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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
Bitossi Ceramiche Vaso Rocchetto by Ettore Sottsass
Bitossi Ceramiche Vaso Rocchetto by Ettore Sottsass

Bitossi Ceramiche Vaso Rocchetto by Ettore Sottsass

By Bitossi, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Toronto, ON

Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Bitossi in 1958, this cylindrical vase from his black-and-white collection wears a façade of squares and grids, a stark geometry that feels equal part...

Category

2010s Italian Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century Modern Mirror by Ettore Sottsass for Santambrogio e De Berti, 1950s
Mid-Century Modern Mirror by Ettore Sottsass for Santambrogio e De Berti, 1950s

Mid-Century Modern Mirror by Ettore Sottsass for Santambrogio e De Berti, 1950s

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Brussels, BE

Mid-Century Modern Mirror by Ettore Sottsass for Santambrogio e De Berti, 1950s

Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood

21st Century Ettore Sottsass Nopuram Table Lamp in Green/Light Pink/Red

21st Century Ettore Sottsass Nopuram Table Lamp in Green/Light Pink/Red

By Venini, Ettore Sottsass

Located in murano, IT

Appealing in shape and glow, it is tinged with a hint of Sapphire and Pink. Darpanah fascinates the viewer. Its powerful aesthetics urged Ettore Sottsass to turn to Sanskrit for insp...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Glass

21st Century Ettore Sottsas Demistella Console in Briar, Polychrome Marble, Wood
21st Century Ettore Sottsas Demistella Console in Briar, Polychrome Marble, Wood

21st Century Ettore Sottsas Demistella Console in Briar, Polychrome Marble, Wood

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in massa, IT

Polychrome marble console designed by Ettore Sottsass. Description: Console with top in polychrome marble, wood, Macchia Vecchia Marble, Marquinia Bla...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Marble

Ettore Sottsass Postmodern Shiva Pink Ceramic Vase for BD Barcelona, Spain 1970s
Ettore Sottsass Postmodern Shiva Pink Ceramic Vase for BD Barcelona, Spain 1970s

Ettore Sottsass Postmodern Shiva Pink Ceramic Vase for BD Barcelona, Spain 1970s

By Ettore Sottsass, BD Barcelona Design

Located in Reggio Emilia, IT

Postmodern vase model Shiva designed by Ettore Sottsass for BD Barcelona, ​​in pink glazed ceramic, signed under the base. First version, production late 70s

Category

1970s Spanish Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Ettore Sottsass Mirror for Santambrogio & De Berti, 1959
Ettore Sottsass Mirror for Santambrogio & De Berti, 1959

Ettore Sottsass Mirror for Santambrogio & De Berti, 1959

By Santambrogio & De Berti, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Lonigo, Veneto

Ettore Sottsass Mirror for Santambrogio & De Berti, Oak, Italy, 1959 With this sculptural mirror designed for Santambrogio & De Berti in 1959, Ettore...

Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Oak

Very Rare Ettore Sottsass Moceniga Vase for Vistosi Murano Italy, 1974 Signed
Very Rare Ettore Sottsass Moceniga Vase for Vistosi Murano Italy, 1974 Signed

Very Rare Ettore Sottsass Moceniga Vase for Vistosi Murano Italy, 1974 Signed

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Milano, IT

Collectible Murano Vase Ettore Sottsass for Vistosi Made in Italy, A highly decorative and rare vintage art glass vase designed in 1974 by the legendary architect and designer Et...

Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Art Glass, Murano Glass

Stoja Wall Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for IKEA, Sweden, 1970s
Stoja Wall Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for IKEA, Sweden, 1970s

Stoja Wall Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for IKEA, Sweden, 1970s

By Ettore Sottsass, IKEA

Located in Stockholm, SE

This “Stoja” wall lamp was designed by Ettore Sottsass for IKEA during the late 1970s, as part of the company’s short-lived collaboration with external architects and designers. The ...

Category

1970s Swedish Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Plastic, Wood

21st Century Marito E Moglie Vase in Black/Milk-White/Tea by Ettore Sottsass

21st Century Marito E Moglie Vase in Black/Milk-White/Tea by Ettore Sottsass

By Ettore Sottsass, Venini

Located in murano, IT

They lie blissfully on their solid marble base. They might feel fragile at times and life may try to separate them, but they will always find stability in their deep connection. Mari...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Glass

Nilo Vase, Designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1983 for the Collection Memphis Milano
Nilo Vase, Designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1983 for the Collection Memphis Milano

Nilo Vase, Designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1983 for the Collection Memphis Milano

By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano, Memphis Group

Located in Beirut, LB

The Nilo vase was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1983 for Memphis Milano 1981-1988. Produced by Memphis in 2013-2014. A classic by Sottsass, the Nilo porcelain vase is par...

Category

1980s Italian Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Bitossi Ceramiche Alzata Centerpiece, Blue by Ettore Sottsass
Bitossi Ceramiche Alzata Centerpiece, Blue by Ettore Sottsass

Bitossi Ceramiche Alzata Centerpiece, Blue by Ettore Sottsass

By Ettore Sottsass, Bitossi

Located in Toronto, ON

Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Bitossi in 1959, this hand-turned white clay centrepiece balances simplicity and contrast. Its two-tone matte enamel—deep black above and rich blue be...

Category

2010s Italian Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

"Califfo" Bed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Mid-Century Modern, 1960s
"Califfo" Bed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Mid-Century Modern, 1960s

"Califfo" Bed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Mid-Century Modern, 1960s

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Brussels, BE

"Califfo" bed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, 1960s. Mid-Century Modern

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Wood

2022 New Nine-O Bar Stools by Ettore Sottsass for Emeco w/ Upholstered Seats, 1
2022 New Nine-O Bar Stools by Ettore Sottsass for Emeco w/ Upholstered Seats, 1

2022 New Nine-O Bar Stools by Ettore Sottsass for Emeco w/ Upholstered Seats, 1

By Ettore Sottsass, Emeco

Located in Philadelphia, PA

These are brand new Emeco “Nine-O” Upholstered Bar Stools, designed by Ettore Sottsass in 2008. The listed price includes one stool, and we have several stools available for purc...

Category

2010s American Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

Alcor Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
Alcor Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection

Alcor Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection

By Memphis Milano, Memphis Group, Ettore Sottsass

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

The Alcor Glass Vase was designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1983 for Memphis. Signed on the base. Ettore Sottsass was born in Innsbruck in 1917. In 1939 he graduated in architecture at...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Glass

Vintage Olivetti Red Typewriter & Case Model "Valentine" by Ettore Sottsass
Vintage Olivetti Red Typewriter & Case Model "Valentine" by Ettore Sottsass

Vintage Olivetti Red Typewriter & Case Model "Valentine" by Ettore Sottsass

By Ettore Sottsass, Olivetti, Perry King

Located in St. Louis, MO

Very collectible Mid-Century Modern “Valentine” portable typewriter, with durable plastic storage case both in red. The Olivetti Valentine portable typewriter was designed by Perry K...

Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal

Bitossi Ceramiche Alzata Centerpiece, Black and White Stripes by Ettore Sottsass
Bitossi Ceramiche Alzata Centerpiece, Black and White Stripes by Ettore Sottsass

Bitossi Ceramiche Alzata Centerpiece, Black and White Stripes by Ettore Sottsass

By Ettore Sottsass, Bitossi

Located in Toronto, ON

Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Bitossi in 1958, this pedestal bowl from his black-and-white collection pairs clean geometry with graphic contrast, its striped interior and bold base...

Category

2010s Italian Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

1986 Enorme Telephone by Ettore Sottsass for Enorme
1986 Enorme Telephone by Ettore Sottsass for Enorme

1986 Enorme Telephone by Ettore Sottsass for Enorme

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Brooklyn, NY

A perfectly postmodern telephone designed by the Memphis Milano master, Ettore Sottsass, and produced in 1986. The Enorme telephone was the result of ...

Category

Late 20th Century Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal

Ettore Sottsass Shiva Capsule Limited Edition Blue Vase 142/999
Ettore Sottsass Shiva Capsule Limited Edition Blue Vase 142/999

Ettore Sottsass Shiva Capsule Limited Edition Blue Vase 142/999

By Ettore Sottsass, BD Barcelona Design

Located in Barcelona, ES

Blue Shiva ceramic vase designed by Ettore Sottsass, circa 1973, edited by BD in Barcelona. This piece has been produced as a limited edition with a total of only 999 units. This is...

Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

20th Century Ettore Sottsass RSVP Centerpiece Mod. Indigo in Colored Glass
20th Century Ettore Sottsass RSVP Centerpiece Mod. Indigo in Colored Glass

20th Century Ettore Sottsass RSVP Centerpiece Mod. Indigo 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

Flying Carpet Sofa
Flying Carpet Sofa

Flying Carpet Sofa

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Saint-Didier, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Rare, if not unique Flying carpet sofa Ettore Sottsass, circa 1974. Measures: 217 x 107 x 65 cms Published by bedding patentti Italy Wood / fabrics ...

Category

1970s Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Fabric

21st Century Firenze Pendant Light in Multicolour by Ettore Sottsass

21st Century Firenze Pendant Light in Multicolour by Ettore Sottsass

By Venini, Ettore Sottsass

Located in murano, IT

Regardless of their size, small or large, the luminous sculptures by Ettore Sottsass bring to mind the idea and image of the Florentine lily. Revealed ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Glass

Light: Lamps 1968-1973 New Italian Design
Light: Lamps 1968-1973 New Italian Design

Light: Lamps 1968-1973 New Italian Design

By Fulvio Ferrari, Superstudio, Ettore Sottsass

Located in New York, NY

Seminal monograph on progressive-to-radical Italian lighting design, both iconic and obscure, in the period 1968-73. With selections by eminent gallerist, curator, designer, and auth...

Category

Early 2000s Italian Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Paper

Astidamia Vase by Ettore Sottsass, Hand-Blown Murano Glass, Memphis 1986, Italy
Astidamia Vase by Ettore Sottsass, Hand-Blown Murano Glass, Memphis 1986, Italy

Astidamia Vase by Ettore Sottsass, Hand-Blown Murano Glass, Memphis 1986, Italy

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Tinton Falls, NJ

Ettore Sottsass, 1986 Decorative Murano glass vase handmade with traditional free-blowing and mould-blowing techniques.

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Murano 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 Ettore Sottsass, BD Barcelona Design

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

2010s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Small Black and White Centerpiece by Ettore Sottsass
Small Black and White Centerpiece by Ettore Sottsass

Small Black and White Centerpiece by Ettore Sottsass

By Bitossi, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Milan, IT

This striking centerpiece in white clay has an external finish in black on the base and white on the body, with an internal decoration of fine, parallel black lines over the white fi...

Category

2010s Italian Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

21st Century Ettore Sottsass Collection Kiritam Table Lamp in Aquamarine/Milk-Wh

21st Century Ettore Sottsass Collection Kiritam Table Lamp in Aquamarine/Milk-Wh

By Venini, Ettore Sottsass

Located in murano, IT

Its name evokes its ancient meaning: "crown", from the Sanskrit term kirīṭam. Its shape recalls those of the most worshipped and depicted Hindu deities. But gold gives way to glass. ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Glass

Enorme Telephone Ettore Sottsass Postmodern
Enorme Telephone Ettore Sottsass Postmodern

Enorme Telephone Ettore Sottsass Postmodern

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Enorme telephone. Mint condition with box. We think that it's difficult to use telephone now. Rather displaying.

Category

1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Plastic

Treetops Floor Lamp USA 110 Volts, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collect
Treetops Floor Lamp USA 110 Volts, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collect

Treetops Floor Lamp USA 110 Volts, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collect

By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

Here you are shown the US wired "Treetops" floor lamp designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1981 in metal with halogen bulb. Ettore Sottsass was born in Innsbruck in 1917. In 1939 he graduated in architecture at the Politecnico di Torino. One of the most influential and important figures of the last century. As an Architect and Designer, he has participated in all radical movements whether created from the 1970s and 1980s. In 1981 he founded the Memphis group, a group that has radically changed the scenario of Italian and world design. Honored with numerous international awards, was winner of the Golden Compass in 1959. He designed the first laptop "Valentina" by Olivetti. He died in 2007 at the age of 90 years. Memphis Milano is the great cultural phenomenon of the 1980s that revolutionized creative and commercial logics in design. Born from the idea of Ettore Sottsass and a group of young designers and architects, in Milan, coupled in the years by famous designers from the international scene, Memphis turned upside down all of the existing parameters on living. Ettore Sottsass as the backbone of the group, design gained a new concept and expression through new shapes, materials and patterns, expanding the creative limits of the industry. Memphis became a symbol of New Design. Its influence is still clear in various sectors of production and beyond. Additional Info: - Dimensions: H 76.75 inches, Base W. 10.75 inches, D. 40.25 inches. - Materials: Metal. - Color options: Available in yellow fixture, orange stem, turquoise knob and mint green base; or in an orange fixture...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal

Ettore Sottsass Y Limited Edition Vase in Wood and Murano Glass for Flowers
Ettore Sottsass Y Limited Edition Vase in Wood and Murano Glass for Flowers

Ettore Sottsass Y Limited Edition Vase in Wood and Murano Glass for Flowers

By Design Gallery Milano, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Barcelona, Barcelona

Y vase made for the collection of twenty-seven woods for Chinese artificial flowers vase by Ettore Sottsass, Edited by Design Gallery Milano, 1995. Limited edition of 12 numbered pi...

Category

1990s European Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood

Tahiti Table Lamp (US VERSION 110v), by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano
Tahiti Table Lamp (US VERSION 110v), by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano

Tahiti Table Lamp (US VERSION 110v), by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano

By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

Here you are shown the US wired 'Tahiti' Table lamp, designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1981. The light fixture is of a polychrome enameled metal "duck" with a pivoting-like head mounted on a black and white bacterio-patterned laminate base. EU VERSION 220v AVAILABLE IN ANOTHER LISTING. Ettore Sottsass was born in Innsbruck in 1917. In 1939 he graduated in architecture at the Politecnico di Torino. One of the most influential and important figures of the last century. As an Architect and Designer, he has participated in all radical movements whether created from the 1970s and 1980s. In 1981 he founded the Memphis group, a group that has radically changed the scenario of Italian and world design. Honored with numerous international awards, was winner of the Golden Compass in 1959. He designed the first laptop "Valentina" by Olivetti. He died in 2007 at the age of 90 years. Memphis Milano is the great cultural phenomenon of the 1980s that revolutionized creative and commercial logics in design. Born from the idea of Ettore Sottsass and a group of young designers and architects, in Milan, coupled in the years by famous designers from the international scene, Memphis turned upside down all of the existing parameters on living. Ettore Sottsass as the backbone of the group, design gained a new concept and expression through new shapes, materials and patterns, expanding the creative limits of the industry. Memphis became a symbol of New Design. Its influence is still clear in various sectors of production and beyond. Additional info: - Dimensions: H 23.5 inches - Materials: Metal - Lighting info: 50 W, 12 V -Additional Lighting Info: Please note that this item is wired in 110 V for the standard US light socket. - Price includes additional US rewiring cost for accessibility to US outlets. - If you are interested in the EU version of this light, please refer to the dealers storefront for the (EU) wired light fixture...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal

1980s "Miss, Don't You like Caviar?" pair of armchairs by Ettore Sottsass
1980s "Miss, Don't You like Caviar?" pair of armchairs by Ettore Sottsass

1980s "Miss, Don't You like Caviar?" pair of armchairs by Ettore Sottsass

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Paris, FR

Price for a pair, 3 pairs available. Executed by Renzo Brugola Distributed by Blum Helman Gallery Collection Centre Georges Pompidou The Metropolitan Museum of Art collection In 1987, he designed the Miss, don’t you like caviar? chair for the I suppose you know what I’m talking about dining room suite. Each piece of this ensemble consists of a number of heterogeneous geometrical elements having a symbolic connotation. The honesty with which Sottsass designed and marketed this work to a luxury clientele could be seen as antithetical to modernism’s democratic ethos predicated on mass production. With the suite of furniture that includes this chair, there was no illusion of reaching ordinary consumers—the pieces are loft-scaled, exquisitely proportioned ensembles made of rare stones and exotic woods. Titles of other items in the series include What’s the Name of Your Swiss Bank...

Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Steel

Venini Oman Vase in Gray, Red & Aquamarine by Ettore Sottsass

Venini Oman Vase in Gray, Red & Aquamarine by Ettore Sottsass

By Venini, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Venini Oman glass vase in Gray/red/aquamarine by Ettore Sottsass. Handblown glass. Numbered edition for year Color: Gray/Red/Aquamarine Dimensions: Ø 33.5 cm, H 40 cm Year of ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Blown Glass

Twenty-Seven Woods Chinese Artificial Flower Vase U by Ettore Sottsass
Twenty-Seven Woods Chinese Artificial Flower Vase U by Ettore Sottsass

Twenty-Seven Woods Chinese Artificial Flower Vase U by Ettore Sottsass

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Barcelona, ES

"Twenty-Seven Woods" Chinese Artificial Flower Vase U by Ettore Sottsass: A Masterpiece of Limited Edition Design Presenting the exquisite "Twenty-Seven Woods for a Chinese Artifici...

Category

1990s Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Wood

Mid Century Side Table Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy, 60s
Mid Century Side Table Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy, 60s

Mid Century Side Table Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy, 60s

By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova

Located in Lucija, SI

Rare side table designed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova Also it can be used as a nightstand Original Label

Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Wood

Ettore Sottsass 'Loto' Coffee Table in Carrara Marble for Poltronova
Ettore Sottsass 'Loto' Coffee Table in Carrara Marble for Poltronova

Ettore Sottsass 'Loto' Coffee Table in Carrara Marble for Poltronova

By Poltronova, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Firenze, IT

A rare and prestigious 'Loto' coffee table, designed by the visionary Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova in 1960s. This exquisite version, executed entirely in white marble, represents a...

Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Marble, Steel

Knoll Ettore Sottsass "Mandarin" Post-modern Dining Chairs, Set of 6
Knoll Ettore Sottsass "Mandarin" Post-modern Dining Chairs, Set of 6

Knoll Ettore Sottsass "Mandarin" Post-modern Dining Chairs, Set of 6

By Knoll, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Miami, FL

Knoll Ettore Sottsass "Mandarin" Post-modern Dining Chairs, Set of 6 Offered for sale is a set of 6 Knoll North America Ettore Sottsass "Mandarin" Post-modern Dining Chairs from the...

Category

Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal

34 Agelada Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

34 Agelada Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

The Agelada Glass Vase with pendant was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1986 for Memphis. It's part of the “Vetri Glass” collection. Made in blown Murano glass, and signed ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Glass

"Agra" totem
"Agra" totem

"Agra" totem

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Paris, FR

Early in his career, in the 1960s, Ettore Sottsass developed his totemic language after a journey to India that profoundly reshaped his vision of form, function and design. Fascinat...

Category

1990s Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Enamel

Rucola Ceramic Plate, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano
Rucola Ceramic Plate, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

Rucola Ceramic Plate, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

The Rucola ceramic dinner plate was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass, in 1985, as part of a series of decorative plates. The playful names of the design items are a reminder of...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Ettore Sottsass Lidded Vessel Model 192-C Bitossi Il Sestante Italy 1959 Glazed
Ettore Sottsass Lidded Vessel Model 192-C Bitossi Il Sestante Italy 1959 Glazed

Ettore Sottsass Lidded Vessel Model 192-C Bitossi Il Sestante Italy 1959 Glazed

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Keego Harbor, MI

A modernist “Lidded Vessel, Model 192-C” designed by Ettore Sottsass. Bitossi for Il Sestante, Italy 1959. Signed on underside. Glazed stoneware, cotton cord. A dome-shaped yellow li...

Category

1950s Italian Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Carlton Bookshelf by Ettore Sottsass, Post-Modern Design, Italy, 1981
Carlton Bookshelf by Ettore Sottsass, Post-Modern Design, Italy, 1981

Carlton Bookshelf by Ettore Sottsass, Post-Modern Design, Italy, 1981

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in PARIS, FR

Launched at the founding Memphis exhibition in Milan on 18 September 1981, the Carlton is the absolute icon of the group: a room divider, bookcase and chest of drawers reorganised in...

Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Laminate, Wood

Aldebaran Glass Fruit Bowl, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection

Aldebaran Glass Fruit Bowl, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection

By Memphis Milano, Memphis Group, Ettore Sottsass

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

The Aldebaran Glass Fruit Bowl was designed for Memphis in 1983 by Ettore Sottsass. This bowl features a tapering cylindrical shape with three green handles, with the side decorated ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Glass

Black and White Reel Vase by Ettore Sottsass
Black and White Reel Vase by Ettore Sottsass

Black and White Reel Vase by Ettore Sottsass

By Bitossi, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Milan, IT

This vase's simple shape is complemented by its geometric decoration that features striking motifs in black on the white background of the cylindrical shape. This piece was designed ...

Category

2010s Italian Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Mizar Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection

Mizar Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection

By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano, Memphis Group

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

The Mizar vase was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1982. The piece features clear and blue glass with multicolored handles. Ettore Sottsass was born in Innsbruck in 1917. In 1939 he graduated in architecture at the Politecnico di Torino One of the most influential and important figures of the last century, Architect and Designer, he has participated in all radical movements whether created from the 1970s and 1980s. In 1981 he founded the Memphis group, a group that has radically changed the scenario of Italian and world design. Honored with numerous international awards, was winner of the Golden...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Glass

20th Century Ettore Sottsass RSVP Centerpiece Mod. Celeste in Colored Glass
20th Century Ettore Sottsass RSVP Centerpiece Mod. Celeste in Colored Glass

20th Century Ettore Sottsass RSVP Centerpiece Mod. Celeste 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

25 Astimelusa Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano
25 Astimelusa Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

25 Astimelusa Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

The Astimelusa Glass Vase was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1986. The vase is part of the “Vetri Glass” collection, and made out of blown Murano glass. Signed “E.Sottsass...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Blown Glass

“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 Fiorucci Memphis Black Glass Wall Light 3x Targetti Sankey, 1980
Ettore Sottsass Fiorucci Memphis Black Glass Wall Light 3x Targetti Sankey, 1980

Ettore Sottsass Fiorucci Memphis Black Glass Wall Light 3x Targetti Sankey, 1980

By Vittorio Fiorucci, Targetti Sankey, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Vienna, AT

Three (3x) Ettore Sottsass designed for Fiorucci, produced by Targetti Sankey, Italy 1980 Please note, unlike the ad says it's a set of 3 pieces; if you need just 2 please inquire....

Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

“Juliette” by Ettore Sottsass, vase-sculpture in Sèvres porcelain
“Juliette” by Ettore Sottsass, vase-sculpture in Sèvres porcelain

“Juliette” by Ettore Sottsass, vase-sculpture in Sèvres porcelain

By Ettore Sottsass, Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres

Located in Uccle, BE

“Juliette” by Ettore Sottsass, vase-sculpture in Sèvres porcelain. Vase-sculpture in Sèvres porcelain, created during the first collaboration between the Master and the Manufacture b...

Category

1990s French Mid-Century Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Quisisiana Ceiling Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Collection
Quisisiana Ceiling Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Collection

Quisisiana Ceiling Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Collection

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

Painted metal ceiling lamp. Quisisiana (from the Latin quid est sana, which means “what is healthy”) is the melodious name chosen by Sottsass for this lamp that assembles interconnec...

Category

2010s Italian Other Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal

Radical Design Kubirolo Cabinets by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy, 1960s
Radical Design Kubirolo Cabinets by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy, 1960s

Radical Design Kubirolo Cabinets by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy, 1960s

By Poltronova, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Milan, IT

Scarce set of 7 Kubirolo modular shelving system by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova. The elements can be positioned in several ways, from full horizontal to vertical, creating differe...

Category

1960s Italian Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Plastic, Wood

Rare Black Callimaco by Ettore Sottsass, Early Limited Edition, 1982
Rare Black Callimaco by Ettore Sottsass, Early Limited Edition, 1982

Rare Black Callimaco by Ettore Sottsass, Early Limited Edition, 1982

By Artemide, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Dronten, NL

A rare Limited Edition Callimaco floor lamp designed by Ettore Sottsass in black, an early and highly collectible example from the very first limited series produced for a Paris gall...

Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Steel

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

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

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

1990s Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Crystal

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 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 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 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
    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 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 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.