Pago Pago vase

Designed in 1969 by Enzo Mari for Danese Milano, the Pago-Pago vase is one of the most concise expressions of the Italian designer’s thinking. Its sculptural silhouette results from the interlocking of two vessels oriented in opposite directions. When turned upside down, the object presents either a wide opening or a narrower neck, thus offering two distinct uses and profiles within a single form.

The vase is made of mass-coloured ABS and formed in a single piece by injection moulding. Here, Enzo Mari exploits the specific qualities of plastic to create a form that could not be achieved using traditional ceramic or glassmaking techniques.

The model’s historical significance is confirmed by its presence in major public and heritage collections. A 1969 example, donated by Jacqueline and Bruno Danese, is notably held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The Pago-Pago has also featured in institutional exhibitions devoted to Enzo Mari, notably at the Design Museum in London, and is represented in the collection of the Fondazione Jacqueline Vodoz e Bruno Danese, an important reference for the history of Italian design.

Out of production