Alessi [Hardcover]

Michael Collins (Author)

Book Description

Series: Design Monograph S. | Publication Date: October 1, 1999

This book is dedicated to one of the late twentieth century's most enduring and influential designers and manufacturers: Allessi.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Collins is an expert on the work of Alessi and lectures on product design at Kingston University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Carlton Books; 1ST edition (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1858687373
• ISBN-13: 978-1858687377
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,486,203 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Back away slowly from this book!, May 26, 2004

By 

DONALD G. FOX "Santee Sioux" (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alessi (Hardcover)

I'm fairly used to art books presenting dull writing. However, most individuals buy art books to see pictures of art and learn some background about the piece, the artist, the time and context of the art, etc. This book is really meant for the ueber-critic: there are fifteen pages of an esoteric essay that can hardly keep the interest of a serious art critic much less anyone who is thinking that they might actually learn something about Alessi (other than the basics). The pictures of the pieces of Alessi are great (and that is why the book deserves any stars at all). I'm usually not this critical about books, but this book was most likely planned as a coffee table book to show off your Alessi gadgets. As long as no one actually tries to read the text, you'll be ok.

Unless this book is dropped into your lap, leave it alone and don't waste your money!

5.0 out of 5 stars "Uber text"? Pix are glorious, author curated for the Brit Museum!, April 15, 2009

By 

Beyond-Is-Within Also (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alessi (Hardcover)

I have to toss in my 2 cents' worth on this title, as I was surprised by the lone 2-star review below.

This gem is indeed a mini-coffee table production -- the pix are many, varied, beautifully printed on quality semi-gloss stock, and delectable!

The text is 15 pages of background and commentary by a guy who curated the Modern collection at the British Museum from 1979-86 and has written several books on post-modernism; it includes footnotes citing Walter Benjamin, Calinescu, and a Paul Goldberger New Yorker article, as well as Investor's Chronicle. Youse gotta problem wit' dat?

Uber text, schmoober text -- whatever. Just *do* add this mini-ogle to your Alessi bookshelf, your designer shelf, your homeware shelf, maybe even your PoMo coffee table (what, you don't have one?!?) -- in short, chill out, enjoy the yummies, and learn a bit about what Alessi thinks he's doing with all these post-groovy products....