Giò Pomodoro for Alessi - "Guscio n. 1" Miniature Sculpture/Vase - 1970s An extraordinary opportunity to own a masterpiece of 20th-century Italian art and design. This is the "Guscio n. 1", an iconic miniature sculpture-vase designed by the world-renowned sculptor Giò Pomodoro for the prestigious "Alessi d'Après" series, launched in 1972. This piece is not merely a functional object but a kinetic sculpture. The design explores Pomodoro’s signature theme of "surfaces in tension," where the polished metal appears to be pushed and shaped by internal forces. A hidden lead counterweight at the base allows the sphere to oscillate and always return to its upright position, creating a captivating interaction between the object and its owner. The contrast between the cold, industrial mirror-polished steel and the warm, organic yellow interior reflects the avant-garde spirit of the 1970s Italian "Neo-Design" movement. Authenticity & Details Every authentic piece from this series is a certified multiple. This specimen features: Engraved signature of the artist (Giò Pomodoro). Alessi hallmark (Alessi d'Après). Technical Specifications Condition: Excellent vintage condition. The stainless steel maintains a high-mirror shine. Minimal age-related surface micro-scratches may be present, consistent with its 50-year history. (Please see photos for details). Age: Circa 1972. Material: Mirror-polished Stainless Steel (exterior) and Isotactic Polypropylene (interior). Weighted with a lead baricenter. Origin: Crusinallo, Italy (Manifattura Alessi). Dimensions: Diameter: 6 cm Colours: Silver (Mirror Chrome) and Pastel Yellow. Why Bid on This Piece? Giò Pomodoro’s works are exhibited in the most important museums in the world (MoMA, Guggenheim). The "Alessi d'Après" collection represents a historic moment when high art met industrial excellence. This 6 cm miniature is a rare "pocket-sized" masterpiece, perfect for a refined desk, a "Wunderkammer," or as a sophisticated investment for collectors of Italian Design and Kinetic Art. Carefully packed and shipped worldwide with express tracked delivery. About designer: Giò Pomodoro (1930 – 2002) An undisputed master of 20th-century abstract sculpture, Giò Pomodoro is a central figure in Italian art and design history. His artistic research focused for decades on the concept of "surfaces in tension"—the idea that matter is not static, but rather molded by internal forces that stretch its volumes, creating organic and fluid forms. The "Guscio n. 1" represents the pinnacle of his collaboration with Alessi (from the Alessi d'Après series), born from the ambition to transform sculpture into an everyday object. In this miniature, Pomodoro applies his rigorous spatial poetics to a perfect sphere, where the "teardrop" incision reveals the internal void, turning a piece of industrial design into a work of kinetic art. His works are today part of the permanent collections of the most prestigious museums in the world, including: MoMA (New York) Tate Modern (London) Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna (Rome) Acquiring this multiple means owning a fragment of the history of kinetic art and the golden age of Italian "Designer-Art" from the 1970s.