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.
Manhattan Trolley by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Manhattan trolley in metal and glass by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano collection Additional information: Trolley in metal and colour...
Metal
Mathieu Matégot 'Trolley' for GUBI
By Mathieu Matégot, Gubi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mathieu Matégot 'Trolley' for GUBI Originally designed by Mathieu Matégot in 1953, the 'Trolley' is an authorized re-edition by GUBI. Executed using Matégot's Rigitulle method of...
Steel
$414Sale Price|20% Off
H 20.48 in W 16.15 in D 16.54 in
Cremewhite Boby Trolley by Joe Colombo for Bieffeplast, Italy, 1970s
By Joe Colombo, Bieffeplast
Located in Vienna, AT
Designed in 1969, Joe Colombo’s iconic "Boby 3" portable storage system was produced by Italian manufacturer Bieffeplast and makes savy use of space with its swivel design. It is mad...
Plastic
Memphis Milano Hyatt Table by Ettore Sottsass
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...
Metal, Chrome
1970s Acrylic Record Trolley by Michel Dumas for Roche Bobois
By Roche Bobois, Michel Dumas
Located in Berkeley, CA
Origin: France Designer: Michel Dumas Manufacturer: Roche Bobois Era: 1970s Materials: Acrylic Measurements: 33.5" wide x 19.75" deep x 19" tall Condition: In excellent origi...
Acrylic
Ettore Sottsass "Cream" occasional table for Memphis Milano
By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano
Located in Skokie, IL
Cream end table in plastic laminate by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano collection. Applied aluminum manufacturer's label to side ‘Memphis Milano Ettore Sottsass 1984 Made in Italy.'
Plastic, Plywood
$12,500 / set
H 42.5 in W 40.5 in D 84.75 in
Ettore Sottsass & Marco Zanini for Leitner Donau Collection Bed and Nightstand
By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group, Marco Zanini, Memphis Milano
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and iconic Italian post-modern Donau Collection bed and matching nightstand designed by master architect and furniture designer Ettore Sottsass (Austria/Italy, 1917-2007) in collaboration with Marco Zanini (Milan, Italy; b.1971) for Leitner Interior Design, circa 1988. Scarce design, bold and dramatic, sculptural-form, exceptionally executed in bird’s-eye maple lacquered and laminated wood, including blue accents and columns that offer a visually striking contrast. Retaining the original manufacturer's label, signed, 195/88. Provenance / Acquisition: Acquired from highly reputable auction house Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas. Design Signature Auction catalog #8110 Dimensions: (approx) Bed: (Twin XL...
Laminate, Wood
Ettore Sottsass City Dining Table for Memphis Milano, 1983
By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano
Located in Kansas City, MO
Ettore Sottsass "City" dining table in black and brown spotted laminate with chrome plated steel legs. Very good condition with light scratches seen upon close inspection in raking ...
Steel, Chrome
Memphis Milano Mimosa Table by Ettore Sottsass
By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Toronto, ON
With its elementary shapes and delicate pastel colours, Mimosa by Ettore Sottsass seems to have come out of the world of childhood or dreams. This work asks us to free our imaginatio...
Glass, Laminate, Wood
Ettore Sottsass 'Ivory' Pedestal for Memphis Milano
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in Dallas, TX
Ettore Sottsass 'Ivory' Pedestal for Memphis Milano, 1985.
Laminate
$3,600
H 16.75 in Dm 15.75 in
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...
Laminate, Wood
$25,873
H 28.75 in W 96.07 in D 56.7 in
Arquitectonica 1984 Madonna Table Desk Memphis Milano Postmodern Miami Sottsass
By Memphis Milano, Memphis Group, Arquitectonica
Located in Munster, NRW
Madonna table by Arquitectonica Miami for Memphis Milano, 1984. Iconic an extremely rare postmodern piece and one of the only Memphis Group productions whose design was commissione...
Wood
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 31.5 in W 36 in D 16 in
Post-Modern Memphis Style Italian Aluminum Frame Bar Cart
By Mario Bellini, Philippe Starck, Mario Botta, Ettore Sottsass
Located in San Diego, CA
Wonderful example of Italian Post-Modern Memphis design, circa 1980s. Versatile piece on casters that can be used as tea, bar or serving serving cart. The piece is made of wood with ...
Aluminum
Sold
H 31.5 in W 31.5 in D 16.93 in
Manhattan Trolley by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Manhattan trolley in metal and glass by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano collection Additional information: Trolley...
Metal