1980s Ettore Sottsass for Alessi Postmodern Memphis Era Small Bowl Catch It All
About the Item
- Creator:Alessi (Manufacturer),Ettore Sottsass (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 2 in (5.08 cm)Diameter: 8 in (20.32 cm)
- Style:Post-Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1980s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:San Diego, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU936632774172
Ettore Sottsass
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.
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. They 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's 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 imaginative and expressive in smaller, secondary furnishings such as lamps and chandeliers, and in table pieces and glassware that have playful and sculptural qualities.
It was as an artist that Ettore 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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: San Diego, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- 1980's Memphis Era Large Footed Compote Ceramic bowlBy Ettore SottsassLocated in San Diego, CABeautiful large glossy pink ceramic Memphis era ball footed compote, with turquoise ceramic bowls circa 1980's great condition.Category
20th Century American Post-Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsCeramic
- Bitossi Raymor Postmodern Catch-it-all Ceramic Bowl in Glossy FinishBy Bitossi, RaymorLocated in San Diego, CAVersatile catch-it-all ceramic bowl made in Italy, circa 1980's black glossy finish with green decorative lines, great condition no chips or cracks signed Italy at the bottom.Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Ceramics
MaterialsCeramic
- Sugar Bowl & Spoon Designed by Michael Graves for Alessi Memphis EraBy Alessi, Michael Graves (b.1934)Located in San Diego, CASugar bowl and spoon designed by Michael Graves for Alessi, circa 1988 made in Italy. Memphis era.Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Tableware
MaterialsChrome
- Rare Resin Bowl Catch it All by Sascha Brastoff SignedBy Sascha BrastoffLocated in San Diego, CABeautiful and rare bowl in resin signed by Sascha Brastoff, great condition no chips or cracks.Category
Late 20th Century North American Post-Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsResin
- Set of Four Armchairs by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll Memphis EraBy Knoll, Ettore SottsassLocated in San Diego, CANice set of four Mandarin chairs designed by Sottsass for Knoll, in red fabric on foam black enameled tubular legs and silver pipping arms, simple and elegant by this master architect.Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Armchairs
MaterialsMetal
- Modernist Solid Stainless Steel Fruit Bowl Catch it AllLocated in San Diego, CApolished solid stainless steel fruit bowl, catch it all circa 1960's great quality and design.Category
20th Century American Scandinavian Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Aldebaran Glass Fruit Bowl, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano CollectionBy Memphis Group, Memphis Milano, Ettore SottsassLocated in La Morra, CuneoThe 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 Decorative Bowls
MaterialsGlass
- Ettore Sottsass Memphis Egizia Silver Blue Art Glass Bowl, 1990sBy Ettore SottsassLocated in Munich, DEBeautiful and rare find Egizia art glass bowl, designed by Ettore Sottsass. This thick and heavy cobalt blue bowl is decorated with hand silk-screened...Category
1990s Italian Modern Glass
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Sol Glass Fruit Bowl, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis MilanoBy Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano, Memphis GroupLocated in La Morra, CuneoThe Sol glass fruit bowl was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1982. Signed on the base, for further information please see authenticity info below. Ettore Sottsass was bo...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsGlass
- Chimu Bowl by Joanna Lyle for AlessiBy AlessiLocated in Brooklyn, NYWith the design for the Chimu bowl, British designer Joanna Lyle won a design competition organized by Alessi in 1990 to identify young designers from all over the world. A simple a...Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsMetal
- Murmansk Silver Plated Brass Fruit Bowl, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis MilanoBy Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano, Memphis GroupLocated in La Morra, CuneoMurmansk Fruit Bowl in Brass with plated Silver. The "Murmansk" is a fruit bowl is one of the first designs produced by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis in 1982. The sleek bowl is plated silver over brass, and sitting on six stepped legs...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Bowls
MaterialsBrass, Silver
- Postmodern Ceramic Bowl, ca. 1980sBy HaegerLocated in New York, NYA Modern style or Postmodern period stone white round ceramic bowl, circa 1980s, USA. Maker's mark on bottom as shown in image #15. Dimensions: 7" diameter. Black acrylic waterfall table...Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsCeramic
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
We Dare You Not to Smile at These Whimsical Italian Designs
Make anyplace your happy place with Italian furniture at its subversive best.
This Rare Set of 100 Alessi Vases Includes Designs by Scores of International Artists
Alessandro Mendini, Michael Graves, Ettore Sottsass and other design luminaries contributed to this unusual collection of porcelain wares representing a time capsule of late-20th-century decorative art.