The Alessi Brothers: A History of the Italian Designer Kitchenware Company

Designs by Alessi have long been recognised as classics in the field of kitchenware. Many of their products have been so admired that they have been collected rather than used in the domestic arena. If you looked through magazines over the last thirty years you will have noticed and no doubt admired Alessi made products for the kitchen, including the expressive alien lemon squeezer to the whistling bird tea kettle. It's not just rich fans of the Italian kitchenware company that can enjoy the dynamic and fascinating products they produce. Alessi products, whilst being of the highest quality are very much affordable to the everyday consumer.

Italian craftsman Giovanni Alessi founded the Alessi Company back in 1921. He lived in the foothills of the Alps in a small village called Omegna on Lake Orta. For the next twenty years, Giovanni would make a series of household items including brass, silver and nickel tableware. His exceptional talent and creativity were in fine evidence. This led to his work gaining a place in the collective Italian consciousness, like that of the motor racing giant Ferrari, for generations to come.

During the mid to late 1930's, Giovanni's eldest son Carlo Alessi joined the family business. Having trained as an industrial designer, Carlo was able to take the company to the next level. This came in two stages, the first during his first few years and the second, after the devastating Second World War, in the 1950's and beyond. It's safe to say that Carlo was the creative talent behind most of the products that came to be after his inclusion into the Alessi family business. His most famous and admired creation during this period was the 'Bombe Coffee series', which is still in full use today. A new era of Italian style and design had been born.

During the 1950's, Giovanni was appointed Chief Executive of the growing Aless design company. Along with his younger brother Ettore Alessi, they expanded the business by hiring freelance designers from across Italy. These included now famous names such as Anselmo Vitale, Carlo Mazzeri and Luigi Massoni.

Alessi Michael Graves Kettle with Bird Whistle, Blue Handle

Joseph Joseph Index Color Coded Chopping Boards, Set of 4

Alessi PSJS Juicy Salif Citrus Squeezer
Philippe Starck

Alessi Cactus Coffee Press
24 oz. capacity
Marta Sansoni

A di Alessi Michael Graves Kitchen Timer, Blue
1992

Alessi 9090/1 Stovetop Espresso Coffee Maker 1 Cup
MOMA New York

Alessi 17-3/4-Ounce Cocktail Shaker, Mirror Polish Finish

Alessi Honey Pot Honey Jar
Designed in 1995 by Theo Williams

Alessi Anna G. Corkscrew, Zamak
Designed by Alessandro Mendini

Alessi Jasper Morrison Utencils Set
5 pc

A di Alessi Diabolix Bottle Opener, Blue
Designed in 1994 by Biagio Cisotti

Alessi Big Love Ice Cream Bowl with Heart Shaped Spoon Green

A massive turning point in Alessi's fortunes came with the inclusion of Alberto Alessi into the family business. Alberto was Carlo's eldest son, Giovanni's grandson. In the early 1970's Carlo handed full control of the Alessi company over to Alberto thereby issuing in an exciting new phase for the already widely respected business. Many other family members were also placed into senior roles including Carlo's other sons Alessio and Michele plus his nephew Stefano.

This new blood injected a fantastic new style of development and design into the Alessi Company. A new dynamism and flare took over and catapulted the family business into the stratosphere of the design world. This was in large part to Alberto Alessi's gift for working and communicating with respected and influential designers across the country and later, the world. There was no hesitation for Alberto to ask an architect to design a fork or spoon, nor any dithering over the constraints of an industrial designer creating a whole line of flower vases. The cross-breeding of different disciplines within design led to both a gigantic collection and also some of the most famous and influential products on the market.

More than 250 designers have created products for the Alessi Design Factory over its many decades of life. Many have been famous and household names such as Philippe Starck, Richard Sapper, Ron Arad and Achille Castiglioni. A fourth generation of Alessi designers also came to be in the form of Michele's son, Matteo, Giovanni's great-grandson.

The Alessi Company in many ways considers itself to be a 'research laboratory in the field of the applied arts' rather than an industrial design factory and in a lot of cases that is true. Although in the sense of product production it is one of the leading producers in its field. However, perhaps more so than any other product design company, Alessi sees more of an intellectual and spiritual dimension to its being. This is not surprising and their philosophy is one of the reasons they have been so successful and unique.

A di Alessi Parrot Sommelier-Style Corkscrew

They've never been afraid to test new methods of production or new materials with which to construct kitchen items. Their almost childlike experimentation along with their expert and dedicated research has led to a vast array of dynamic and enthralling kitchenware products from lemon squeezers and corkscrews through to kettles and espresso coffee making machines.

Today, the Alessi Company employs around 500 people. It's estimated that close to 7,500 items of produced every day and that these are exported to more than fifty different countries worldwide.

A collector of Alessi products can expect to see such designs in nations across the globe. Discontinued items can be found in many places, often for reduced prices and part of the fun is in finding great bargains. In some countries, certain kitchenware objects remain more popular than in others and when holidaying abroad, you'll often come across some gems from the Alessi Italian Factory.

The following are a few of the most well known Alessi designs and links to where you can buy Alessi products that are showcased below.

In 1985, Alessi put on the market the Alessi Kettle with Bird Whistle designed by the architect Michael Graves. It was intended to be a stove kettle that would be greeted with enthusiasm in North America. They were right and the kettle became a timeless classic. The fascinating and charming design along with the cute bird-shaped bird whistle ensured its huge popularity. So much so that this item has been sold more than any other in the history of the Alessi Design Factory.

You can purchase this kettle as well as read more information about it, here:

Kettle with Bird Whistle by Alessi

The Alessi Juicy Salif Citrus Juicer was designed by Philippe Starck in 1990. This peculiar design is reminiscent of a UFO and indeed, that is part of its allure. The bold design aims to create freshly-squeezed citrus or orange juice whilst at the same time adding a remarkable decorative feature to a kitchen. As the citrus is pressed down, the juices are squeezed out and run down the aluminum spine into a glass below. This is another Alessi design that has been highly successful in the marketplace.

You can buy it from here:

Juicy Salif Citrus Juicer by Alessi

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