Alessi was founded in 1921 by Giovanni Alessi to produce crafted metal products for eating and drinking. In 1935, Carlo Alessi, son of Giovanni, was named chief designer. In 1945, he ascended to chief executive and designed the coffee service Bombé, an industrial piece manufactured in four sizes. That same year Carlo's younger brother, Ettore Alessi, joined the company as a technician. By the 1980s, Alberto Alessi took over the management of Alessi and launched the Alessi company into the design decade through collaborations with designers such as Philippe Starck and his playful three-legged Juicy Salif citrus squeezer.
