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