Alessi - Alessandro Mendini - Tray - "Recinto" - 18/10 stainless steel mirror polished

Designed in 2000 by Alessandro Mendini, one of the most influential voices in Italian postmodern design, ''Recinto'' stands as a testament to his ability to marry artistic expression with everyday use, creating objects that are as beautiful to behold as they are pleasurable to use.

The name ''Recinto'', meaning “enclosure” or “bounded space” in Italian, subtly underscores the essence of the design. The tray’s decorative edge forms a refined perimeter, gently framing and containing the objects placed within it, turning the functional idea of an enclosed area into an aesthetic gesture.

This ''Recinto'' rectangular tray is a striking synthesis of elegance and utility, embodying the playful spirit and intellectual depth that marks Mendini’s work. Crafted in mirror-polished 18/10 stainless steel, the surface gleams like liquid metal, reflecting light and its surroundings to create subtle shifts in tone and shadow as it catches the eye, a signature of Alessi’s commitment to material precision and sculptural presence.

At first glance, ''Recinto'' appears classical in its simplicity, yet on closer inspection the scalloped, festoon-like edge reveals its lineage in Mendini’s early experimental pieces from the Alchimia period of the early 1980s, when similar trays were handcrafted in limited aluminium editions. This decorative edge, now refined in polished steel, evokes a delicate interplay of rhythm and restraint, drawing light around its perimeter and lending the tray an architectural poise.

The integrated side handles are cut directly into the form, offering a secure, ergonomic grip without disrupting the visual integrity of the piece. This attention to both form and function ensures ''Recinto'' works beautifully as a serving tray for everyday breakfasts, elegant aperitifs, or curated arrangements of desserts and drinks, blurring the line between utility object and sculptural artwork.

This ‘’Recinto’’ tray is in new condition and has never been used before. Delivered with original packaging.

Note: The tray features a dark Alessi sticker, which can remain in place during use or be removed if preferred

About Alessandro Mendini:
Alessandro Mendini (1931 - 2019) studied architecture at the Politecnico di Milano. Afterwards he became a designer and editor-in-chief for several magazines. Mendini played an important part in the development of Italian, postmodern, and radical design by contributing new “values” and “sensibilities” into design that have been eclipsed by commercialism and functionalism. Mendini received great attention for his work and was awarded with several prizes, including three times the Compasso d'Oro and the European Prize for Architecture.