'Donau' Postmodern Armoire by Ettore Sottsass & Marco Zanini for Leitner, 1986
View Similar Items
'Donau' Postmodern Armoire by Ettore Sottsass & Marco Zanini for Leitner, 1986
About the Item
- Creator:
- Dimensions:Height: 82.25 in (208.92 cm)Width: 35.5 in (90.17 cm)Depth: 25.5 in (64.77 cm)
- Style:Post-Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1980-1989
- Date of Manufacture:1986
- Condition:Overall very good to excellent condition. See description for greater condition details.
- Seller Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1330218647362
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.
- Sculpted Armoire Cabinet by John Kapel for Glenn of California, 1960s, SignedBy John Kapel, Glenn of CaliforniaLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis beautiful Mid-Century Modern walnut armoire cabinet was designed by John Kapel for Glenn of California. Designed and produced in the 1960s, this example is signed with a Glenn of California medallion in one drawer. This beautiful bedroom wardrobe cabinet features nicely grained walnut contrasted with black trim and plinth base, signature softly sculpted handles, which open to reveal a hinged mirror with additional hidden storage behind, several cubby spaces for storage and three pull out drawers. Glenn of California was at the forefront of a new West Coast modernist design movement from the late 1940s through the 1960s. Other notable designers who designed for Glenn of California include Greta Magnusson-Grossman, Milo Baughman, Paul Laszlo, Stanley Young, and Kipp Stewart. Consider using this classic Mid-Century Modern armoire cabinet by John Kappel...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Wardrobes and Armoires
MaterialsWalnut
$3,400 Sale Price22% Off - Robert Whitley Sculptural Walnut Studio Craftsman Cabinet, New Hope PA, 1970sBy Robert WhitleyLocated in Los Angeles, CAAn incredibly beautiful studio case piece by New Hope craftsman Robert Whitley featuring solid sculptural walnut legs which extend upwards above the top of the cabinet giving this st...Category
Vintage 1970s American American Craftsman Cabinets
MaterialsWalnut
$6,900 Sale Price37% Off - 'Tucroma' Leather Rotating Wardrobe by Guido Faleschini for i4Mariani, ItalyBy Guido Faleschini, i4 MarianiLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis 'Tucroma' leather rotating wardrobe was designed by Guido Faleschini in the 1970s and produced by i4Mariani (Italy). Custom colors and finishes are available. The Tucroma rotating armoire features a leather clad exterior with color corresponding saddle leather straps and chrome hardware, a full body length mirror, and standing on a chrome plinth base. Interior with four smaller and one larger chrome hooks and a clothes rod. Leather color and hardware finish can be customized, contact us for more details. Also available is the matching 'Tucroma' leather platform bed...Category
2010s Italian Modern Wardrobes and Armoires
MaterialsChrome
$8,400 Sale Price20% Off - Caned Sculptural Cabinet by Vladimir Kagan for Grosfeld House, 1950s, SignedBy Grosfeld House, Vladimir KaganLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis very rare sculptural caned cabinet was designed by Vladimir Kagan and crafted by Grosfeld House during the 1950s in New York, documented in early Grosfeld House advertisements (...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsWalnut, Cane
- Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern Display Cabinet, c 1955, SignedBy Tommi Parzinger, Charak Furniture CompanyLocated in Los Angeles, CAA rare collectors item, this fully restored Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern (c. 1955) display cabiinet / vitrine, features beautiful french polish with Parzinger's signature statement door handles. Signed with Charak Modern label on the backside of the upper cabinet. This refined and sophisticated Parzinger credenza with glass display hutch is perfect for those high-end luxury pads looking for an incredible and collectible statement piece, which Parzinger was known to create. The gorgeous color is close to the Hermès orange, but perhaps a little bit deeper and bolder - perhaps somewhere between Hermès orange and blood orange. Beauty in every detail, from the cross-cut glass panes, to the upper flared embellishments and the signature Parzinger door handles. Let's not skip one more aspect of this table that is equally important - the collectors appeal. Furniture by Tommi Parzinger is one of the most sought-after and cherished items of sophisticated collectors. This isn't for your typical Eames and George Nelson collector, it is much more for a refined collector, perhaps a connoisseur of fine rarities. The quality of the materials and craftsmanship and design details are something to be admired. Parzinger and Charak Modern designed and crafted some of the highest quality furniture of the early and mid 20th Century. That was at a time when US manufacturing was at its best. And now in this day and age of cheap products not meant to last - this table is your daily reminder that 'they don't make them like they used to.' We restored this incredible sideboard display cabinet with hand-applying a new French Polish lacquer. French Polish is the most laborious and expensive finish because it requires many repetitive coats and each one hand polished to a fine glass-like finish, and while it is very expensive, it is worth it for rare and valuable pieces like this Tommi Parzinger vitrine. The results are nothing short of spectacular - such a smooth, clear and deep finish - it looks almost like a sheet of glass (much more incredible in-person than you can see (or touch / feel) in the photos). And besides how incredible it looks - it will also protect your investment for the decades ahead. This Parzinger cabinet is an ideal example for the most discriminating interior designer client or collector. This french polish cabinet...Category
Vintage 1950s American Hollywood Regency Vitrines
MaterialsBrass
$13,700 Sale Price23% Off - 'Taliesin' Model #2005 Special Cabinet by Frank Lloyd Wright, 1955, SignedBy Frank Lloyd Wright, Heritage-HenredonLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis gorgeously refinished Honduran Mahogany 'Taliesin' Model #2005 Special Cabinet on Stand was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for Heritage-Henredon in 1955 and produced only for two years, therefore is now a highly sought-after and rare collectors item and this particular cabinet design being one of the most sought after of the entire collection. This example is signed with the red Taliesin symbol on the back along with its stamped model #2005. This rare Frank Lloyd Wright cabinet features the rare sought after architectural base with equally rare and sought after two door cabinet with concentric square designs on doors. Inside the cabinet is a removable shelf. The cabinet can be removed from the base as can be seen in the photos. Frank Lloyd Wright stated that one of his goals for this line was for the 'design to make the home more efficient as well as more beautiful'. Woven into each piece of this series was the chamfered wood edge with an abstracted Greek key motif, the signature detail of every Taliesin design, covering the edges of each item in the collection. All of the pieces were executed in Honduran Mahogany, a high-end luxury wood choice. His idea was to design ‘infinite adaptability to American living’, for example desks could double as dressing tables, small tables could be used as a chair or stool and bookcases had moveable tops transforming into room dividers. Decoration was limited to the greek key edges so that ‘is of the piece, not on it’ and the removal of elimination of any hardware door or drawer pulls in favor of cut out flush pulls which ‘catch light and shadow for interesting and changing patterns’. Wright pitched three separate concepts to Heritage Henredon: ‘Burberry’, ‘Honeycomb’ and ‘Four Square’ which was the one chosen to go into production and renamed ‘Taliesin’ after Wrights Wisconsin home. A distinguishing feature of the Taliesin line is that each piece is identified with a branded signature which was often accompanied by a red square. No other items from the rest of Wright's career is marked or identified which makes this line more desirable to collectors. This particular cabinet design recently broke auction records for its model - demonstrating the rarity and desirability of Frank Lloyd Wright's work along with the uniqueness of this cabinet design and demand from art and design collectors and investors, along with the interior design community. This beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright Taleisin cabinet would work great in a Craftsman, Farm House, Monterey, Spanish, Mission, Arts & Crafts, Mid-Century Modern, Scandanavian Modern or Danish Modern home or penthouse apartment but could also look fantastic in a Contemporary or Post-Modern room. Also consider mixing it up in a Traditional, Transitional, Classical or Art Deco room with a splash of juxtaposition. Would also be an apt choice in a commercial project such as a hotel lobby lounge or members club, creative design studio or high-rise executive office. Consider using as a small blanket chest, a dry bar for liquor...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsMahogany
$9,300 Sale Price33% Off
- Bookcase Cabinet Donau, Ettore Sottsass & Marco Zanini for Franz Leitner, 1980sBy Ettore Sottsass, Marco ZaniniLocated in Zagreb, HRA rare Memphis design bookcase cabinet from the "Donau" series designed in 1986 by Ettore Sottsass and Marco Zanini for the Austrian furniture maker...Category
Vintage 1980s Austrian Post-Modern Bookcases
MaterialsMetal
- Wardrobe by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, 1970 CircaBy Ettore SottsassLocated in Milano, LombardiaThis wardrobe is a beautiful object for real. The use of high-quality materials, coupled with meticulous craftsmanship, ensures both aesthetic appeal and functional durability. This ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Wardrobes and Armoires
MaterialsTextile, Wood
$14,032 / item - Amazon Cabinet, by Marco Zanini for Memphis Milano CollectionBy Memphis Milano, Memphis Group, Marco ZaniniLocated in La Morra, CuneoThe Amazon Cabinet in reconstituted veneer and lacquered wood, was originally designed in 1985 by Marco Zanini for Memphis Milano. Marco Zanini was born in Trento in 1954. He gradu...Category
2010s Italian Modern Console Tables
MaterialsWood
- Set of 2 Wardrobe by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, 1970 CircaBy Ettore SottsassLocated in Milano, LombardiaThis wardrobe is a beautiful object for real. The use of high-quality materials, coupled with meticulous craftsmanship, ensures both aesthetic appeal and functional durability. This ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Wardrobes and Armoires
MaterialsTextile, Wood
- Redilas Armoire by Casa Gutiérrez NájerLocated in Geneve, CHRedilas Armoire by Casa Gutiérrez Nájer (2021) Dimensions: 130 x 60 x H190 cm Materials: Laquered Wood Also Available: Red, Green, White, Orange, and Black Since its opening...Category
2010s Mexican Post-Modern Wardrobes and Armoires
MaterialsWood
- Nairobi Bar Cabinet by Ettore SottsassBy Ettore SottsassLocated in Doral, FLNairobi Bar Cabinet by Ettore Sottsass for Zanotta Edizioni Red veneered laminate frame Base and inner frame with drawer and fold down tray in black stained wood Adjustable shelves...Category
1990s Italian Cabinets
MaterialsBrass