The present coffee table is a prototype created by Alessandro Mendini that embodies a key moment in the history of Italian 20th century design. It reveals the working process of Studio Alchymia, who were the radical predecessors of the Memphis group. Alessandro Guerriero, co-founder of Studio Alchymia who personally followed the creation of the present lot clearly recalls its execution. He explained that having a 1:1 model in front of them was used to understand its measurements, materials and everything that concerned its construction. The ‘Ondoso’ model table was later developed as part of the Studio Alchymia’s ‘Bauhaus’ series from 1979 which evolved from this prototype to include bright green, orange, blue and yellow legs, and a central red dot on the tabletop.
