Cubosfera Table Lamp by Alessandro Mendini, 1968

About This Piece

Vintage Design

Cubosfera table light is an artwork realized by Alessandro Mendini (1931-2019) in 1968. H. 17 x 15.5 x 15.5 cm. Clear glass, frosted, metal sheet and tube, aluminum sheet. Ref. Bibliography: Domus 467 (ottobre 1968), p. 35; Rosamaria Rinaldi, Alessandro Mendini Progetto infelice, Ricerche Design Editrice, Milano, 1983, p. 49. Alessandro Mendini was born in Milan in 1931 and here he graduated in architecture at the local Polytechnic. Initially associated with the Nizzoli studio (1960-1970), he is among the best known and most appreciated contemporary designers, protagonist since the seventies of the renewal of made in Italy production thanks to his adhesion to numerous avant-gardes of Radical Design (among others Alchimia, the first place of experimentation on the theme of decoration, which earned him a Compasso d'Oro in 1981) and tireless participation in the theoretical debate. In fact, he directed the magazines "Casabella" (from 1970 to 1976), "Modo" (founded by him in 1977 and led until 1981) and "Domus" (1979-1985; 2010-2011), whose direction he was initially called by Gio Ponti himself, about to leave due to having reached the age limit. Among his most famous writings are “Paesaggio casalingo” (1979), “Architettura addio” (1981), “Progetto infelice” (1983), “Existenz maximum” (1990): all occasions, these, during which he developed fundamental concepts such as "neo-modern design" (equated to sixteenth-century Mannerism, which was able to corrode the classic rules of design from within), "banal house" (which recognizes the value of ugliness and kitsch in everyday life ) and redesigns.

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* The cable of this item may be original and might need replacement, if not specified otherwise.

Creator	Alessandro Mendini
Manufacturer	Alessandro Mendini (Designer)
Design Period	1960 to 1969
Year	1968
Production Period	1960 to 1969
Country of Manufacture	Italy
Identifying Marks	This piece is attributed to the above-mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark
Style	Vintage
Detailed Condition	Very Good — This vintage/antique item has no defects, but it may show slight traces of use.
SKU	ZCI-1652838
Restoration and Damage Details	Please note that an additional handling period of up to 4 weeks may apply to this item
Materials	Glass, Metal
Color	Clear
Width	16 cm 16 cm
Depth	16 cm 16 cm
Height	17 cm 17 cm
Weight Range	Standard — Between 40kg and 80kg
Duties Notice	Import duty is not included in the prices you see online. You may have to pay import duties upon receipt of your order.

Shipping & Delivery

Ships from	Italy
Duties Notice	Import duty is not included in the prices you see online. You may have to pay import duties upon receipt of your order.
Returns	Returns accepted within fourteen days of delivery, except for Made-to-order items

Sustainability

Carbon Neutral	For every purchase made, Pamono offsets 100% of estimated carbon emissions from global shipping.
Vintage	Choosing vintage and antique furniture reduces your carbon footprint by cutting down on waste and reduces demand for new materials and extends the life of the products we use.

Delivery Details

Delivery will be completed by a parcel service such as UPS, DHL, or FedEx.
You will receive a tracking number to monitor the status of your shipment.
Delivery will take place between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

*Important Note

Please examine the packaging upon delivery. In the event that there are visible signs of damaged packaging, please indicate the problem on the Delivery Note, take pictures, and—if the item inside shows damages—contact us within 48 hours of delivery. A signed delivery receipt without notations regarding damaged packaging represents your acceptance of the completed order in perfect condition.

About the Creator

Alessandro Mendini

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 Politecnico in Milan in 1959, and he began his career at the studio of artist-designer Marcello Nizzoli. Mendini went on to become the publisher of the popular magazines Casabella (1970-76), Modo and Domus (each 1979-85). In 1979, he 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.

Some of Mendini’s most famed works include the Proust Chair for Cappellini (1978), a baroque form hand painted with a colorful, pointillist surface pattern, and the revitalization of the Groninger Museum in the Netherlands (1994), among others. He designed pieces for a variety of brands, including Alessi, Swatch, Philips, Swarovski, many of which have become contemporary design icons—such as his anthropomorphic Anna G. corkscrew (1994) for Alessi, which was inspired by fellow Italian designer and friend Anna Gili.

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. His work is included in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, among others.

In 2019, Mendini passed away at the age of 87.