The Alessi Anna Gong Etagère was developed by Alessandro Mendini for the manufacturer Alessi, an Italian company which has set trends in interior decor for nearly a century, collaborating with a long list of internationally celebrated designers.
Alessandro Mendini first achieved fame in the 1960s as an architect in the postmodern style. After spending much of the 1970s working as a journalist, he returned to designing with new vigour in the 1980s, helping to inspire a general trend away from sober, unadorned functionalism and towards a more playful and whimsical aesthetic.
Created as a tongue in cheek tribute to Alessi's popular 898 stand from the 1960s, the Alessi Anna Gong Etagère measures 27cm in height, 20cm in width and 44cm in length. In its open position, this folding cake stand presents 3 elegant stainless steel dishes for displaying pastries and baked goods. When closed, it becomes a striking table centrepiece in the form of a smiling female face framed by a bobbed hairstyle. Compact and ingenious, it's a must for lovers of leisurely afternoon teas, and it's sure to make an appealing addition to the décor of cafes, tea-rooms and hotel dining areas.