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.
Postmodern Pink and Purple Espresso Pot by Ettore Sottsass for Lagostina
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A quintessentially postmodern espresso pot/coffee maker designed by the Memphis Milano master, Ettore Sottsass, for Lagostina in the 1980s. From Lagostina’s Accademia line, this rare...
Metal
Fruit bowl sculpture Gaya, design Ettore Sottsass for Up&Up, Italy
By Up&Up, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Iconic fruit bowl model Gaya, designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1983 for Up&Up (now part of UpGroup), a famous Tuscan marble manufacturer. The sculpture combines a Carrara marble base w...
Carrara Marble, Copper
Sottsass Ettore design for Alessi 5079 containers for condiments in steel
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in Biella, IT
Sottsass Ettore desihn for Alessi base containers for condiments in steel of years '80 the sell is for one but are to disposition two of this alessi c...
Stainless Steel
$1,918
H 8.27 in W 9.06 in D 7.49 in
Cinnamon Model Teapot by Ettore Sottsass for Alessio Sarri Editions
By Ettore Sottsass, Alessio Sarri
Located in Milan, Italy
Cinnamon is one of the teapots from the "The Indian Memory" collection designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1987 and now re-edited by Alessio Sarri. All the pieces in the collection are s...
Ceramic
$1,918
H 8.27 in W 9.06 in D 7.49 in
Basilico Model Teapot by Ettore Sottsass for Alessio Sarri Editions
By Ettore Sottsass, Alessio Sarri
Located in Milan, Italy
Basilico is one of the teapots from the "The Indian Memory" collection designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1987 and now re-edited by Alessio Sarri. All the pieces in the collection are s...
Ceramic
$1,918
H 7.88 in W 7.88 in D 6.7 in
Lapislazzuli Model Teapot by Ettore Sottsass for Alessio Sarri Editions
By Ettore Sottsass, Alessio Sarri
Located in Milan, Italy
Lapislazzuli is one of the teapots from the "The Indian Memory" collection designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1987 and now re-edited by Alessio Sarri. All the pieces in the collection a...
Ceramic
Ettore Sottsass for Fontana Arte Vase Model 2665
By Fontana Arte, Ettore Sottsass
Located in New York, NY
Ettore Sottsass for Fontana Arte rare large graphic colored crystal vase consisting of dark blue central square cylinder with attached brown tria...
Art Glass
$8,790 / item
H 6.7 in Dm 11.42 in
Aldebaran Glass Fruit Bowl, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
By Memphis Group, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano
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 ...
Glass
$10,870 / item
H 11.82 in Dm 13.78 in
Murmansk Silver Plated Brass Fruit Bowl, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano
By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano, Memphis Group
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Murmansk 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...
Brass, Silver
Miss LaVazza Italian Stainless Steel Moka Pot Espresso Coffee Maker
Located in San Diego, CA
Great Italian "Miss Lavazza" coffee percolator. 18/10 stainless steel with a gold tone handle and finial. Makes six cups. Produced by Balzano. Made in Italy. Beautiful Post Modern de...
Stainless Steel
Large Green and Red Centrepiece by Ettore Sottsass
By Bitossi, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Milan, IT
This elegant centerpiece in white clay features a base in dark grey supporting a conic body made of concentric steps that are finished in red on the outside and in vivid matte green ...
Ceramic
$49Sale Price / set|25% Off
H 1.97 in Dm 2.09 in
Robert Welch for Old Hall, 1962-4, Alveston Condiment Set, Super Set, Modernist
By Robert Welch, Old Hall Earthenware Co.
Located in London, GB
Robert Welch for Old Hall, 1962-4 'Alveston' condiment set Stainless steel with black plastic inserts Very good condition, with only light marks Makers stamp to underside of ea...
Stainless Steel
Postmodern Classic Teapot Designed by Michael Graves for Alessi
By Alessi, Michael Graves (b.1934)
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Style of Alessi Vintage Memphis Tea Pot designed by Michael Graves stainless steel made Taiwan signed at bottom 10.5 h x 9 w 11.75 d Original vintage u...
Stainless Steel
Ettore Sottsass Memphis Egizia Silver Blue Art Glass Bowl, 1990s
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in Munich, DE
Beautiful and rare find Egizia art glass bowl, designed by Ettore Sottsass. This thick and heavy cobalt blue bowl is decorated with hand silk-screened...
Murano Glass
$1,918 / item
H 7.88 in W 7.88 in D 6.7 in
Cherry Model Teapot by Ettore Sottsass for Alessio Sarri Editions
By Alessio Sarri, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Milan, Italy
Cherry is one of the teapots from the The Indian Memory collection designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1987 and now re-edited by Alessio Sarri. All the pieces in the collection are signe...
Ceramic
Sold
H 7.49 in W 6.89 in D 3.15 in
Postmodern Ettore Sottsass Model 5074 Oil & Vinegar Set for Alessi, Italy 1978
By Alessi, Memphis Milano, Memphis Group, Ettore Sottsass
Located in London, GB
For sale is the iconic Postmodern 'Model 5074' Oil & Vinegar set, designed by Ettore Sottsass and produced by Alessi, Italy in 1978 (this is a more recent edition). Released in the ...
Steel, Stainless Steel, Chrome
Ettore Sottsass for Alessi Salt & Pepper Mills
By Ettore Sottsass, Alessi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Undeniably an Ettore Sottsass creation, this set of beechwood MP0210 pepper mill and ES18 salt mill are some of the best examples of the Memphis pioneer's design. This set is in the...
Metal
Stainless Steel and Glass Cruet Set by Ettore Sottsass for Alessi
By Alessi, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Alessi and released in 1978, the “5074” condiment set has become a true icon of late 20th Century Modern Design. Aesthetically simple and beautifully...
Stainless Steel
Ettore Sottsass for Alessi Salt & Pepper Mills
By Alessi, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Undeniably an Ettore Sottsass creation, Alessi’s beechwood MP0210 peppermill and MS0212 salt mill from 1989 are some of the best examples of the Memphis pioneer’s design. In good vin...
Wood
Sold
H 4.45 in Dm 11.54 in
Postmodern Salad Bowl "La Bella Tavola" by Ettore Sottsass for Alessi, 1993
By Alessi, Alighiero Boetti 1, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1993. This bowl was designed by Ettore Sottsass for Alessi. The colorful pattern is also designed by Alighiero Boetti. It is in perfect original condition. Measures:...
Ceramic
Sold
H 5.91 in W 9.85 in D 6.7 in
26-Piece Breakfast Set "La Bella Tavola" by Ettore Sottsass for Alessi, 1993
By Alighiero Boetti 1, Ettore Sottsass, Alessi
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1993. This set was designed by Ettore Sottsass for Alessi. The colorful pattern is also designed by Alighiero Boetti. In this set there are - 12 coffee cups with 12 plates; - 11 tea cups with 12 plates (un cup is missing); - Teapot; - Sugar bowl; - Milk jug. It is in perfect original condition. Measures - coffee cups: diameter 7 cm, with handle 9 cm height 4.5 cm. - coffee cup plates...
Ceramic
Postmodern Pink and Purple Espresso Pot by Ettore Sottsass for Lagostina
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A quintessentially postmodern espresso pot/coffee maker designed by the Memphis Milano master, Ettore Sottsass, for Lagostina in the 1980s. From Lagostina...
Metal
Postmodern Coffee Set by Ettore Sottsass for Lagostina
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A quintessentially postmodern and very rare coffee set designed by the Memphis Milano master, Ettore Sottsass, for Lagostina's Accademia lin in the 1980s. Made in Italy, this set includes a metal stovetop espresso pot...
Metal
Post Modern Polished Stainless Ice Bucket by Ettore Sottsass for Alessi
By Alessi, Ettore Sottsass
Located in San Diego, CA
Ettore Sottsass' 1979 design relied upon the research conducted by Alberto Gozzi to discover how to hold three of the five possible basic shapes of wine bottles and cool them right u...
Copper, Stainless Steel
Postmodern Memphis Era Espresso Maker by Ettore Sotsass
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and rare espresso maker designed by Ettore Sotssas for Lagostina, it was part of the MOMA exhibition, great color and design.
Metal
Plate designed by Ettore Sottsass for 'De Bijenkorf', Amsterdam.
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in Dronten, NL
Ceramic plate designed by Ettore Sottsass for 'De Bijenkorf' warehouse in Amsterdam, made by Bitossi in the 1950's. Unique opportunity to buy a 1950's Sottsass item that is still aff...
Ceramic