1986-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)
Tray, 1983
- Alessi, S.p.a., Italian, founded 1921
- Michael Graves, American, 1934 - 2015
Silver plate, lacquered aluminum, bakelite , glass, and mock ivory
- Framed: Overall: 3 7/8 × 16 3/8 × 16 inches (9.8 × 41.6 × 40.6 cm)
Founders Society Purchase with funds from Founders Junior Council, James Pearson Duffy Fund, Lenora and Alfred Glancy Foundation Fund, Modern Decorative Arts and Sculpture Fund, Dr. and Mrs. George Kamperman Fund, Mr. and Mrs. Alvan Macauley, Jr. Fund
1986.27.6
Department
Contemporary Art after 1950
- Spheres
- Postmodern
- Lacquering
- Plate
- Bakelite (tm)
- Lacquer
- Silver
- Glass
- Tableware
- Tray
Details
In 1979 eleven international architects were commissioned to design limited-edition tea and coffee services by the Italian firm Alessi. Every set had to include six pieces and had to function in the normal way. Perhaps not unexpectedly, many of the services look like tiny buildings or parts of buildings.
Provenance
Published References
Tea and Coffee Piazza. Exh. cat., Officina Alessi and Max Protetch Gallery. New York, 1983-1986, pp. 9, 20, 34-37 (ill.). "Recent acquisitions." Bulletin of the DIA 63, nos. 3/4 (1988): 59 (ill.).
Rights Status
Courtesy of Max Protetch Gallery
Michael Graves; Alessi, S.p.a., Tray, 1983, silver plate, lacquered aluminum, Bakelite , glass, and mock ivory. Detroit Institute of Arts, Founders Society Purchase with funds from Founders Junior Council, James Pearson Duffy Fund, et al., 1986.27.6.
