Like paper cut-outs
Girotondo by King Kong – Stefano Giovannoni and Guido Venturini for A di Alessi
when a symbol makes the story
The original plan for the Girotondo series for Alessi called for a series of objects decorated with a chain of human cutouts. These plans eliminated or, better still, reduced the formal design of the object to a bare minimum, with everything hinging on the serial repetition of an iconographic and figurative element that everyone could recognise.
The little man was the result of the search for a strong figurative signal that would immediately appeal the memory or, in other words, a sort of archetypal communication culture. The chain of little men is the same motif that children make with paper cut-outs. The idea was to treat stainless steel as if it were paper, having the little men circling the edge as if they were holding hands and keeping together the objects in the bowl with their own ‘Girotondo’.
Founder members of the Boldist movement, Stefano Giovannoni (La Spezia, 1954) and Guido Venturini (Alfonsine, 1957) graduated in architecture in Florence. They work and live in Milan. Since 1979 they have taught and carried out research at Florence Faculty of Architecture, and now also at the Domus Academy in Milan. In 1985 they set up King Kong Productions, concerning themselves with avant-garde research in design, interiors, fashion and architecture. Their focus was on cartoons, science fiction, celluloid mythology, and the areas of imaginary and artificial fiction. They work an iconographic, primary and conceptual datum with a mixture of poetry and irony that supersedes the disciplinary conceptions of object form, composition and design.
Those little King-Kong ‘men’ have turned up on the edging of objects that belong to the most consolidated Alessi traditions, such as our trays or baskets. Now they have multiplied and have set out to invade familiar territories (such as the chopping board and napkin holder) and unfamiliar ones (key ring, bookmark, candles). Their apotheosis, though, has to be ‘Girotondo (Ring-around-the-rosy) Jewellery’ (1998 ) followed by a new range of textile products produced by Lyntex in Belgium (Boys and girls towel, bath and hand towel, bath sheet and bath mat).
-
- round tray
-
- fruit holder
-
- round basket
-
- round basket
-
- placemat
-
- oval ray
-
- hors doeuvre set
-
- set of two mocha cups with saucers
-
- mug with heat resistent glass
-
- napkin ring
-
- kitchen box with hermetic lid
-
- egg cup
-
- caps
-
- breadstick holder
-
- toast rack
-
- kitchen timer
-
- trivet
-
- magnet
-
- photo frame
-
- bookstand
-
- bracelet
-
- textile
All products are made in mirror polished stainless steel or in epoxy resin coated steel (red, blue, black, green yellow), silk screen glass and PMMA. The textile products are made of 100% jaquard cotton terry cloth.
Christmas Alessi 2008
Christmas figurine 2nd collection by Massimo Giacon and Marcello Jori for A di Alessi 2008
With this second collection of porcelain figurines, Alessi has created a series of faithful little companions that represent a magical world.
The discreet and symbolic presence of the small ornament is seen as an inspiring, reassuring cult object, and each figurine is designed by either Massimo Giacon or Marcello Jori.
-
- figurine in porcelain
-
- figurine in porcelain
-
- figurine in porcelain
-
- figurine in porcelain
-
- figurine in porcelain
-
- figurine in porcelain
-
- figurine in porcelain
Micheal Natale: the Father Christmas of “Made in Italy”. Protector of tradition.
Mago Sterlino: brings harmony and equilibrium at work. Alessi suggests placing it on your desk or wherever you discuss business: it will help your negotiations be successful.
Orson & Natalino: a continuation of the series “The adventures of Natalino”.
I Buonanno: bearers of good cheer. They promote good vibes between couples, encouraging laughter, dancing and the desire to celebrate.
Rudy & Sventola: they help to resolve conflict. A continuation of the series “The adventures of Sventola”, otherwise known as “Topolone” design Marcello Jori.
I Valentini: for men and women who want to become lovers….they make you want to say YES!
Christmas Alessi 2007
Presepe - group in porcelain
This gorgeous modern take on a classic nativity scene allows you to add a little touch of personality to your home or office! Great to display not only during the holidays but any day to showcase your unique sense of style!
figurine in porcelain
Even Santa needs a break sometimes! This little figurine brings that idea to life artistically showcasing a Santa figure taking a small break from the festivities as he sits propped against a Christmas tree.
And here all the original figurines made by Alessi for a unique Christmas!!
figurine in porcelain - whole collection
-
- figurine in porcelain
-
- figurine in porcelain
-
- figurine in porcelain
-
- figurine in porcelain
-
- figurine in porcelain
-
- figurine in porcelain
-
- figurine in porcelain
-
- figurine in porcelain – whole collection
-
- Presepe – group in porcelain
-
- figurine in porcelain
Items made by casting in shiny white porcelain, hand-decorated in bright and incandescent cold colors. Some details achieved using decalcomania, others by airbrushing.
F.F.F. for pet
Family Follows Fiction designed by Miriam Mirri for A di Alessi
Lupita dog bowl
Creating pieces that offer each being another chance to live life to its fullest, Miriam Mirri has specialized in the design of pieces that exude emotion and feeling that translate to the lives of observers and consumers in a frequently cold, modern society. Her pieces for Alessi exhibit these fun-loving characteristics to the fullest and offer yet another chance for people to smile. The Lupita Dog Bowl is another piece that exhibits these characteristics, featuring a bone-shaped handle attached to the side of the dish for easy filling and movement, as well as a removable 18/10 stainless steel insert for easy cleaning. Made of PP plastic and steel, this piece is perfect for any pooch with a good appetite and a penchant for high design.
dog bowl
Tigrito cat bowl
After the “Lupita” dog bowl (2002) comes the inevitable cat bowl.
Indeed, “Tigrito” was strongly requested by the lovers of the other half of the pet world. The same designer and the same delicately playful approach, adding a new item to the new collection of articles dedicated to our animal friends. As in previous cases, part of the proceeds from the sale of the “Tigrito” bowl will be given to an organisation for the protection of animals, in this case “GAIA Animali e Ambiente”.
cat bowl
F.F.F. with love
Family Follows Fiction designed by Miriam Mirri
New tableware objects by Miriam Mirri, a meticulous and delicate author of design’s more playful language, who has been capable of expressing all her own, personal nuances of warmth, a designer who is carrying out her gentle interpretation of playfulness in the 2000s with the design that characterizes her with a very personal, affectionate tone.
-
- ice cream bowl and spoon
-
- dessert bowl
-
- bowl
Love, Big love and Super love are all made in PMMA and 18/10 stainless steel.
Bathroom?!F.F.F.style
Family Follows Fiction for Bathroom
designed by Stefano Giovannoni, Miriam Mirri, Massimo Giacon, Stefano Pirovano, Elisa Gargan and Guido Venturini
Alessi is not focused only on kitchen and tables accessories but also on all other parts of an house, in order to completely serve people in their everyday life everywhere, always with the creativity and fantasy that makes every object unique and special.
With “Merdolino”, the first object by Alessi for the bathroom, and one that was not free of criticism for having dared touch such a difficult subject, Alessi brought in a welcome breath of poetry to which people were not used but which opened up whole new vistas in development.
-
- toilet brush
-
- cotton swabs holder
-
- cotton pad dispenser
-
- toothbrush holder
-
- soap dish
-
- liquid soap dispenser
-
- Bathtub plug with float
-
- Bathtub plug with float
-
- toothbrush cover
-
- interdental thread holder
-
- nail brush
-
- nail clipper
-
- toilet roll holder
All the bathroom collection is made by thermoplastic resin and PP.
F.F.F.
Family Follows Fiction
designed by Stefano Giovannoni, Guido Venturini, Stefano Pirovano, Massimo Giacon, Philippe Starck, Mattia di Rosa, Alejandro Ruiz, Michael Graves, Biagio Cisotti, Alessandro Mendini, Lorena Bozzoli and CSA/LPWK.
A di Alessi products are the result of longstanding collaborations with the best international designers.
Working from a desire to introduce the public at large to the quality and exclusivity of the finest contemporary design, they have created a line of “democratic” and accessible products for every home.
This innovative grater is part of the Family Follows Fiction (F.F.F.) range, hilariously funny and fantasy-inspired products ideal for enlivening any family home.
The metaproject F.F.F. begun in 1991, grew out of a desire to explore the emotional structure of objects, focused in the most delicate, intimate, sensory human needs.
The objects became ludic tools, telling little tales, giving captivating twists to everyday uses, suggesting a mediation with playfulness and becoming a bridge to the fantastical.
At the outset the idea was to reproduce the process of creation and animation of the object common to the world of childhood and to primitive cultures.
-
- sommelier corkscrew
-
- parmesan cheese cellar with grater
-
- grater with cheese cellar
-
- egg cup with salt castor and spoon
-
- egg-catcher
-
- basket for cooking eggs
-
- toothpick holder
-
- nutcracker
-
- kitchen timer
-
- bottle opener
-
- kitchen roll holder
-
- tea-strainer
-
- press filter coffee maker or infuser
-
- container with small spatula
-
- kitchen box for spaghetti
-
- kitchen box with hermetic lid
-
- bread bin
-
- stand for containers shakers for spices
-
- sugar castor
-
- salt and pepper set
-
- pepper mill or salt grinder
-
- table set
Since 2004, the year of “Anna G.” and “Alessandro M.”, we have all been waiting for a new element of surprise on the corkscrew front. “Parrot”, the practical, pocket-sized sommelier corkscrew, has been designed to meet these expectations.
sommelier corkscrew
Anna G. and Alessandro M.
Anna G. and Alessandro M. collection by Alessandro Mendini for A di Alessi
corkscrew
Initially presented in 1994, the successful Anna G. icon acquired cult status and generated a small family of objects between 1994 and 2001.
-
- pepper mill
-
- kitchen timer
-
- stopper
-
- stopper
-
- kitchen box
-
- sugar and cream set
-
- candlestick
-
- corkscrew
-
- corkscrew
Could Alessandro Mendini be just a little envious of the huge success achieved by “Anna G.”?
Perhaps that is why he has decided to give us a new character, “Alessandro M.”.
It is obvious that this corkscrew is a self-portrait of its designer. It may seem simple on the surface, but in reality it was a difficult business, inventing a new character that would fit neatly into what was the author’s own autobiographical happening, but would also enhance the international design scenario. I truly admire the expertise with which Alessandro (the designer) was able to develop the project, conferring this new creation with a very clear identity, different yet complementary to his now authoritative companion.
Moreover “Alessandro M.” is a totally innovative product: alongside the standard version, now offered in two color variations, there is also, and for the first time, the introduction of a series of seasonal haute-couture collections: as you will see in the images, this is the concept of garments designed to specification for fashion demands, basically ranges of limited series especially for collectors, which will be renewed with the seasonal cadence of fashion design.
corkscrew
Let’s Ba-Rock
Ba-rock and Ba-ball by Marta Sansoni for A di Alessi 2006
The theme of decorated household objects has its roots in the origins of mankind, when the first man (or more probably the first woman), having forged a clay cup with her own hands, felt the need to engrave its walls with a shell picked up from the beach. This collection designed by Marta Sansoni presents the first results of a meta-project research begun by Laura Polinoro on the theme of hyper-decoration, research which will soon see the design of yet more products.
-
- trays and bowl
-
- round tray
-
- Trays and bowls
-
- charm
-
- round tray
-
- bowl
-
- round tray with handles
The “Ba-rock” and “Ba-ball” objects are produced in 18/10 stainless steel. The coloured version are made in steel, painted with a backed-on coating of epoxy resins. The cabachon decorations are made in thermoplastic resin.
cresysusy