1970s TRAVERTINE ASHTRAY BY ENZO MARI
A beautiful and highly collectible unfilled travertine ashtray designed by Enzo Mari for Fratelli Manelli Italy, produced in the 1970s.
In excellent vintage condition with no noticeable imperfections.
Dimensions: 140mm x 140mm x 36mm
Available to view at our Surry Hills store and please contact us should you have any questions at all.
Enzo Mari (1932–2020) was an influential Italian designer, artist, and theorist known for his radical approach to design and deep commitment to social responsibility. Trained at the Brera Academy in Milan, Mari emerged in the 1960s as a central figure in the avant-garde Nuova Tendenza movement. His early work explored kinetic and programmed art before shifting toward industrial design, where he became known for his principled rejection of consumerism and his belief that design should be accessible, educational, and ethically driven.
Mari’s most iconic contributions include the Autoprogettazione project (1974), a manifesto offering free instructions for building furniture with simple tools and materials—a revolutionary statement on DIY culture and democratic design. He also created timeless pieces for manufacturers like Danese Milano, such as the 16 Animali puzzle and the Timor calendar. His designs were both functional and poetic, often blending minimalist aesthetics with a strong conceptual backbone.
Over his career, Mari received five Compasso d’Oro awards and taught at leading Italian institutions, leaving a lasting mark on generations of designers. Known for his uncompromising views, he famously left his archive to the city of Milan with instructions that it remain sealed for 40 years. Mari’s legacy endures as a symbol of integrity in design—a fierce advocate for craft, intellect, and resistance to commodification.
A beautiful and highly collectible unfilled travertine ashtray designed by Enzo Mari for Fratelli Manelli Italy, produced in the 1970s.
In excellent vintage condition with no noticeable imperfections.
Dimensions: 140mm x 140mm x 36mm
Available to view at our Surry Hills store and please contact us should you have any questions at all.
Enzo Mari (1932–2020) was an influential Italian designer, artist, and theorist known for his radical approach to design and deep commitment to social responsibility. Trained at the Brera Academy in Milan, Mari emerged in the 1960s as a central figure in the avant-garde Nuova Tendenza movement. His early work explored kinetic and programmed art before shifting toward industrial design, where he became known for his principled rejection of consumerism and his belief that design should be accessible, educational, and ethically driven.
Mari’s most iconic contributions include the Autoprogettazione project (1974), a manifesto offering free instructions for building furniture with simple tools and materials—a revolutionary statement on DIY culture and democratic design. He also created timeless pieces for manufacturers like Danese Milano, such as the 16 Animali puzzle and the Timor calendar. His designs were both functional and poetic, often blending minimalist aesthetics with a strong conceptual backbone.
Over his career, Mari received five Compasso d’Oro awards and taught at leading Italian institutions, leaving a lasting mark on generations of designers. Known for his uncompromising views, he famously left his archive to the city of Milan with instructions that it remain sealed for 40 years. Mari’s legacy endures as a symbol of integrity in design—a fierce advocate for craft, intellect, and resistance to commodification.
A beautiful and highly collectible unfilled travertine ashtray designed by Enzo Mari for Fratelli Manelli Italy, produced in the 1970s.
In excellent vintage condition with no noticeable imperfections.
Dimensions: 140mm x 140mm x 36mm
Available to view at our Surry Hills store and please contact us should you have any questions at all.
Enzo Mari (1932–2020) was an influential Italian designer, artist, and theorist known for his radical approach to design and deep commitment to social responsibility. Trained at the Brera Academy in Milan, Mari emerged in the 1960s as a central figure in the avant-garde Nuova Tendenza movement. His early work explored kinetic and programmed art before shifting toward industrial design, where he became known for his principled rejection of consumerism and his belief that design should be accessible, educational, and ethically driven.
Mari’s most iconic contributions include the Autoprogettazione project (1974), a manifesto offering free instructions for building furniture with simple tools and materials—a revolutionary statement on DIY culture and democratic design. He also created timeless pieces for manufacturers like Danese Milano, such as the 16 Animali puzzle and the Timor calendar. His designs were both functional and poetic, often blending minimalist aesthetics with a strong conceptual backbone.
Over his career, Mari received five Compasso d’Oro awards and taught at leading Italian institutions, leaving a lasting mark on generations of designers. Known for his uncompromising views, he famously left his archive to the city of Milan with instructions that it remain sealed for 40 years. Mari’s legacy endures as a symbol of integrity in design—a fierce advocate for craft, intellect, and resistance to commodification.
