000–9,000

417
Enzo Mari
Samos centerpiece, model N
estimate: $7,000–9,000

418
Enzo Mari
Samos centerpiece, model B
estimate: $7,000–9,000

419
Enzo Mari
Cubo, model 3018C
estimate: $1,000–1,500

420
Enzo Mari
Variazioni Tematiche
estimate: $1,500–2,000

421
Enzo Mari
Variazioni Tematiche
estimate: $1,500–2,000

423
Enzo Mari
Sfera, series B
estimate: $3,000–5,000

424
Enzo Mari
Sfera, series A
estimate: $3,000–5,000

425
Enzo Mari
Sfera, series H
estimate: $3,000–5,000

427
Enzo Mari
Sfera, series A
estimate: $3,000–5,000

428
Enzo Mari
Cubos, collection of four
estimate: $2,000–3,000

429
Enzo Mari
Sfera, series Z
estimate: $2,000–3,000

430
Enzo Mari
Cubos model 3018B, set of three
estimate: $1,500–2,000

431
Enzo Mari
Samos centerpiece, model L
estimate: $7,000–9,000

432
Enzo Mari
Samos centerpiece, model S
estimate: $7,000–9,000

433
Enzo Mari
Samos centerpiece, model O
estimate: $7,000–9,000

434
Enzo Mari
Cubo, model 3018C
estimate: $1,500–2,000

435
Enzo Mari
Cubo, model 3018D
estimate: $1,500–2,000

436
Enzo Mari
Cubo, model 3018D
estimate: $1,500–2,000

437
Enzo Mari
Bambu vase, model 3109C
estimate: $2,000–3,000

438
Enzo Mari
Putrelle vide poche, model 3012A
estimate: $1,500–2,000

439
Enzo Mari
Putrelle vide poche, model 3011A
estimate: $3,000–5,000

440
Enzo Mari
Tortiglione plant stand, model 3083B
estimate: $500–700

441
Enzo Mari
Trifoglio vase, model 3085A
estimate: $600–800

442
Enzo Mari
Tortiglione wastepaper basket, model 3083C
estimate: $600–800

443
Enzo Mari
Bambu vase, model 3084D
estimate: $700–900

444
Enzo Mari
Bambu vase, model 3084B
estimate: $600–800

445
Enzo Mari
Atollo centerpiece, model 3071B
estimate: $4,000–6,000

446
Enzo Mari
Formosa calendar, model 3064A
estimate: $300–500

447
Enzo Mari
Cilindro, series P
estimate: $3,000–5,000

448
Enzo Mari
Cilindro, series L
estimate: $3,000–5,000

449
Enzo Mari
Cilindro, series F
estimate: $3,000–5,000

450
Enzo Mari
Cilindro, series L
estimate: $3,000–5,000

451
Enzo Mari
Carte Da Disegno game books, set of three
estimate: $200–300

452
Enzo Mari
Trifoglio vase, model 3085A
estimate: $600–800

453
Enzo Mari
Rocco wastepaper basket, model 3082C
estimate: $500–700

454
Enzo Mari
Rocco plant stands, model 3082B
estimate: $700–900

455
Enzo Mari
Tortiglione plant stand, model 3083B
estimate: $500–700

456
Enzo Mari
Rocco umbrella stand, model 3082A
estimate: $900–1,200

457
Enzo Mari
Tortiglione wastepaper basket, model 3083C
estimate: $600–800

462
Enzo Mari
Timor calendar, model 3079A
estimate: $100–150

468
Enzo Mari
Camicia vase, model 3033A
estimate: $500–700

470
Enzo Mari
Camicia vase, model 3033A
estimate: $700–900

471
Enzo Mari
Arran tray, model 3045B
estimate: $500–700

473
Enzo Mari
Giglio letter opener, model 3127A
estimate: $300–500

474
Enzo Mari
Ameland letter opener, model 3061A
estimate: $150–200

475
Enzo Mari
Ventotene desk organizer, model 3054A
estimate: $400–600

476
Enzo Mari
Quattro Spirali
estimate: $5,000–7,000

478
Enzo Mari
Trinidad carafe, model 3094A
estimate: $200–300

479
Enzo Mari
Cicladi plant stand, model 3111A
estimate: $2,000–3,000

486
Enzo Mari
Paros vase, model H
estimate: $4,000–6,000

487
Enzo Mari
Paros vide poche, model F
estimate: $2,500–3,500

488
Enzo Mari
Paros vide poche, model D1
estimate: $1,200–1,800

494
Enzo Mari
Quattro Spirali
estimate: $5,000–7,000

495
Enzo Mari
Bilancia calendar, model 3017B
estimate: $150–200

496
Enzo Mari
Antille ice bucket, model 3074A
estimate: $150–200

497
Enzo Mari
Tongareva bowls, collection of four
estimate: $2,000–3,000

498
Enzo Mari
Tongareva bowl, model 3089C
estimate: $500–700

500
Enzo Mari
Java container, model 3088B
estimate: $100–150

501
Enzo Mari
Tongareva bowls, collection of three
estimate: $900–1,200

517
Enzo Mari
Box, model 3065
estimate: $1,000–1,500

519
Enzo Mari
Box, model 3065
estimate: $1,000–1,500

521
Enzo Mari
Box, model 3065
estimate: $1,000–1,500

522
Enzo Mari
Box, model 3065
estimate: $1,000–1,500

523
Enzo Mari
Il Gioco Delle Favole game, model 3070B
estimate: $50–100

524
Enzo Mari
Box, model 3065
estimate: $1,000–1,500

527
Enzo Mari
Tredici, Funghetti
estimate: $1,000–1,500

529
Enzo Mari
Bali lamp, model 2003B
estimate: $400–600

531
Enzo Mari
16 Animali puzzle, model 3015D
estimate: $600–800

532
Enzo Mari
Bali lamp, model 2003B
estimate: $400–600

535
Enzo Mari
Serie della Natura: L'oca no 8
estimate: $500–800
Auction Results Enzo Mari

Enzo Mari
Cubos, collection of five
estimate: $1,500–2,000
result: $8,125

Enzo Mari
chests, pair
estimate: $10,000–15,000
result: $6,000

Enzo Mari
Variazione 719
estimate: $5,000–7,000
result: $5,000

Enzo Mari
Putrella tray and dish
estimate: $50–75
result: $4,063

Enzo Mari
Variazione 719
estimate: $3,000–5,000
result: $3,750

Enzo Mari
Cubos, set of two
estimate: $500–700
result: $2,500

Enzo Mari
Paros-D1 bowl
estimate: $500–700
result: $2,125

Enzo Mari
Cubo
estimate: $300–500
result: $1,750

Enzo Mari
Cubos, pair
estimate: $300–500
result: $1,625

Enzo Mari
Day-Night daybed
estimate: $700–900
result: $1,625

Enzo Mari
Formosa and Timor calendars
estimate: $200–300
result: $875

Enzo Mari
16 Animali puzzle
estimate: $500–700
result: $813

Enzo Mari
Box chair
estimate: $300–500
result: $780

Enzo Mari
Cubo
estimate: $100–150
result: $750

Enzo Mari
Pago Pago and Bambu vases
estimate: $50–75
result: $750

Enzo Mari
16 Animali puzzle
estimate: $200–300
result: $720

Enzo Mari
La Pantera and Il Gorilla (from the Serie della Natura)
estimate: $700–900
result: $715

Enzo Mari
16 Animali puzzle
estimate: $300–500
result: $688

Enzo Mari
Paros D1 vessel
estimate: $500–700
result: $625

Enzo Mari
16 Pesci puzzle
estimate: $200–300
result: $600

Enzo Mari
16 Pesci puzzle
estimate: $500–700
result: $594

Enzo Mari
Tonietta chair
estimate: $100–150
result: $594

Enzo Mari
Danese poster
estimate: $100–200
result: $500

Enzo Mari
16 Pesci puzzle
estimate: $500–700
result: $455