Alessi - William Alsop & Federico Grazzini - Set di saliera e pepiera - "Macinare" - Fusione di alluminio

A celebration of the dining table and all those tools that enhance the pleasure of sharing and enjoying good food: this was the design concept for the “Grind” salt, pepper and spice mill designed by William Alsop and Federico Grazzini in 2017. Not simply a gadget for the table where meals are eaten, but an object that is part of an essential experience. The expressive design of this grinder transforms an everyday object into a stylish and essential accessory to be proudly displayed on the dining table. It adds a touch of sophistication to any setting.

The designers have also introduced a small variation in the usual structure of this tool: when the grinder is not being used, it sits with the grinding mechanism facing upward. The grinder is thus clearly on display, stylishly framed by the distinctive design of the body of the mill. It is a functionally important detail as, after use, it allows “Grind” to be set down on the table without scattering any ground spice residue on the table.

The body of the mill is constructed from die-cast aluminum with a food-safe nylon interior. This material ensures it is suitable for contact with foodstuffs, guaranteeing the safety and quality of the spices being ground. The grinder features a ceramic grinding wheel, which makes it an excellent choice for effortlessly grinding a variety of spices, including salt, pepper, and other dry herbs and seasonings. This ceramic wheel is renowned for its exceptional resistance to corrosion and wear, ensuring a long-lasting performance that will enhance your culinary experience.

Operating the ''Grind'' grinder is straightforward. It offers different levels of fineness to accommodate personal preferences and different types of spices. By twisting the part housing the grinding wheel clockwise, you can achieve finer grinding. Conversely, twisting it anti-clockwise results in more coarsely ground spices.

Refilling the grinder is also a simple process. To add spices, you can turn the grinder upside down and remove the rotor, allowing you to top up the container easily. Closing it is just as effortless—fit the rotor back onto the central pin and press down lightly until it clicks back into place.

After completing the design of the ‘’Grind’’ grinder, Federico Grazzini pointed out the following:
“The item is designed to be a good weight in the hand (empty almost 500 grams): it should give the impression not of a little gadget or flimsy object, but of something solid, albeit of an unusual shape.

‘Grind’ has an innovative feature that we like to point out. Pepper mills usually have the ‘mouth’ at the bottom and after use, they always leave some ground salt or pepper on the tablecloth. In our pepper mill, on the other hand, the 'mouth' is housed in the top, eliminating that annoying problem. Indeed, ‘Grind’ has a ‘mouth’ a little like a sea urchin's, to which it may well be distantly related”

This ‘’Grind’’ grinder is in a new condition and has never been used before. Delivered with original packaging and documentation.

Note: this lot consist out of 1 grinder.

Dimensions: h cm 14,2 ø cm 7,5 - h 5½″ ø 3″

About the designers:
Sir William Alsop (1947-2018) was a renowned British architect and artist known for his distinctive and imaginative designs. He was born on December 12, 1947, in Northampton, England. Alsop's architectural style was characterized by its boldness, unconventional forms, and vibrant use of color. His most significant projects were the Passenger & Ferry Terminal in Hamburg; Barrage & Visitor Centre in Cardiff; Le Grand Bleu Government Headquarters in Marseilles; the Tottenham Hale and North Greenwich Jubilee Line Stations in London, the Reuters headquarters in Moscow; the State Archives in Hamburg.

Federico Grazzini: After completing his Architecture degree at the University of Florence in 1998, he relocated to London where he embarked on an exciting journey. In 1999, he joined Alsop Architects and immersed himself in a diverse range of projects, spanning architecture, product design, furniture design, and masterplanning. This experience led him to work closely with Will Alsop and artist Bruce McLean in Valencia, Spain. There, he served as a project and site architect, overseeing the creation of installations for the 2nd Valencia Contemporary Art Biennale, encompassing an impressive area of over 800 square meters dedicated to art exhibitions.

About Alessi:
Alessi, a renowned Italian design brand founded in 1921 Giovanni Alessi, has become a symbol of cutting-edge design and innovative craftsmanship, especially in Postmodernism and Contemporary design as well as some Bauhaus objects. Over the decades, it has collaborated with iconic designers such as Alessandro Mendini, Aldo Rossi, Achille Castiglioni, Ettore Sottsass (a founder of the Memphis group), Michael Graves, Marcel Wanders, Richard Sapper, Zaha Hadid, the Bouroullec brothers, Tom Kovac, Toyo Ito, Jean Nouvel, Ron Arad, and Gio Ponti. These collaborations have cemented Alessi's reputation for creating timeless, functional pieces that double as works of art. The most celebrated design is Philippe Starck's Juicy Salif citrus squeezer, which almost became Alessi’s brand symbol in the minds of design lovers. This makes Alessi a brand with high impact and rich marriage with fundamental design DNA. More recently, a collaboration with Virgil Abloh's creative agency infused a fresh, modern sensibility into Alessi’s offerings.