Alessandro Mendini

ALESSANDRO MENDINI (Milan, 1931–2019) for Zanotta.
"Sirfo" side table, designed in 1986
Painted cast aluminum, with a yellow beak detail, and 6 mm thick tempered glass.
In good condition, with slight signs of wear consistent with its age.
Measurements: 74 cm high × 56 cm in diameter.

In Sirfo, Mendini transforms the side table into a zoomorphic presence with an almost fantastical character. The base reproduces the essential silhouette of a bird: the rounded body rests on three legs, while the long neck rises to support the circular glass tabletop. The small yellow beak, visible through the transparent surface, adds a touch of humor and subtly breaks up the austerity of the aluminum.

The piece belongs to the borderland between art and design that defines the Zanotta Edizioni collection. Its construction combines the precision of glass with the sculptural shaping of metal, transforming a functional piece of furniture into a character with a strong identity. The visual lightness of the tabletop is a hallmark of the design, which contrasts with the solidity of the base and accentuates its poetic, playful, and unmistakably postmodern character.

Architect, designer, artist, and theorist, Alessandro Mendini was a key figure in the renewal of Italian design and one of the leading figures at Studio Alchimia. His work challenged the distinction between art and everyday objects through color, ornamentation, and irony. His creations are part of the collections of institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Design Museum Gent.