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Ettore Sottsass Bay Lamp

Bay Table Lamp 'EU' 220 Volts, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano
Bay Table Lamp 'EU' 220 Volts, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

Bay Table Lamp 'EU' 220 Volts, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

By Memphis Group, Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

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

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Aluminum

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, Memphis Group, Ettore Sottsass

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.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Aluminum

Recent Sales

BAY Table Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano
BAY Table Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano

BAY Table Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Brooklyn, NY

The Bay table lamp is a breathtaking masterpiece by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis (1983).

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Crystal

Ettore Sottsass for Memphis 'Bay' Table Lamp, 1983
Ettore Sottsass for Memphis 'Bay' Table Lamp, 1983

Ettore Sottsass for Memphis 'Bay' Table Lamp, 1983

By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group

Located in Parma, IT

Ettore Sottsass 'Bay' table lamp for Memphis Milano, 1983.

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

Ettore Sottsas Bay Memphis Milano Postmodern
Ettore Sottsas Bay Memphis Milano Postmodern

Ettore Sottsas Bay Memphis Milano Postmodern

By Memphis Group, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Ettore Sottsass's Bay lamp. Upper is plexiglass twin shades and body.

Category

Vintage 1980s European Post-Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Stainless Steel

Table Lamp Bay by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis
Table Lamp Bay by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis

Table Lamp Bay by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Milan, IT

Table lamp bay by Ettore Sottsass or Memphis, made in 1983.

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

Bay Table Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano, 1980s
Bay Table Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano, 1980s

Bay Table Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano, 1980s

By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano

Located in Ixelles, Bruxelles

Designer - Ettore Sottsass Producer - Memphis Milano Model - Bay Table Lamp Design Period - Eighties Measurements - width 40 cm x depth 40 cm x height 53 cm Materials - Metal, P...

Category

Vintage 1980s Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

Bay Table Lamp Designed by Ettore Sottsass, 1983
Bay Table Lamp Designed by Ettore Sottsass, 1983

Bay Table Lamp Designed by Ettore Sottsass, 1983

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Berlin, DE

The Bay table lamp designed by Ettore Sottsass, Italy, 1983.

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Table Lamps

Bay Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis
Bay Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis

Bay Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis

By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group

Located in Denton, MD

New in original carton. The bay lamp illustrates Ettore Sottsass eagerness to play with the conventions of lighting.

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

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Ettore Sottsass Tahiti Table Lamp, Metal & Laminate, Post-Modern

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Tahiti, a masterpiece by Ettore Sottsass, is an ironic lamp with a zoomorphic shape that recalls childhood games: a lamp is hidden in the head, ideal for lighting a table. The base w...

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

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Tahiti Table Lamp 'EU VERSION 220v', by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis, Milano
Tahiti Table Lamp 'EU VERSION 220v', by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis, Milano

Tahiti Table Lamp 'EU VERSION 220v', by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis, Milano

By Memphis Group, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

Here you are shown the EU wired 220v 'Tahiti' table lamp, designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1981. The light fixture is of a polychrome enameled metal "duck" with a pivoting-like head mo...

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Area table lamp by Mario Bellini for Artemide, Italy 1974.
Area table lamp by Mario Bellini for Artemide, Italy 1974.

Area table lamp by Mario Bellini for Artemide, Italy 1974.

By Artemide, Mario Bellini

Located in Athens, Attiki

Area table lamp by Mario Bellini for Artemide, Italy 1974. Very good condition

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Ashoka Metal Table Lamp USA 110 Volts, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano C.
Ashoka Metal Table Lamp USA 110 Volts, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano C.

Ashoka Metal Table Lamp USA 110 Volts, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano C.

By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

Here you are shown the US wired, Ashoka Table Lamp in lacquered metal, designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1981 for Memphis Milano. Ettore Sottsass was born in Innsbruck in 1917. In 1939...

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Venini Kiritam Table Lamp by Ettore Sottsass

Venini Kiritam Table Lamp by Ettore Sottsass

$10,150 / item

H 18.9 in Dm 15.36 in

Venini Kiritam Table Lamp by Ettore Sottsass

By Venini, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Venini Kiritam table lamp by Ettore Sottsass. Numbered Edition for year Marble Base Color: Milk-White/Aquamarine Measurements: Ø 15.35"" H 18.89"" 1 x max E27 10W LED + 3 x ma...

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H 18.51 in Dm 12.6 in

Venini Darpanah Table Lamp by Ettore Sottsass

By Venini, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Venini Darpanah table lamp by Ettore Sottsass. Numbered Edition for year Year of Manufacture: 1994-2017 Metal White Painted Color: Milk-White/Sapphire/Pink Measurements: Ø 12....

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Ettore Sottsas Tahiti Memphis Milano Postmodern
Ettore Sottsas Tahiti Memphis Milano Postmodern

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$2,400

H 25.6 in W 14.97 in D 3.94 in

Ettore Sottsas Tahiti Memphis Milano Postmodern

By Memphis Group, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Ettore Sottsass's Tahiti lamp. Materpiece of 1980s design.        

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Post Modern Desk Lamp by Ron Rezek, ca. 1980's
Post Modern Desk Lamp by Ron Rezek, ca. 1980's

Post Modern Desk Lamp by Ron Rezek, ca. 1980's

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Located in New York, NY

Chic 1980's desk lamp by Ron Rezek, in excellent original, clean and working condition, showing only light cosmetic wear, normal and consistent with age. The hood shade (6.5 in. diam...

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Studio BBPR "Ro" Table Lamp, Artemide, Italy, 1960s
Studio BBPR "Ro" Table Lamp, Artemide, Italy, 1960s

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H 15.75 in Dm 15.75 in

Studio BBPR "Ro" Table Lamp, Artemide, Italy, 1960s

By Studio BBPR

Located in Argelato, BO

Ro table lamp, designed by Studio BBPR (Lodovico Belgiojoso, Enrico Peressutti, Ernesto Nathan Rogers) for Artemide, Italy, 1962. Chrome-plated brass structure with a pressed and ...

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Venini Nopuram table lamp in red by Ettore Sottsass. Numbered edition for year Year of manufacture: 1994-2017 Marble base Color: Red Measurements: Ø 15.74", H 25.98" 1 x max ...

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An Iconic RADICAL MODERNIST TABLE LAMP by BBPR, ed. ARTEMIDE, Italy 1970
An Iconic RADICAL MODERNIST TABLE LAMP by BBPR, ed. ARTEMIDE, Italy 1970

An Iconic RADICAL MODERNIST TABLE LAMP by BBPR, ed. ARTEMIDE, Italy 1970

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Located in PARIS, FR

An iconic table lamp, Minimalist, Modernist, Space-Age, structure in chrome-plated metal, thick glass with geometric reliefs, encircled with an aerial lampshade Saturn-ring-like, by ...

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Piccadilly Table Lamp 'EU' 220 Volts, by Gerard Taylor from Memphis Milano
Piccadilly Table Lamp 'EU' 220 Volts, by Gerard Taylor from Memphis Milano

Piccadilly Table Lamp 'EU' 220 Volts, by Gerard Taylor from Memphis Milano

By Memphis Group, Gerard Taylor, Memphis Milano

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

Here you are shown the EU wired, Piccadilly table lamp made in metal and plastic laminate, designed in 1982, by Gerard Taylor. Gerard Taylor graduated in design from Glasgow Scho...

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Post modern adjustable lamp by Herda, Netherlands 1980s

Post modern adjustable lamp by Herda, Netherlands 1980s

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Ettore Sottsass "Ashoka" Table Lamp, Postmodern Design, 1981
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By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Tinton Falls, NJ

ASHOKA by Ettore Sottsass, which takes its name from the emperor of the Maurya Empire, resembles an unstable stack of playful geometric forms. Though it seems “de-structured,” the la...

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A post-modern wall-mounted mirror, Model „Diva" designed in 1984 by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano, Italy. This mirror is a vintage original from the 1980s, made from wood and mi...

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Treetops Floor Lamp 'EU' 220 Volts, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

By Memphis Group, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

Here you are shown the EU 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 g...

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30 Pasifila Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano

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The Pasifil Glass Vase was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1986 for Memphis. It's part of the “Vetri Glass” collection, made in blown Murano glass. Signed on the base, for ...

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Ettore Sottsass Lipari Side Table Zanotta Italy 1992 Postmodern Memphis Design

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By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Keego Harbor, MI

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Memphis First Chair by Michele de Lucchi circa 1983

$1,200

H 35.44 in W 23.63 in D 17.72 in

Memphis First Chair by Michele de Lucchi circa 1983

By Michele de Lucchi

Located in Oakland, CA

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Located in La Morra, Cuneo

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Ettore Sottsass for sale on 1stDibs

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.

Finding the Right Table-lamps for You

Antique table lamps became a category of their own once electricity moved light off the wall and onto furniture. The form split quickly: task-driven designs like the Anglepoise on one side, decorative ceramic and glass on the other.

Styles to Know

Base material shapes the light as much as the shade does: ceramic and glass diffuse a softer glow, while brass and metal read more directional. Layer the look with a mid-century modern floor lamp for ambient light, or set a pair on a mid-century modern nightstand for a bedroom.

How to Choose the Right Vintage Table Lamp

Buying individually rather than as a pair allows more flexibility when mixing eras across a room. For those shopping by name rather than by shape, the history of the Anglepoise lamp is worth a read. Each piece comes from a vetted 1stDibs seller, with era, designer and condition detailed, and the 1stDibs Promise stands behind every purchase.