Juicy Salif citrus squeezer des. Phillipe Stark , 1990 (made by Alessi)

Probably the only object in the world which would lead one to begin a sentence "This iconic  90's lemon-squeezer", and therefore also probably needing no introduction at all. However, for the sake of formality...

Kate Watson-Smythe, writing in The Independent, recounted the genesis of this instantly recognisable object: 'Philippe Starck was having lunch on the Amalfi coast. As he ordered a plate of calamari he was pondering his latest commission from the Italian design house Alessi. The company... had requested a tray. Starck needed to work out how to bring his unique talents to such a humdrum object. Glancing down at his plate, he realised that he had no lemon. As he beckoned to the waiter, Starck was suddenly seized by an idea. He began scribbling on his paper napkin.(Today) that napkin in in the Alessi Museum. Greasy and lemon-stained, it depicts the very first doodles of what would become the now iconic Juicy Salif lemon squeezer.'

Made from cast aluminium, 29 cm high, 14cm diameter.

French Inventor, architect, designer and artistic director Philippe Starck was born in 1949. He's has been creating objects that stimulate debate around design ever since he could pick up a pencil. 

Alessi, established in 1921, is a lynchpin of superb Italian design, committed to making the ordinary extraordinary. “A true design work must move people, convey emotions, bring back memories, surprise, and go against common thinking” - Alberto Alessi.

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