La Danese was founded in Milan by Bruno Danese and Jacqueline Vodoz. The company specialises in editing, designing, and marketing well-designed everyday products with a modern aesthetic. There were three significant focus areas: domestic and office products, artistic editions, children’s games and creative play stimuli.
Designers employed
The company employed many well‐known avant‐garde designers, including Enzo Mari and Bruno Munari (responsible for much of its output), Achille Castiglione, and Angelo Mangiarotti.
Works
Danese produced ceramics, wood, glass, plastic and children’s games. Amongst the most celebrated Danese products were;
- Munari’s melamine Cube Ashtray (1957)
- Mari’s aluminium and PVC Formosa desk calendar (1963).
- Triangular lamp (1961)
- Set of Hemispherical bowls (1969)
Exhibitions
The company’s history was celebrated in a 1988–89 travelling exhibition entitled Objects Danesi: profil d’une collection. Danese was sold to the French company Strafor/Facom in 1992, was acquired by Carlotta de Bevilacqua in 1999 and is now part of the Artemide group, which caters for a sophisticated metropolitan clientele.
Sources
Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.
Woodham, J. M. (2006). A dictionary of modern design. Oxford University Press.
Design Store
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Italian Glamour: The Essence of Italian Fashion, From the Postwar Years to the Present Day
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Masterpieces of Italian Design
$62.58 (as of April 19, 2024 18:56 GMT +10:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Inside Milan: Colorfully Creative Italian Interiors
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Italian Design
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$29.95 (as of April 19, 2024 18:56 GMT +10:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Mimi Thorisson
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