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Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Italian, 1917-2007

An architect, industrial designer, philosopher and provocateur, Ettore Sottsass led a revolution in the aesthetics and technology of modern design in the late 20th century. He was a wild man of the Radical Design movement that swept Italy in the late 1960s and ’70s, rejecting rationalism and modernism in favor of ever-more outrageous imaginings in lighting and furniture such as mirrors, lamps, chairs and tables.

Sottsass was the oldest member of the Memphis Group — a design collective, formed in Milan in 1980, whose irreverent, spirited members included Alessandro Mendini, Michele de Lucchi, Michael Graves and Shiro Kuramata. All had grown disillusioned by the staid, black-and-brown “corporatized” modernism that had become endemic in the 1970s. Memphis (the name stemmed from the title of a Bob Dylan song) countered with bold, brash, colorful, yet quirkily minimal designs for furniture, glassware, ceramics and metalwork. 

The Memphis Group mocked high-status by building furniture with inexpensive materials such as plastic laminates, decorated to resemble exotic finishes such as animal skins. Their work was both functional and — as intended — shocking.

Even as it preceded the Memphis Group's formal launch, Sottsass's iconic Ultrafragola mirror — in its conspicuously curved plastic shell and radical pops of pink neon — embodies many of the collective's postmodern ideals. 

Sottsass created innovative furnishings for the likes of Artemide, Knoll, Zanotta and Poltronova, where he reigned as artistic director for nearly two decades beginning in 1958. His most-recognized designs appeared in the first Memphis collection, issued in 1981 — notably the multihued, angular Carlton room divider and Casablanca bookcase. As pieces on 1stDibs demonstrate, however, Sottsass is at his most inspired and expressive in smaller, secondary furnishings such as lamps and chandeliers, and in table pieces and glassware that have playful and sculptural qualities.

Sottsass left the Memphis Group in 1985 in order to concentrate on the growth of Sottsass Associati, a design and architecture consultancy he cofounded in 1980. 

It was as an artist that Sottsass was celebrated in his life, in exhibitions at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, in 2006, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art a year later. Even then Sottsass’s work prompted critical debate. And for a man whose greatest pleasure was in astonishing, delighting and ruffling feathers, perhaps there was no greater accolade. That the work remains so revolutionary and bold — that it breaks with convention so sharply it will never be considered mainstream — is a testament to his genius.

Find Ettore Sottsass lighting, decorative objects and furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Ettore Sottsass
Ettore Sottsas Tahiti Lamp /Memphis
Ettore Sottsas Tahiti Lamp /Memphis

Ettore Sottsas Tahiti Lamp /Memphis

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in PARIS, FR

Tahiti designed by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano is a table lamp made with a rotating head in polychrome enamelled metal on a plastic laminate base with black and white Bacterio...

Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal

Ettore Sottsass, rare 'Califfo' model armchair, produced by Poltronova, 1965
Ettore Sottsass, rare 'Califfo' model armchair, produced by Poltronova, 1965

Ettore Sottsass, rare 'Califfo' model armchair, produced by Poltronova, 1965

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Firenze, IT

RARE EXAMPLE OF CALIPH MODEL ARMCHAIR wooden frame, cushion and mattress covered in fabric in blue and yellow Poltronova production, Agliana, circa 1965 Bibliography for compariso...

Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Steel

20th Century, Ettore Sottsass Wooden Picture Frame for Il Sestante, 1960s
20th Century, Ettore Sottsass Wooden Picture Frame for Il Sestante, 1960s

20th Century, Ettore Sottsass Wooden Picture Frame for Il Sestante, 1960s

By Il Sestante, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Torino, Piemonte

Ettore Sottsass grew up in Turin, and graduated in architecture from the Turin Polytechnic in 1939. In 1947, he founded his own studio in Milan. In 1956, Sottsass moved to New York w...

Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood

Mandarin Table, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
Mandarin Table, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection

Mandarin Table, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection

By Memphis Group, Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

Mandarin table in plastic laminate, metal and glass, designed in 1981 by Ettore Sottsass. Ettore Sottsass was born in Innsbruck in 1917. In 1939 he gr...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Glass, Plastic

White Lampros Pendant by Ettore Sottsass for Stilnovo, 1970
White Lampros Pendant by Ettore Sottsass for Stilnovo, 1970

White Lampros Pendant by Ettore Sottsass for Stilnovo, 1970

By Ettore Sottsass, Stilnovo

Located in Rotterdam, NL

Large Lampros pendant designed by Ettore Sottsass Jr. and produced by Stilnovo in the 1970s. This disc-shaped model consists of a white aluminium shade and three chromed metal refle...

Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal

Pair of lounge chairs, model "Westside" by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll, Italy 1982
Pair of lounge chairs, model "Westside" by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll, Italy 1982

Pair of lounge chairs, model "Westside" by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll, Italy 1982

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in New York, NY

Pair of "Westside" armchairs designed by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll International. The armchairs are constructed of geometric shapes and covered with a blue and green fabric...

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Ettore Sottsass "Cream" occasional table for Memphis Milano
Ettore Sottsass "Cream" occasional table for Memphis Milano

Ettore Sottsass "Cream" occasional table for Memphis Milano

By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano

Located in Skokie, IL

Cream end table in plastic laminate by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano collection. Applied aluminum manufacturer's label to side ‘Memphis Milano Ettore Sottsass 1984 Made in Italy.'

Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Plastic, Plywood

Contemporary "Shibam 2" Totem Mirror by Ettore Sottsass Jr. for Glas Italia
Contemporary "Shibam 2" Totem Mirror by Ettore Sottsass Jr. for Glas Italia

Contemporary "Shibam 2" Totem Mirror by Ettore Sottsass Jr. for Glas Italia

By Glas Italia, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Brescia, Brescia

A tribute to the iconic towers of Yemen's historic walled city of Shibam, this totem mirror by Ettore Sottsass Jr. is a captivating centerpiece for any interior. The mirror's design ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Granite

Pair of Ettore Sottsass East Side Armchair for Knoll, circa 1980, Italy
Pair of Ettore Sottsass East Side Armchair for Knoll, circa 1980, Italy

Pair of Ettore Sottsass East Side Armchair for Knoll, circa 1980, Italy

By Knoll, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Girona, Spain

DESCRIPTION: Pair of Ettore Sottsass East Side Armchair for Knoll, circa 1980, Italy. Very decorative piece made with black leather and metal base. CONDITION: Good condition. Wear co...

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal

Midcentury Decorated Vase by Ettore Sottsass for Egizia, Italy, 1980
Midcentury Decorated Vase by Ettore Sottsass for Egizia, Italy, 1980

Midcentury Decorated Vase by Ettore Sottsass for Egizia, Italy, 1980

By Egizia, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Piacenza, Italy

Glass vase in orange shades with silver animals decoration. Beautiful piece made by Ettore Sottsass forEgizia. Italy, 1980 The vase has its original label.

Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Glass

Ettore Sottsass “Westside” Sofa for Knoll International, 1982
Ettore Sottsass “Westside” Sofa for Knoll International, 1982

Ettore Sottsass “Westside” Sofa for Knoll International, 1982

By Knoll, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Lonigo, Veneto

Ettore Sottsass “Westside” sofa for Knoll International, foam and fabric, Italy, 1982. The “Westside” collection is an iconic project created by Ett...

Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Foam

Ettore Sottsass for Swid Powell “Renaissance” Cup & Saucer, Set of 4
Ettore Sottsass for Swid Powell “Renaissance” Cup & Saucer, Set of 4

Ettore Sottsass for Swid Powell “Renaissance” Cup & Saucer, Set of 4

By Swid Powell, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Jensen Beach, FL

Exceptionally rare set of cups & saucers by the inimitable Ettore Sottsass, designed for Swid Powell. This set is held in the private collections of prominent museums, such as Th...

Category

1980s Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

20th Century Ettore Sottsass Candle Holder Luce di Luna in Crystal for RSVP
20th Century Ettore Sottsass Candle Holder Luce di Luna in Crystal for RSVP

20th Century Ettore Sottsass Candle Holder Luce di Luna in Crystal for RSVP

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Torino, Piemonte

Very elegant candle holder designed by the italian maestro Ettore Sottsass at the end of '90s for RSVP. The candle holder is the model "Luce di Luna". The candle holder is entirely i...

Category

1990s Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Crystal

Pink ‘Ultrafragola’ Mirror Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy
Pink ‘Ultrafragola’ Mirror Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy

Pink ‘Ultrafragola’ Mirror Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in London, GB

The curvaceous pink ‘Ultrafragola’ mirror designed by Ettore Sottsass is probably the most iconic of all his many designs. Originally produced in the 1970s by Poltronova, the ‘Ultrafragola’ formed part of a series of Sottsass designs named Mobili Grigi. When illuminated, the lights within the mirror transform the white opaline acrylic shell into a stunning multi-pink display. This unique, individually numbered, re-edition piece is still produced by the same Florentine company today and is sold with a “Certificate of Authenticity”. The perfectly pink ‘selfie’ mirror!

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Glass, Acrylic

Mandarin Chairs by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll  (up to 30)
Mandarin Chairs by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll  (up to 30)

Mandarin Chairs by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll (up to 30)

By Ettore Sottsass, Knoll

Located in BROOKLYN, NY

Iconic Postmodern Mandarin chairs designed by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll in amazing period Uphostery original and in good condition. Black enamel steel legs and sculptural undulating ...

Category

1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Steel

Bay Table Lamp USA, 110 Volts, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
Bay Table Lamp USA, 110 Volts, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection

Bay Table Lamp USA, 110 Volts, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection

By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

Here you are shown the US wired, Bay Table Lamp in glass, aluminum and plexiglass, designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1983 for Memphis Milano. Ettore Sotts...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

Vintage Ettore Sottsass Italian Ceramic Pedestal Bowl for BitossiBlack and Blue
Vintage Ettore Sottsass Italian Ceramic Pedestal Bowl for BitossiBlack and Blue

Vintage Ettore Sottsass Italian Ceramic Pedestal Bowl for BitossiBlack and Blue

By Ettore Sottsass, Bitossi

Located in Troy, MI

Vintage Ettore Sottsass "Alzata Piccola" centerpiece bowl for Bitossi Italy 1997 Round ceramic footed vessel in cobalt blue and black glazes with matte white center Signed to under...

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Gli Specchi Di Dioniso 3 Wall Mirror by Ettore Sottsass for Glas Italia IN STOCK
Gli Specchi Di Dioniso 3 Wall Mirror by Ettore Sottsass for Glas Italia IN STOCK

Gli Specchi Di Dioniso 3 Wall Mirror by Ettore Sottsass for Glas Italia IN STOCK

By Glas Italia, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Dioniso3 Gli Specchi di Dioniso wall mirror is from a collection of 6 wall mirrors in different shapes and sizes characterizes by polychromatic frames composed of elements in laminat...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Mirror

Pair of Ettore Sottsass Silver Candlesticks for Swid Powell and Reed and Barton
Pair of Ettore Sottsass Silver Candlesticks for Swid Powell and Reed and Barton

Pair of Ettore Sottsass Silver Candlesticks for Swid Powell and Reed and Barton

By Reed & Barton, Swid Powell, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Kansas City, MO

Striking pair of silver plated candlesticks designed by Ettore Sottsass and made by Swid Powell in collaboration with Reed and Barton, 1980s.  

Category

1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Silver

Freemont Gilded Wood Console, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
Freemont Gilded Wood Console, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection

Freemont Gilded Wood Console, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection

By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

Freemont gilded wood console in wood, plastic laminate and aluminum. Designed in 1985, by Ettore Sottsass. Ettore Sottsass was born in Innsbruck i...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Wood, Plastic

Ettore Sottsass Twenty-Seven Woods for a Chinese Artificial Flower Vase A
Ettore Sottsass Twenty-Seven Woods for a Chinese Artificial Flower Vase A

Ettore Sottsass Twenty-Seven Woods for a Chinese Artificial Flower Vase A

By Ettore Sottsass, Design Gallery Milano

Located in Barcelona, ES

Twenty-seven woods for a Chinese artificial flower vase A by Ettore Sottsass, edited by Design Gallery Milano, 1995. Limited edition of 12 signed and numered pieces, number 8 / 12. ...

Category

1990s European Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Brass

20th Century Ettore Sottsass Pair of poufs mod. Dado T29 for Poltronova
20th Century Ettore Sottsass Pair of poufs mod. Dado T29 for Poltronova

20th Century Ettore Sottsass Pair of poufs mod. Dado T29 for Poltronova

By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova

Located in Torino, Piemonte

Ettore Sottsass grew up in Turin, and graduated in architecture from the Turin Polytechnic in 1939. In 1947, he founded his own studio in Milan. In 1956, Sottsass moved to New York w...

Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Velvet, Wood

Olivetti "Valentine" Typewriter by Ettore Sottsass
Olivetti "Valentine" Typewriter by Ettore Sottsass

Olivetti "Valentine" Typewriter by Ettore Sottsass

By Ettore Sottsass, Olivetti

Located in Vienna, AT

Famous portable typewriter by Sottsass for Olivetti, Italy from the 1960s. Totally functional with some wear. 3 pieces available.  

Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Steel

Hyatt Metal and Wood Table, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
Hyatt Metal and Wood Table, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection

Hyatt Metal and Wood Table, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection

By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

Hyatt table designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1984 for Memphis, in metal and laminated wood. Ettore Sottsass was born in Innsbruck in 1917. In 1939 he gradu...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal

Italian modern dining table Palm Spring by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis, 1984
Italian modern dining table Palm Spring by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis, 1984

Italian modern dining table Palm Spring by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis, 1984

By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano

Located in MIlano, IT

Italian modern laminate dining table Palm Spring by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis, 1984 Palm Spring dining table with rectangular top in red lacquered wood and edges covered in blue, w...

Category

1980s Italian Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Formica, Wood

1st Edition 'Shiva' Vase by Ettore Sottsass for B.D Barcelona, Spain, c.1973
1st Edition 'Shiva' Vase by Ettore Sottsass for B.D Barcelona, Spain, c.1973

1st Edition 'Shiva' Vase by Ettore Sottsass for B.D Barcelona, Spain, c.1973

By BD Barcelona Design, Ettore Sottsass

Located in London, GB

Designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1973, the Shiva vase is a striking and sculptural piece that captures his bold approach to form and colour. Its clean lines and stacked form give it a ...

Category

1970s Spanish Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Ettore Sottsass Filicudi Dining Table
Ettore Sottsass Filicudi Dining Table

Ettore Sottsass Filicudi Dining Table

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Weesp, NL

Extendable Filicudi Dining Table, a masterpiece of design and functionality from the renowned Italian furniture brand, Zanotta. Designed by the legendary Ettore Sottsass in 1992, t...

Category

1990s Italian Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Laminate, Wood

Ettore Sottsass Vase Mediterraneo Green Gilt Waves Lavori in Corso Signed Dated
Ettore Sottsass Vase Mediterraneo Green Gilt Waves Lavori in Corso Signed Dated

Ettore Sottsass Vase Mediterraneo Green Gilt Waves Lavori in Corso Signed Dated

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Wilton, CT

Ettore Sottsass Mediterreneo large vase or urn with gilt waves on a green glazed ground. From an edition of 15, dated 2000. Original Lavori in Corso label. Measures:  9" high, 9 3/4"...

Category

Early 2000s Italian Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Pottery

Eastside Sofa by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll, 1980s, All Original, Ready to Use
Eastside Sofa by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll, 1980s, All Original, Ready to Use

Eastside Sofa by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll, 1980s, All Original, Ready to Use

By Ettore Sottsass, Knoll

Located in Kansas City, MO

Eastside Sofa by Ettore Sottsass and manufactured by Knoll, 1980s. Original black leather and gray and black patterned fabric. Aluminum and steel base co...

Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Leather, Upholstery

'Cometa' Floorlamp by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova/Design Centre, Italy 1970s
'Cometa' Floorlamp by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova/Design Centre, Italy 1970s

'Cometa' Floorlamp by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova/Design Centre, Italy 1970s

By Ettore Sottsass, Design Centre

Located in Hellouw, NL

There are moments in design history where light becomes architecture. The “Cometa” floor lamp, designed in 1971 by Ettore Sottsass for Design Centre / Poltronova, belongs to that cat...

Category

1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal

2 Fililla Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

2 Fililla Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

By Memphis Group, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

The Fililla Glass Vase is blown glass, with a pendant and was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1986. Signed on the base, for further information please see authenticity info...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Blown Glass

Nairobi Bar Cabinet by Ettore Sottsass
Nairobi Bar Cabinet by Ettore Sottsass

Nairobi Bar Cabinet by Ettore Sottsass

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Long Island City, NY

Nairobi bar cabinet by Ettore Sottsass for Zanotta in a red ebonized and aniline-dyed wood and signed to upper left side 'Ettore Sottsass'. The cabinet features two doors concealing ...

Category

1980s Italian Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Brass

Rare Light Object 'Asteroide' by Ettore Sottsass, 1968
Rare Light Object 'Asteroide' by Ettore Sottsass, 1968

Rare Light Object 'Asteroide' by Ettore Sottsass, 1968

By Ettore Sottsass, Design Centre

Located in Berlin, DE

Rare light object by Ettore Sottsass One side pink, translucent on the other Black-lacquered aluminium stand, chromed metal bow, acryl, neon Original sti...

Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

Venini Firenze Pendant Light in Brown and Yellow by Ettore Sottsass
Venini Firenze Pendant Light in Brown and Yellow by Ettore Sottsass

Venini Firenze Pendant Light in Brown and Yellow by Ettore Sottsass

By Venini, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Firenze suspension lamp, designed by Ettore Sottsass and manufactured by Venini, features handmade blown glass colored elements and crystal color discs. Numbered edition. Indoor use ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Blown Glass

Ettore Sottsass Pink Ceramic Shiva Flower Vase, by BD Barcelona
Ettore Sottsass Pink Ceramic Shiva Flower Vase, by BD Barcelona

Ettore Sottsass Pink Ceramic Shiva Flower Vase, by BD Barcelona

By BD Barcelona Design, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Barcelona, ES

Shiva ceramic flower vase designed by Ettore Sottsass, circa 1973, edited by BD in Barcelona. In good original condition with minor wear consistent with age and use preserving a bea...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Mid-Century Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Modern Murano Table Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for Venini, Signed ca. 1994
Modern Murano Table Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for Venini, Signed ca. 1994

Modern Murano Table Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for Venini, Signed ca. 1994

By Venini, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Merida, Yucatan

Beautiful table lamps in orange and green hand-blown Murano glass. Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Venini and manufactured in 1994. The glass shade is signed "Venini ". We have the ...

Category

1990s Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Murano Glass

Kampa bookcase by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Design
Kampa bookcase by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Design

Kampa bookcase by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Design

By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Ravenna, IT

The product in question is marked as 1stsample and is sold with a certificate of authenticity. Kampa is a three-element bookcase with table created by Ettore Sottsass as part of the ...

Category

Early 2000s Italian Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Steel

Twenty-Seven Woods for a Chinese Artificial Flower Vase S by Ettore Sottsass
Twenty-Seven Woods for a Chinese Artificial Flower Vase S by Ettore Sottsass

Twenty-Seven Woods for a Chinese Artificial Flower Vase S by Ettore Sottsass

By Ettore Sottsass, Design Gallery Milano

Located in Barcelona, ES

Twenty-seven woods for a Chinese artificial flower vase S by Ettore Sottsass, edited by Design Gallery Milano, 1995. Limited edition of 12 signed and numbered pieces, number 10 / 1...

Category

1990s European Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Wood

Ettore Sottsass Sant'Ambrogio and De Berti 1960's designer coffee table
Ettore Sottsass Sant'Ambrogio and De Berti 1960's designer coffee table

Ettore Sottsass Sant'Ambrogio and De Berti 1960's designer coffee table

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Taranto, IT

We present an iconic coffee table by Ettore Sottsass Sant'Ambrogio and De Berti, 1970's. The item is in excellent conservative condition, no cosmetic or structural flaws to report,...

Category

1960s Italian Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Wood

3 Modern Murano Table Lamps by Ettore Sottsass for Venini, Signed ca. 1994
3 Modern Murano Table Lamps by Ettore Sottsass for Venini, Signed ca. 1994

3 Modern Murano Table Lamps by Ettore Sottsass for Venini, Signed ca. 1994

By Venini, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Merida, Yucatan

Beautiful hand-blown Murano glass table lamps in a variation of blue tones, Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Venini and manufactured in 1994. The glass shade is signed "Venini ". Etto...

Category

1990s Italian Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Murano Glass

20th Century Ettore Sottsass RSVP Centerpiece Mod, Rosa in Colored Glass
20th Century Ettore Sottsass RSVP Centerpiece Mod, Rosa in Colored Glass

20th Century Ettore Sottsass RSVP Centerpiece Mod, Rosa in Colored Glass

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Torino, Piemonte

Ettore Sottsass grew up in Turin, and graduated in architecture from the Turin Polytechnic in 1939. In 1947, he founded his own studio in Milan. In 1956, Sottsass moved to New York w...

Category

Early 2000s Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Glass

Nilo Porcelain Vase by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

Nilo Porcelain Vase by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano, Memphis Group

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

The Nilo vase was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1983 for Memphis Milano 1981-1988. A classic by Sottsass, the Nilo porcelain vase is part of thre...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Ettore Sottsass, Shiva Vase, Pink Glazed, Ceramic, Spanish, 20th Century
Ettore Sottsass, Shiva Vase, Pink Glazed, Ceramic, Spanish, 20th Century

Ettore Sottsass, Shiva Vase, Pink Glazed, Ceramic, Spanish, 20th Century

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Barcelona, ES

The Shiva vase is sculpture and vase. It is a symbol of Ettore Sottsass and an icon. Sottsass designed the Shiva Vase when travelling to Barcelona for love in 1973. He encountered m...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Contemporary Art TOTEM Clair De Lune Light Blue White N/Edit. by Ettore Sottsass

Contemporary Art TOTEM Clair De Lune Light Blue White N/Edit. by Ettore Sottsass

By Mirabili, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Pistoia, IT

Limited edition of 29 pieces. From Primitive clay magma, by playing with shapes, Sottsass makes the “philosophy” of a state of mind visible and concrete: as if in the musical atmosph...

Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Ceramic, Wood

Pink Glazed Ceramic Shiva Flower Vase by Ettore Sottsass 20th Century Spanish
Pink Glazed Ceramic Shiva Flower Vase by Ettore Sottsass 20th Century Spanish

Pink Glazed Ceramic Shiva Flower Vase by Ettore Sottsass 20th Century Spanish

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Barcelona, ES

The Shiva vase is sculpture and vase. It is a symbol of Ettore Sottsass and an icon. Sottsass designed the Shiva Vase when travelling to Barcelona for love in 1973. He encountered m...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Alaska Silver Plated Brass Flower Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

Alaska Silver Plated Brass Flower Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano, Memphis Group

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

The Alaska Silver Plated Brass Flower Vase was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1982. The vase is also available in solid 925 sterling silve...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Brass, Silver Plate

Ettore Sottsass brass and pink glasses mirror by Santambrogio & De Berti, 1960s
Ettore Sottsass brass and pink glasses mirror by Santambrogio & De Berti, 1960s

Ettore Sottsass brass and pink glasses mirror by Santambrogio & De Berti, 1960s

By Ettore Sottsass, Santambrogio & De Berti

Located in Chiavari, Liguria

An elegant wall mirror designed by Ettore Sottsass and produced by Santambrogio & De Berti in Lissone in the early 1960s. Crafted with refined materials including brass and glass, t...

Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Brass

12 Amaltea Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

12 Amaltea Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

By Memphis Milano, Memphis Group, Ettore Sottsass

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

The Amaltea Vase was designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1986. The vase is part of the “Amaltea Glass” collection. Made in Murano. Signed “E.Sottsass per Memphis”. Signed on the base. Et...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Glass

Ashoka Metal Table Lamp 'EU' 220 Volts, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano
Ashoka Metal Table Lamp 'EU' 220 Volts, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano

Ashoka Metal Table Lamp 'EU' 220 Volts, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano

By Memphis Group, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

Here you are shown the EU wired, Ashoka table lamp in lacquered metal, designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1981 for Memphis Milano. Ettore Sottsass was b...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal

Red "Galassia" wooden Bed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy 1963
Red "Galassia" wooden Bed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy 1963

Red "Galassia" wooden Bed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy 1963

By Poltronova, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Argelato, BO

Rare and spectacular Galassia post-Modern bed in painted wood, designed by the great Italian architect and designer Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova. Bibliography: Domus 407 (October ...

Category

1960s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Wood

1990s Ettore Sottsass for Knoll Mandarin Dining Chairs in Orange w/ Upholstery
1990s Ettore Sottsass for Knoll Mandarin Dining Chairs in Orange w/ Upholstery

1990s Ettore Sottsass for Knoll Mandarin Dining Chairs in Orange w/ Upholstery

By Knoll, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Philadelphia, PA

This is a Postmodern “Mandarin” armchair, initially designed by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll in 1986. These examples date to the 1990s, and the listed price includes one chair. We h...

Category

1990s American Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Steel

“Accademia” Coffee maker by Ettore Sottsass for Lagostina, 1980s
“Accademia” Coffee maker by Ettore Sottsass for Lagostina, 1980s

“Accademia” Coffee maker by Ettore Sottsass for Lagostina, 1980s

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in bruxelles, BE

Metal coffee maker by Ettore Sottsass. Model: Accademia. stamped “Lagostina” on the bottom. Wear due to age and time. FOR SHIPPING, REQUEST US FOR RECEIVE THE BEST PRICE

Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal

Ettore Sottsass “Mandarin” Black Eco Leather Dining Chairs for Knoll, a Pair
Ettore Sottsass “Mandarin” Black Eco Leather Dining Chairs for Knoll, a Pair

Ettore Sottsass “Mandarin” Black Eco Leather Dining Chairs for Knoll, a Pair

By Knoll, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Miami, FL

Memphis Postmodern Mandarin chairs rendered in black lacquered steel frame with black Naugahyde cushioned seats designed by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll.

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Steel

Ettore Sottsass Vase Alpha, Limited Edition of 12, Wood, 1995, Italy
Ettore Sottsass Vase Alpha, Limited Edition of 12, Wood, 1995, Italy

Ettore Sottsass Vase Alpha, Limited Edition of 12, Wood, 1995, Italy

By Ettore Sottsass, Design Gallery Milano

Located in Barcelona, ES

Twenty-seven woods for a Chinese artificial flower vase alpha by Ettore Sottsass, edited by Design Gallery Milano, 1995. Limited edition of 12 signed and numbered pieces, number 7 /...

Category

1990s European Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Brass

"Alfiere" wall cabinet with shelves , Ettore Sottsass for Zanotta, 1982.
"Alfiere" wall cabinet with shelves , Ettore Sottsass for Zanotta, 1982.

"Alfiere" wall cabinet with shelves , Ettore Sottsass for Zanotta, 1982.

By Ettore Sottsass, Zanotta

Located in Milano, Lombardia

Rare "Alfiere" wall cabinet with red Verona marble base, two patterned laminated wood shelves and nickel-plated tubular element. Design by Ettore Sottsass for Zanotta, 1982.

Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Marble, Metal

The Mandarin armchair by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll, 1986
The Mandarin armchair by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll, 1986

The Mandarin armchair by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll, 1986

By Knoll, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Athens, Attiki

The Mandarin chair by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll, 1986. The Mandarin Chair was a particular favorite for corporate interiors, restaurants and libraries. Its flowing, sculptural arm in...

Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal

Ettore Sottsass furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Ettore Sottsass furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Ettore Sottsass furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 389 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 188 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Ettore Sottsass were created in the modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Gaetano Pesce, Alessandro Mendini, and VG-VGnewtrend. Prices for Ettore Sottsass furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $104 and can go as high as $88,999, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $4,267.
Questions About Ettore Sottsass Furniture
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024
    Ettore Sottsass is famous for his work as an architect and an industrial designer, which spurred a revolution in the aesthetics and technology of modern design in the late 20th century. He was the oldest member of the Memphis Group, a design collective formed in Milan in 1980. Having grown disillusioned by the staid, black-and-brown corporatized modernism that had become endemic in the 1970s, the Memphis Group produced bold, brash, colorful, yet quirkily minimal designs for furniture, glassware, ceramics and metalwork. They mocked high status by building furniture with inexpensive materials, such as plastic laminates, decorated to resemble exotic finishes like animal skins. Other than his Ultrafragola mirror (1970), Sottsass's most-recognized designs appeared in the first Memphis collection, issued in 1981. They include the multihued, angular Carlton room divider and Casablanca bookcase. Shop a diverse assortment of Ettore Sotsass furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Ettore Sottsass was from Innsbruck, Austria. He was born there on September 14, 1917, but he moved to Turin, Italy, as a child. The Italian architect and designer died in Milan, Italy, on December 31, 2007. You'll find a variety of Ettore Sottsass furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 13, 2024
    The Italian design group led by Italian architectural and product designer Ettore Sottsass is called the Memphis Group. To many people, postmodern design is synonymous with the Memphis Group. This Italian collaborative created the most radical and attention-getting designs of the period, upending most of the accepted standards of how furniture should look. The group decided to design, produce and market its own collection, one that wouldn’t be restricted by concerns like functionality and so-called good taste. Its debut at Milan’s 1981 Salone del Mobile drew thousands of viewers and caused a major stir in design circles. In addition to Sottsass, the members of the group included Andrea Branzi, Aldo Cibic, Michele de Lucchi, Nathalie du Pasquier, Kuramata, Paola Navone, Peter Shire, George Sowden and Barbara Radice, who was Sottsass's wife. Find a collection of Memphis Group furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Ettore Sottsass was an architect and designer. He founded the Memphis Group, a collective of designers active from 1981 to 1987. The Ultrafragola mirror is one of his most well-known designs. On 1stDibs, you can shop a variety of Ettore Sottsass furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To pronounce Ettore Sottsass, say "AY-tore-ee SOAT-sas." The second syllable of the designer's surname sounds similar to the word “sauce” but with a shorter, clipped vowel. On 1stDibs, find a range of Ettore Sottsass furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Ettore Sottsass studied at the Politecnico di Torino in Turin, Italy. In 1939, he graduated from the institution with a degree in architecture. Sottsass began working as an artist and designer in the late 1940s. He produced furniture, ceramics, paintings, sculptures and jewelry. Find a variety of Ettore Sottsass furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Ettore Sottsass was a famous 20th century architect and designer known for his work in furniture, lighting, jewelry and more, as well as from his work in designing buildings. He was Italian, though he was born in Austria, and lived from 1917 to 2007. Shop a range of Ettore Sottsass pieces on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Ettore Sottsass was inspired by many things, including pop culture, travel and various cultures from around the world. His primary objective of his work was to bring out the deeper beauty of whatever he created. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Ettore Sottsass furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024
    Ettore Sottsass used a variety of materials over the course of his career. The Italian artist experimented with glass, ceramics, enamel, brass, textiles and more. Along with fellow members of the Memphis Group, he skewed expectations for furniture by using inexpensive materials such as plastic laminates decorated to resemble exotic finishes like animal skins. He also revolutionized ceramics through the pieces he created for the Italian maker Bitossi. On 1stDibs, shop a range of Ettore Sottsass art.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Ettore Sottsass's father, also named Ettore Sottsass, designed modernist architecture. He worked for the firm Movimento Italiano per l'Architettura Razionale or MIAR. Giuseppe Pagano was the company's head architect. On 1stDibs, shop a range of Ettore Sottsass furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Ettore Sottsass did not design the Carlton room divider for a specific patron or client. He created the piece while working with the Memphis Group, an art collective that held joint shows from 1981 to 1987. Find a selection of Ettore Sottsass furniture on 1stDibs.