Why every home should have an Alessi lemon squeezer
The House Beautiful team pick a design classic we think you'll love forever – this time, the Alessi 'Juicy Salif’ lemon squeezer.
Who designed it?
Renowned architect and visionary Philippe Starck, who was born in Paris in 1949. While on holiday in Italy, Starck was enjoying some calamari when the idea for a new way to dispense lemon juice came to him. The squeezer hit the market in 1990 and has become one of Alessi's most famous products.
Why we love it?
When Philippe Starck first envisioned his now-iconic lemon squeezer, he hastily sketched it on a napkin as he sat at a pizzeria on the Italian island of Capraia. The finished drawings, on paper splattered with spills from his meal, were folded up and posted to Starck's client, design house Alessi.
Thus, the Juicy Salif was born and the stained napkin now sits in Alessi’s own design museum. Modelled after a squid (you know, because Starck was eating calamari), the squeezer is a perfect example of creative spontaneity. It helped to change the perception of how everyday objects could look.
Super fans of the Juicy Salif can shop for a statuesque version at Harrods. Standing at more than six feet tall and costing a whopping £1,000, the XXL version is made from polyethylene and will help you to ‘feel small in a world of huge objects’.
Why you'll love it?
In polished cast aluminium, the Juicy Salif stands roughly 30cm tall, with its three spider-like ‘legs’ creating space for a glass to sit neatly underneath. The eyecatching silhouette makes it probably the most conspicuous kitchen utensil to ever sit on a countertop.
Alessi president Alberto Alessi describes the piece as ‘one of the most amusing projects I’ve worked on’. As the squeezer celebrated its 25th anniversary, Philippe Starck admitted that he created the piece as much to be a conversation starter as a practical piece of equipment.
What makes a design icon?
For a piece to be truly iconic to the HB editors, it needs to:
Have longevity and really stand the test of time.
Illustrate innovative design, whether from the high street or a showroom.
Be recognisable homeware that deserves the spotlight.
Serve as an object of desire – beautiful, yes, but useful, too.
Be a piece that is used every day by House Beautiful editors.
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