Vintage Chimu Bowl by Joanna Lyle for Alessi (Designed 1992-1994)

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Designed by Joanna Lyle for Alessi between 1992 and 1994, the Chimu Bowl is a striking hemispherical vessel crafted from … Read more Designed by Joanna Lyle for Alessi between 1992 and 1994, the Chimu Bowl is a striking hemispherical vessel crafted from polished stainless steel. Supported on three small conical feet with wooden band inserts, the bowl is distinguished by a rim featuring a continuous, regular wave pattern, with each ascending curve arching over a small globular protrusion, forming a rhythmic frieze around its upper edge. Inspired by the ceremonial forms of the pre-Columbian Chimu culture, Lyle’s design embodies a fusion of historical reference and contemporary craftsmanship.

The Chimu Bowl was one of the first objects produced as part of Alessi’s Centro de Studi Alessi project (Alessi Research project) from 1991 to 1994, which sought collaboration with emerging female designers under 30. Alessi referred to these works as Memory Containers, inviting designers to explore “the archetypes of presentation and ‘offering’ of food and its rituals.” Participants were encouraged to draw from their cultural heritage and personal experiences while breaking away from conventional stylistic languages. Alessi’s vision for the project was to create a kind of “Creole project,” a test-tube fusion of diverse cultural influences that would otherwise take generations to develop organically. This experimental approach was documented in The Design Factory (1998) and The Dream Factory: Alessi Since 1921 (1998), where the initiative’s innovative methodology was explored in depth.

Manufactured by Alessi in Crusinallo between 1995 and 1999, the Chimu Bowl remains a testament to the brand’s commitment to both tradition and progressive design. Measuring 5.38 inches in height and 10.25 inches in both width and depth, it is in very good condition, with minor scuffs and scratches that subtly mark its journey through time See less