Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Silver, Room 68, The Whiteley Galleries

Spoon

Spoon
1983 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a prototype for a series of 11 tea and coffee services. Officina Alessi, a subdivision of Alessi s.p.a. of Milan, commissioned the series from international architects. It was made in silver in a limited edition of 99.

The economic recessions of the 1970s and 1980s permanently altered the manufacturing industries of Europe. The optimism of the immediate post-war period was swept away. After the Second World War, design had been concerned with changing society. By the 1980s, it was associated merely with marketing and ‘lifestyle’. Silversmiths could no longer subsidise their craft by design consultancies. Nor could they claim that they were part of the mainstream culture. The individual silversmith returned to operating in a niche market. In some respects, this had a curiously liberating effect. In Europe from the 1970s, there was increasing attention on personal expression, often using curved, sensual surfaces. There was less emphasis on a unified aesthetic philosophy and the range of work became more diverse.

In Italy, postmodern experiments redefined the public perception of modernism. With their Tea & Coffee Piazza series, Alessi created a group of startling tableaux that excited world attention. Barely functional, some incorporated obvious historical references. All show a degree of deconstruction, an architectural and sculptural movement that surfaced during the 1980s.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSpoon (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Electroplated silver
Brief description
Spoon, Tea and Coffee Service, electroplated silver on copper. Designed by Alessandro Mendini and made by Officina Alessi, Milan, Italy, 1983
Physical description
Spoon, electroplated silver on copper.
Dimensions
  • Length: 11cm
Whole service: Height 23 cm on tray, Length 45 cm on tray
Style
Marks and inscriptions
Inscribed: Officina Alessi Italy P.A. TE. 22 (-25) Tray inscribed: (eagle above ) Officina Alessi, Alessi, Italy Inox 18/10, Epss P.A.
Gallery label
  • TEA & COFFEE SERVICE Electroplated silver on copper Italy, Milan, 1983 Made by Officina Alessi, A division of Alessi spa, Milan Designed by Alessandro Mendini Inscribed OFFICINA / ALESSI / ITALY / PA / TE 22 (-25) / INOX 18/10 / EPSS / PA A prototype for a series of eleven tea and coffee services commissioned from international architects by Officina Alessi and made in a limited edition of 99 in silver. M.59-e,-1988
  • Tea and Coffee Service Electroplated silver on copper Designed by Alessandro Mendini and made by Officina Alessi Milan, Italy, 1983 Museum no. M.55-E-1988 In the early 1980s, the Italian design company Alessi commissioned eleven tea and coffee services to be designed by international architects and encouraged them to put forward experimental forms and approaches. This service was a prototype developed by Alessandro Mendini and a limited edition of 99 were then made in silver. Mendini was a postmodern designer who specialised in playfully reinventing ordinary objects. (12.12.2023)
Object history
Acquisition RF: 87/279
Max Protech Inc.
560 Broadway
New York
Purchased for $10000
A prototype for the series of eleven tea and coffee services commissioned from architects by Officina Alessi s.p.a., Milan and made of limited edition of silver.
Measurements of individual pieces:
Coffee Pot: W 21.5 D 12.5 H 24.0; Tea pot: W 23.0 D 13.5 H 21.5; Cream Jug: W 9.0 D 7.0 H 18.0; Sugar Bowl: D 11.0 H 8.0; Spoon: L 11.0; Tray: D 45.0 H 3.0
Summary
This is a prototype for a series of 11 tea and coffee services. Officina Alessi, a subdivision of Alessi s.p.a. of Milan, commissioned the series from international architects. It was made in silver in a limited edition of 99.

The economic recessions of the 1970s and 1980s permanently altered the manufacturing industries of Europe. The optimism of the immediate post-war period was swept away. After the Second World War, design had been concerned with changing society. By the 1980s, it was associated merely with marketing and ‘lifestyle’. Silversmiths could no longer subsidise their craft by design consultancies. Nor could they claim that they were part of the mainstream culture. The individual silversmith returned to operating in a niche market. In some respects, this had a curiously liberating effect. In Europe from the 1970s, there was increasing attention on personal expression, often using curved, sensual surfaces. There was less emphasis on a unified aesthetic philosophy and the range of work became more diverse.

In Italy, postmodern experiments redefined the public perception of modernism. With their Tea & Coffee Piazza series, Alessi created a group of startling tableaux that excited world attention. Barely functional, some incorporated obvious historical references. All show a degree of deconstruction, an architectural and sculptural movement that surfaced during the 1980s.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
M.55D-1988

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Record createdMarch 17, 2004
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