Alessi

Italian espresso maker 9090, Poignée perforée (1978) metal / 3 cups - Induction / Alessi 100 Values Collection

Notice to collectors, design fans and everyone who’d like to rediscover the essential figures of Italian design! The iconic Italian brand Alessi is celebrating its 100th anniversary with the “Alessi 100 Values ​​Collection”: this collection celebrates the values that define the identity and practice of the Dream Factory (Fabbrica dei Sogni). A collection of surprising objects, from the Alessi Museum's Archive Fund, which includes projects that have never been produced before, brand-new versions of cult objects as well as icons in the making. Twelve projects, each referring to a different value, will be presented over twelve months, from May 2021 to April 2022. "Alessi 100 Values ​​Collection" celebrates 100 years of applied arts research and the start of a new century of experimentation. The sixth value highlighted by Alessi is Research Lab. A story told by two iconic coffee makers offered here in their draft versions, which express this research beautifully: Aldo Rossi's "La conica Manico lungo" and Richard Sapper's "9090 Manico forato". These "design essays" from the Alessi archives have never been produced before. 20th-century design icons that return to their original form, as originally created by their designer. Alberto Alessi explains: “For me, Alessi is an industrial research laboratory, where the infinite number of creative possibilities interact with the needs, or rather the dreams, of the public. In all, several hundred of the most inspiring designers from different eras that the company has known have collaborated with us. Their work has been the subject of a documentary archive kept in our museum. Two particularly interesting examples of this dimension at Alessi are the “9090” coffee maker by Richard Sapper and Aldo Rossi’s “La conica”, of which we present here two “design essays” which have never been produced, taken from our archives. The first model has a perforated, coloured handle, created by its German designer to limit heat conduction when preparing coffee. The second has a long side handle, like the “cuccuma”, the old Italian coffee maker often seen in the creations of the Milanese designer. The 9090 coffee maker was designed in 1978 by Richard Sapper (1932 - 2015). Born in Munich in 1932 and having arrived in Milan in the 1950s, Richard Sapper is considered one of the masters of Italian design, an eleven-time winner of the Compasso d’Oro Prize. This “9090 Manico Forato” version is the first created by the designer, before he made the modifications that would meet the constraints imposed by mass production. It has a perforated steel handle. A series of small holes extend over the entire length of the handle, which promote better thermal dispersion: an element as functional as it is aesthetically expressive. For the occasion, this handle is available in bright red instead of the usual burnished steel finish. The only colour present in Richard Sapper's work, red was used by the designer to emphasise the moving elements and joints in his creations. The position and surprising shape of the lever knob make it easy to lift the lid with just one hand. The widened base of the coffee maker allows the water to boil quickly, increases heat conduction from the hob, provides optimised use for induction and protects the handle from flames when used on gas. The flat-cup spout lets you pour the coffee cleanly. The linear design of the few elements that make up the 9090 coffee maker is actually the result of a complex manufacturing process that requires more than a hundred operations. A future collector’s piece, this creation is dedicated to all fans of Richard Sapper and those who appreciate objects with “strong narrative content”: an invitation to discover, in a new, original version, one of the greatest design icons of the 20th century. Protected by no less than five utility certificates, this revolutionary functional coffee maker has been awarded the Compasso d'Oro Prize and features in the permanent collections of the greatest design museums. Richard Sapper: “I wanted to give this coffee maker some features that others don’t have, like being able to open and wash it with just one hand. I wanted to make better use of the heat source, which is why the base was enlarged. I didn't want a plastic handle, because they always end up getting burnt and the coffee maker ends up in the bin. And then I wanted to make a coffee maker that didn't look like one... This kind of espresso maker is nothing like a regular coffee maker: it's a real little steam engine! ‘’. Very robust, this 3-cup espresso maker made entirely of steel is almost indestructible. It’s suitable for all hobs, including induction.

In detail:

• Variation : 3 cups / Steel & red

• Brand : Alessi

• Designer : Richard Sapper

• Type : Italian espresso maker

• Colour : Steel - Red perforated handle

• Material : Stainless steel 18/10 - Magnetic steel base (induction-compatible) - Steel handle

• Dimensions : Ø 11 x H 17.5 cm - Volume: 15 cl
• Weight : 1.76 lb
• Characteristics : Italian espresso maker - 3 cups - All heat sources including induction - Alessi 100 Values Collection: collection to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Alessi brand - Model created in 1978 by Richard Sapper (1932 - 2015) - Special edition 2021 (draft version with perforated handle) - Packaging specially created for Alessi's centenary
• Country of Manufacture : Italy