Work: Grillo
Design object
Original
- Space
- Design
- Designer
- Marco Zanuso
Richard Sapper - Company
- Siemens
- Date
- 1965
- Period
- 20th Century
- Production
- Out of production
- Dimensions
- 8 cm high, 18 cm wide, 8 cm deep; phone plug 7 cm high, 10 cm wide, 7 cm deep
- Material
- ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), electrical components, extensible telephone cord
- Section
- living
- Awards
- Compasso d'Oro Award - 9th Edition - 1967
Photo: Maurizio Bolognini. Museo Tattile Statale Omero Archive.
Description
“… when an object is truly well-made, it becomes nearly impossible to tell where observation ends and the transformation of our gestures begins,” notes Chiara Alessi.
Designed by Marco Zanuso and Richard Sapper in 1965, the Grillo telephone was manufactured in a variety of vibrant colors by Siemens until 1974. The version in our collection is rendered in a striking red.
The “Grillo” (Cricket) consists of two main elements: the handset itself and the wall plug, joined by a coiled cord. When closed, the handset resembles a low, elongated mound—soft and fluid in shape, yet rigid and durable to the touch, thanks to its ABS plastic construction. Measuring 16 cm long and 8 cm high, it is an object crafted to rest comfortably in the palm of the hand.
Upon being lifted, the hinged phone flips open and extends, allowing the perforated microphone section to unfold downward. Beneath the outer shell, the earpiece speaker is revealed at the top, while the classic rotary dial is nestled in a central recess.
The Grillo is not merely a design object characterized by innovative forms and materials; it introduced an entirely new way of interacting with technology at home. Its name derives from both its organic shape and its distinctive ringtone: a whimsical, insect-like metallic chirp that successfully replaced the jarring clang of traditional telephones.
Grillo telefono – duration 0:48
Sonic evocation of the object created by Paolo Ferrario