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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 Sottsass for Design Centre/Poltronova ‘Bruco’ Wall Lights
Ettore Sottsass for Design Centre/Poltronova ‘Bruco’ Wall Lights

Ettore Sottsass for Design Centre/Poltronova ‘Bruco’ Wall Lights

By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Ettore Sottsass for Design Centre/Poltronova, ‘Bruco’ wall light from the Mobili Grigi series, chrome-plated brass, methacrylate (translucent Perspex), enameled aluminum, Italy, 1970...

Category

1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Aluminum, Brass, Chrome

Memphis Red Rolling "Synthesis" Olivetti Chair by Ettore Sottsass, 1970s
Memphis Red Rolling "Synthesis" Olivetti Chair by Ettore Sottsass, 1970s

Memphis Red Rolling "Synthesis" Olivetti Chair by Ettore Sottsass, 1970s

By Ettore Sottsass, Olivetti

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Italian Post-Modern, Memphis cherry red "Synthesis" office chair. Designed by internationally acclaimed designer Ettore Sottsass for Olivetti, the company where Sottsass began his de...

Category

1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Plastic

Set of 2 Ettore Sottsass Mandarin Chairs by Knoll - Black + Red Post Modern
Set of 2 Ettore Sottsass Mandarin Chairs by Knoll - Black + Red Post Modern

Set of 2 Ettore Sottsass Mandarin Chairs by Knoll - Black + Red Post Modern

By Ettore Sottsass, Knoll

Located in Decatur, GA

Set of two (2) Knoll International "Mandarin" chairs by Ettore Sottsass. Exemplifying Sottsass’s bold postmodern sensibility, these sculptural chairs feature vivid red enameled arms ...

Category

1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal

Ettore Sottsass Memphis Milano Diva Vintage Wall Mirror, Italy, 1984
Ettore Sottsass Memphis Milano Diva Vintage Wall Mirror, Italy, 1984

Ettore Sottsass Memphis Milano Diva Vintage Wall Mirror, Italy, 1984

By Memphis Group, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano

Located in Vienna, AT

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...

Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Glass, Mirror, Laminate, Wood

20th Century, Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova Daybed mod. Califfo
20th Century, Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova Daybed mod. Califfo

20th Century, Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova Daybed mod. Califfo

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

Fabric, Wood

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 Olivetti, Perry King, Ettore Sottsass

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

Carlton Wood Miniature Bookcase by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
Carlton Wood Miniature Bookcase by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection

Carlton Wood Miniature Bookcase by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection

By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano, Memphis Group

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

Here you are shown an authentic and perfect reproduction of the Carlton bookcase, originally designed in 1981 by Ettore Sottsass. The vivid colors and...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Wood, Plastic

2 Modern White & aqua Murano Table Lamps by Sottsass for Venini, Signed ca.1994
2 Modern White & aqua Murano Table Lamps by Sottsass for Venini, Signed ca.1994

2 Modern White & aqua Murano Table Lamps by Sottsass for Venini, Signed ca.1994

By Ettore Sottsass, Venini

Located in Merida, Yucatan

Two Beautiful table lamps in white and aqua swirl hand-blown Murano glass. Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Venini and manufactured in 1994. The glass shade is signed "Venini " and da...

Category

1990s Italian Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Murano Glass

Memphis Milano Tahiti Lamp by Ettore Sottsass
Memphis Milano Tahiti Lamp by Ettore Sottsass

Memphis Milano Tahiti Lamp by Ettore Sottsass

By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Toronto, ON

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...

Category

2010s Italian Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal

BLOQUE 7, Pedestal with Ettore Sottsass Veneer by Bonne Choice
BLOQUE 7, Pedestal with Ettore Sottsass Veneer by Bonne Choice

BLOQUE 7, Pedestal with Ettore Sottsass Veneer by Bonne Choice

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Toronto, ON

Designed By Bonne Choice Using Ettore Sottsass Veneer. The veneer created by Ettore Sottsass in the 1980s – utilized for the first time in the Memphis collection – now becomes part ...

Category

2010s Canadian Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Wood, Plywood

Vase Yemen by Ettore Sottsass for Venini Murano ca. 1994
Vase Yemen by Ettore Sottsass for Venini Murano ca. 1994

Vase Yemen by Ettore Sottsass for Venini Murano ca. 1994

By Venini, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Berghuelen, DE

Vase Yemen by Ettore Sottsass for Venini Murano ca. 1994 A vintage vase from the 'Yemen' series, designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1994. Manufactured by Venini Murano Venice in 2002. T...

Category

1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Art Glass

20th Century Ettore Sottsass Mirror Ultrafragola for Poltronova
20th Century Ettore Sottsass Mirror Ultrafragola for Poltronova

20th Century Ettore Sottsass Mirror Ultrafragola for Poltronova

By Poltronova, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Torino, Piemonte

Ettore Sottsass was a 20th-century Italian architect, noted for also designing furniture, jewellery, glass, lighting, home and office wares, as well as numerous buildings and interio...

Category

1970s Italian Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Opal

Memphis Milano Carlton Miniature, Limited Edition by Ettore Sottsass
Memphis Milano Carlton Miniature, Limited Edition by Ettore Sottsass

Memphis Milano Carlton Miniature, Limited Edition by Ettore Sottsass

By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Toronto, ON

Perfect 1:4 scale reproduction of the Carlton bookcase in a limited edition of 1000 pieces. About Carlton: An absolute icon of Memphis designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1981, Carlton ...

Category

2010s Italian Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Laminate, Wood

Memphis Milano Carlton Shelf by Ettore Sottsass, Wood & Laminate
Memphis Milano Carlton Shelf by Ettore Sottsass, Wood & Laminate

Memphis Milano Carlton Shelf by Ettore Sottsass, Wood & Laminate

By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano

Located in Toronto, ON

An absolute icon of Memphis designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1981, Carlton fully represents the programmatic intention of the group: the desire to transgress with an irreverent, unorth...

Category

2010s Italian Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Laminate, Wood

20th Century, Ettore Sottsass "Tower Furniture" Series Wall Cabinet
20th Century, Ettore Sottsass "Tower Furniture" Series Wall Cabinet

20th Century, Ettore Sottsass "Tower Furniture" Series Wall Cabinet

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

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal

Hyatt Side Table by Ettore Sottsass, Chrome & Wood, Post-Modern Italy
Hyatt Side Table by Ettore Sottsass, Chrome & Wood, Post-Modern Italy

Hyatt Side Table by Ettore Sottsass, Chrome & Wood, Post-Modern Italy

By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano

Located in Toronto, ON

Imposing and superb, Hyatt by Ettore Sottsass evokes the structure of the classical column with the “capital” equal to the base. A side table that certainly does not go unnoticed for...

Category

2010s Italian Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Rare Ettore Sottsass Artist Proof Limited Edition Piccoli Libri Cabinet, 1992
Rare Ettore Sottsass Artist Proof Limited Edition Piccoli Libri Cabinet, 1992

Rare Ettore Sottsass Artist Proof Limited Edition Piccoli Libri Cabinet, 1992

By Ettore Sottsass, Design Gallery Milano

Located in Barcelona, Barcelona

Piccoli Libri cabinet designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1992 edited by Design Gallery Milano. P.A from a Limited edition of 9 + 3 P.A. Plastic laminate-covered, maple-veneered woo...

Category

1990s Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Plastic, Wood

VENINI vase Yemen multicolor Murano Glass, Signed 2014, Design by Sottsass
VENINI vase Yemen multicolor Murano Glass, Signed 2014, Design by Sottsass

VENINI vase Yemen multicolor Murano Glass, Signed 2014, Design by Sottsass

By Venini, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Venezia, IT

VENINI vase Yemen multicolor Murano Glass, Signed 2014 and designed by Ettore Sottsass with original box and paperwork. The Yemen vase, designed by Ettore ...

Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Ettore Sottsass Memphis Knoll 80s Eastside Two Sofas +1 Lounge Chair, SET 3 PCS
Ettore Sottsass Memphis Knoll 80s Eastside Two Sofas +1 Lounge Chair, SET 3 PCS

Ettore Sottsass Memphis Knoll 80s Eastside Two Sofas +1 Lounge Chair, SET 3 PCS

By Knoll, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Basel, BS

The Eastside sofa and chair are quintessential pieces of 1980s postmodern design from Ettore Sottsass, the founder of Memphis. The Eastside collection takes cues from Biedermeier st...

Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

13x Ettore Sottsass Postmodern Brass Wall Coat Hooks, 1985, Valli & Valli Italy
13x Ettore Sottsass Postmodern Brass Wall Coat Hooks, 1985, Valli & Valli Italy

13x Ettore Sottsass Postmodern Brass Wall Coat Hooks, 1985, Valli & Valli Italy

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Vienna, AT

Up to 13 identical postmodern wall-mounted brass hooks from the 1980s, model SE 314, designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1985 and crafted by Valli & Valli, Italy. These hooks are sold ind...

Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Brass

Memphis Milano Freemont Cabinet by Ettore Sottsass, Italy
Memphis Milano Freemont Cabinet by Ettore Sottsass, Italy

Memphis Milano Freemont Cabinet by Ettore Sottsass, Italy

By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Toronto, ON

Resting on a base with five cylindrical legs, Freemont by Ettore Sottsass appears to grow strongly from the bottom to the top. With its fractured shapes, it branches out into the spa...

Category

2010s Italian Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Gold Leaf

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 Knoll, Ettore Sottsass

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

Ettore Sottsass Rose Gold "Apple" Large Ice Bucket, Italy 1950s
Ettore Sottsass Rose Gold "Apple" Large Ice Bucket, Italy 1950s

Ettore Sottsass Rose Gold "Apple" Large Ice Bucket, Italy 1950s

By Rinnovel, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Roma, IT

Spectacular and fully complete "Apple" large ice bucket in rose gold metal and brass designed by Ettore Sotsass and produced by Rinnovel in Italy during the 1950s. In fabulous condi...

Category

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

Materials

Metal, Brass

Ettore Sottsass for Olivetti Valentine Typewriter, Italy 1960s
Ettore Sottsass for Olivetti Valentine Typewriter, Italy 1960s

Ettore Sottsass for Olivetti Valentine Typewriter, Italy 1960s

By Olivetti, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Naples, IT

Famous and Iconic Portable Typewriter Mod. Valentine designed by Ettore Sottsass and Peter King, for the company Olivetti in 1960, the typewriter is in very good condition with case ...

Category

1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal

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

Deneb Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection

By Memphis Group, Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

The Deneb vase in multicolored glass was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1982 for Memphis. Signed “E.Sottsass per Memphis Milano”. Ettore Sottsass was born in Innsbruck in...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Glass

Ettore Sottsass Wall Mirror Made by Santambrogio e De Berti c 1950
Ettore Sottsass Wall Mirror Made by Santambrogio e De Berti c 1950

Ettore Sottsass Wall Mirror Made by Santambrogio e De Berti c 1950

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Chicago, IL

Rare mirror by Ettore Sottsass. From a small series produced by Santambrogio and De Berti in the late 1950s. Tinted pale blue gray and clear mirrored glass with bronze details. Wal...

Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Shiva Penis Vase, Ceramic Decorative Object, Unique Design, Sottsass Design
Shiva Penis Vase, Ceramic Decorative Object, Unique Design, Sottsass Design

Shiva Penis Vase, Ceramic Decorative Object, Unique Design, Sottsass Design

By Ettore Sottsass, BD Barcelona Design

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Ettore Sottsass Shiva Ceramic Flower Vase. Original design dates to the early 70's. This one is probably 10-15 years old?!

Category

Early 2000s Spanish Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Ettore Sottsass Callimaco Floor Lamp for Artemide
Ettore Sottsass Callimaco Floor Lamp for Artemide

Ettore Sottsass Callimaco Floor Lamp for Artemide

By Ettore Sottsass, Artemide

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Ettore Sottsass 'Callimaco' floor lamp for Artemide. Originally created in 1982, Ettore Sottsass’ “horn” of light creates the remarkable illusion of an oversized musical instrument...

Category

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

Materials

Aluminum

Ettore Sottsass 'Ivory' Pedestal for Memphis Milano
Ettore Sottsass 'Ivory' Pedestal for Memphis Milano

Ettore Sottsass 'Ivory' Pedestal for Memphis Milano

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Dallas, TX

Ettore Sottsass 'Ivory' Pedestal for Memphis Milano, 1985.

Category

1980s Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Laminate

Italian modern laminate bookcase Carlton by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis, 1981
Italian modern laminate bookcase Carlton by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis, 1981

Italian modern laminate bookcase Carlton by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis, 1981

By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano

Located in MIlano, IT

Italian modern laminate bookcase Carlton by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis, 1981 Carlton bookcase made entirely of wood, covered in colorful Formica: yellow, green, black, pink, red, or...

Category

1980s Italian Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Formica, Wood

BLOQUE 4, Pedestal with Ettore Sottsass Veneer by Bonne Choice
BLOQUE 4, Pedestal with Ettore Sottsass Veneer by Bonne Choice

BLOQUE 4, Pedestal with Ettore Sottsass Veneer by Bonne Choice

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Toronto, ON

Designed By Bonne Choice Using Ettore Sottsass Veneer. The veneer created by Ettore Sottsass in the 1980s – utilized for the first time in the Memphis collection – now becomes part ...

Category

2010s Canadian Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Wood, Plywood

Sol Glass Fruit Bowl, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

Sol Glass Fruit Bowl, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

By Memphis Group, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

The 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 Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Glass

Diva Mirror, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
Diva Mirror, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection

Diva Mirror, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection

By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

Diva Mirror with plastic laminate, was originally designed in 1984 by Ettore Sottsass. Ettore Sottsass was born in Innsbruck in 1917. In 1939 he graduated...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Plastic

30 Pasifila Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano

30 Pasifila Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano

By Memphis Group, Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

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 ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Glass

Ettore Sottsass Red Palafitta Table Lamp (Model 12639) by Arredoluce, Italy, '60
Ettore Sottsass Red Palafitta Table Lamp (Model 12639) by Arredoluce, Italy, '60

Ettore Sottsass Red Palafitta Table Lamp (Model 12639) by Arredoluce, Italy, '60

By Ettore Sottsass, Arredoluce

Located in Dronten, NL

We are privileged to present one of the most elusive iterations of Ettore Sottsass’s seminal Palafitta series—Model 12639, executed in a fiery red plexiglas. Conceived during the rad...

Category

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

Materials

Brass

Ettore Sottsass 1st Series Ultrafragola Mirror Object 1970 for Poltronova Milano
Ettore Sottsass 1st Series Ultrafragola Mirror Object 1970 for Poltronova Milano

Ettore Sottsass 1st Series Ultrafragola Mirror Object 1970 for Poltronova Milano

By Poltronova, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Munster, NRW

Original 1st edition model of the Ultrafragola Mirror designed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova. Light up mirror with acrylic shell made of layered waves around the central mirror...

Category

1970s Italian Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Plastic

Asteroid Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova Italy 1968 , Memphis
Asteroid Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova Italy 1968 , Memphis

Asteroid Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova Italy 1968 , Memphis

By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova

Located in Antwerpen, Antwerp

Ettore Sottsass was a pioneering designer, artist and architect known for his bold approach to midcentury design. He opened his own design and architecture studio in 1947 and became ...

Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal

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

BLOQUE 6, Pedestal with Ettore Sottsass Veneer by Bonne Choice
BLOQUE 6, Pedestal with Ettore Sottsass Veneer by Bonne Choice

BLOQUE 6, Pedestal with Ettore Sottsass Veneer by Bonne Choice

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Toronto, ON

Designed By Bonne Choice Using Ettore Sottsass Veneer. The veneer created by Ettore Sottsass in the 1980s – utilized for the first time in the Memphis collection – now becomes part ...

Category

2010s Canadian Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Wood, Plywood

Sirio Glass Flower Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

Sirio Glass Flower Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

By Memphis Group, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

The Sirio glass vase was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1982. Signed on the edge of the Stand: "E. Sottsass per Memphis Milano”. For further information please see authen...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Glass

20th Century, Ettore Sottsass for Mirabili EAD Totem
20th Century, Ettore Sottsass for Mirabili EAD Totem

20th Century, Ettore Sottsass for Mirabili EAD Totem

By Ettore Sottsass, Mirabili

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 Mid-Century Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Ettore Sottsass Lotto Rosso / Super Loto Dining Table, Poltronova, Italy, 1970s
Ettore Sottsass Lotto Rosso / Super Loto Dining Table, Poltronova, Italy, 1970s

Ettore Sottsass Lotto Rosso / Super Loto Dining Table, Poltronova, Italy, 1970s

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Lewes, East Sussex

A Lotto Rosso / Super Loto dining table designed by Ettore Sottsass and produced by Poltronova, Italy, 1970s. In very good original condition. Fast ship...

Category

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

Materials

Granite, Metal

Pair of Stools, Ettore Sottsass, circa 1960s
Pair of Stools, Ettore Sottsass, circa 1960s

Pair of Stools, Ettore Sottsass, circa 1960s

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in New York, NY

Ettore Sottsass’s Dado T29 stools for Poltronova distill his incisive blend of geometry and comfort. Made in Italy, circa 1960, the pair features clean, architectural wooden frames p...

Category

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

Materials

Cotton, Wood

Suvretta Bookcase, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano
Suvretta Bookcase, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano

Suvretta Bookcase, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Radomsko, Województwo łódzkie

“Suvretta” is a Romansh word (language spoken in Engadine) that means: “above the small forest”. Like rows of overlapping trees, the books placed on the green shelves of Suvretta tak...

Category

1980s Italian Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Laminate, Wood, Plywood, Scrap Wood

Ettore Sottsass Tappeto Volante Flying Carpet Chair Bedding Brevetti Italy 1972
Ettore Sottsass Tappeto Volante Flying Carpet Chair Bedding Brevetti Italy 1972

Ettore Sottsass Tappeto Volante Flying Carpet Chair Bedding Brevetti Italy 1972

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Keego Harbor, MI

A postmodern lounge chair “Tappeto Volante (Flying Carpet)” designed by Ettore Sottsass for Bedding Brevetti, Italy 1972. Original label adhered to side. Beechwood and stain, stretch-jersey fabric, velvet, and carpeting. A standout example of Sottsass’s exploration of domestic form, the piece blends furniture and rug into a single surrealist gesture. Composed of soft upholstered elements– including a red carpet-like base, multicolored cushions, and asymmetrical armrests– it invites relaxation through both function and whimsy. “Tappeto Volante” reflects Sottsass’s growing interest in emotional design, blurring boundaries between utility, symbolism, and play. It has been featured in design retrospectives at the Triennale di Milano and Centre Pompidou and appears in publications documenting radical Italian design of the 1970s. “Tappeto Volante” is also in the permanent collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and Vitra Design Museum. A unique opportunity to own a museum quality furniture...

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Velvet, Wood

Ettore Sottsass Cast Aluminum Ashtray for Il Sestante, Italy 1962
Ettore Sottsass Cast Aluminum Ashtray for Il Sestante, Italy 1962

Ettore Sottsass Cast Aluminum Ashtray for Il Sestante, Italy 1962

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Milan, IT

Ettore Sottsass Cast Aluminum Ashtray for Il Sestante, Italy 1962 Reference: Domus n. 397, december 1962

Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

Ultrafragola Mirror, Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova, 1970
Ultrafragola Mirror, Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova, 1970

Ultrafragola Mirror, Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova, 1970

By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova

Located in Milano, Lombardia

The Ultrafragola light mirror was designed by Ettore Sottsass, with its sinuous silhouette, evocative of a wavy feminine hair, belongs to the series of Mobili Grigi, a complete bedro...

Category

1970s Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Plastic

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, Ettore Sottsass, Swid Powell

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

Ettore Sottsass Flying Carpet Armchair by Bedding Brevetti 1970s Italy
Ettore Sottsass Flying Carpet Armchair by Bedding Brevetti 1970s Italy

Ettore Sottsass Flying Carpet Armchair by Bedding Brevetti 1970s Italy

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Cascina, Pisa

The Flying Carpet or Tappeto Volante armchair is an iconic seat with a base and an armrest in beech wood, the seat, and the back are made with polyuret...

Category

1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Wood, Velvet

20th Century, Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Cabinet mod. Casablanca
20th Century, Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Cabinet mod. Casablanca

20th Century, Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Cabinet mod. Casablanca

By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano

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

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Laminate, Wood

Ettore Sottsass Lipari Side Table Zanotta Italy 1992 Postmodern Memphis Design
Ettore Sottsass Lipari Side Table Zanotta Italy 1992 Postmodern Memphis Design

Ettore Sottsass Lipari Side Table Zanotta Italy 1992 Postmodern Memphis Design

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Keego Harbor, MI

A postmodern “Lipari” side table designed by Ettore Sottsass for Zanotta, Italy 1992. Original label adhered on underside. Silk-screened laminate top on beech wood with an anthracite...

Category

1990s Italian Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Laminate, Wood

BLOQUE 3, Pedestal with Ettore Sottsass Veneer by Bonne Choice
BLOQUE 3, Pedestal with Ettore Sottsass Veneer by Bonne Choice

BLOQUE 3, Pedestal with Ettore Sottsass Veneer by Bonne Choice

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Toronto, ON

Designed By Bonne Choice Using Ettore Sottsass Veneer. The veneer created by Ettore Sottsass in the 1980s – utilized for the first time in the Memphis collection – now becomes part ...

Category

2010s Canadian Post-Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Wood, Plywood

Casablanca Wood Cabinet, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
Casablanca Wood Cabinet, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection

Casablanca Wood Cabinet, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection

By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group, Memphis Milano

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

Casablanca cabinet designed in 1981 for Memphis by Ettore Sottsass, in wood and plastic laminated colors. This is an unlimited edition with a number...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Wood, Plastic

Vintage Olivetti Synthesis Desk by Ettore Sottsass - 1970s Italian Design Icon
Vintage Olivetti Synthesis Desk by Ettore Sottsass - 1970s Italian Design Icon

Vintage Olivetti Synthesis Desk by Ettore Sottsass - 1970s Italian Design Icon

By Olivetti, Ettore Sottsass

Located in London, England

Don't miss the chance to own a true piece of design history. This vintage Olivetti Synthesis office desk was designed by the legendary Ettore Sottsass, an iconic figure of postmodern...

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Industrial Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal

Ettore Sottsass Eastside Knoll 80s Memphis Sofa Black, Blue + Red (2 Avail)
Ettore Sottsass Eastside Knoll 80s Memphis Sofa Black, Blue + Red (2 Avail)

Ettore Sottsass Eastside Knoll 80s Memphis Sofa Black, Blue + Red (2 Avail)

By Knoll, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Basel, BS

Here for sale is one breathtaking Eastside Club Sofa loveseat two seater designed by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll, a quintessential piece of 1980s postmodern design from the founder of ...

Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

33 Neobule Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano
33 Neobule Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

33 Neobule Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano

By Memphis Group, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano

Located in La Morra, Cuneo

The Neobule Glass Vase was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1986. The Vase is glass blown and signed on the base, for further information please see authenticity info below....

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Glass

Ettore Sottsass Y29 Vase in Black Enameled Ceramic Yantra Series Poltronova 70s
Ettore Sottsass Y29 Vase in Black Enameled Ceramic Yantra Series Poltronova 70s

Ettore Sottsass Y29 Vase in Black Enameled Ceramic Yantra Series Poltronova 70s

By Poltronova, Ettore Sottsass

Located in Cascina, Pisa

This ceramic piece is part of the Yantra series by Ettore Sottsass, a collection of thirty-nine forms including containers, ashtrays, vases and bowls, created between 1969 and 1973 a...

Category

1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Typist Chair Synthesis 45 Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Olivetti, Italy, 1970s
Typist Chair Synthesis 45 Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Olivetti, Italy, 1970s

Typist Chair Synthesis 45 Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Olivetti, Italy, 1970s

By Ettore Sottsass, Olivetti

Located in Milano, IT

Typist Chair “Synthesis 45” Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Olivetti, Italy – 1970s Beginning in the 1970s, Ettore Sottsass developed an innovative and integrated system of office f...

Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Metal

Ettore Sottsass Ultrafragola Neon Mirror, Poltronova, 1970 Design
Ettore Sottsass Ultrafragola Neon Mirror, Poltronova, 1970 Design

Ettore Sottsass Ultrafragola Neon Mirror, Poltronova, 1970 Design

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Tinton Falls, NJ

Ultrafragola mirror/lamp, with its sinuous profile that suggests long wavy hair, belongs to the Mobili Grigi series of complete bedroom and living room furnishings designed by Ettore...

Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ettore Sottsass Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Plastic

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
    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.

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