Michael Graves Five-Piece "Tea and Coffee Piazza", Produced by Alessi, Designed 1983

Designed in 1983, Executed in 1988, from an edition of 99
Sterling silver, faux "ivory", bakelite, lacquered aluminum, glass
Comprising a teapot, a coffee pot, a creamer, a sugar bowl with sugar spoon, and a tray
Each piece with manufacturer's mark "OFFICINA ALESSI", dated "1988", numbered "43/99" and with Italian silver marks

H: 10, W: 10 1/4, D; 4 3/4 in. (teapot), Dia: 16 1/4 in. (tray diameter)

Lot Essay

Beginning in 1980, the Italian design firm of Alessi invited eleven leading architects and designers to create a tea and coffee service for limited production. For the project, leading American architect Michael Graves designed a five-piece service in his “New Classical” style. Wrought in silver with faux ivory handles, bakelite feet and blue-lacquered aluminum spheres, the service resembles more a city center (hence “Piazza”) than the silver tea sets of a bygone era. The playful, yet serious forms of the Graves service are icons of Postmodern design, with sets from the edition represented in museum collections including the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Henry Ford Museum.

Note

This lot is sold with its original Alessi black cloth bags and a copy of the publication: Officina Alessi: Tea & Coffee Piazza, Shakespeare & Company, 1983.

Literature

Alessi, Officina Alessi: Tea & Coffee Piazza, Shakespeare & Company, 1983, pp. 34-37
Glenn Adamson and Jane Pavitt, Postmodernism: Style and Aubversion, 1970-1990, p. 267
Juli Capella and Quim Larre, Designed by Architects in the 1980's, p. 78
Michael Collins and Andreas Papadakis, Post-Modern Design, pp. 86-87
Karen Vogel Nichols et al., Michael Graves: Buildings and Projects 1982-1989, p. 72

Provenance

Max Protetch, New York, 1988

Private Collection, Washington, D.C.