Ettore Sottsass Vistosi Glass Pendant
View Similar Items
Ettore Sottsass Vistosi Glass Pendant
About the Item
- Creator:Ettore Sottsass (Designer),Vistosi (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 15.75 in (40 cm)Diameter: 10.24 in (26 cm)
- Power Source:Hardwired
- Voltage:110-150v
- Lampshade:Included
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1975
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Dronten, NL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU931432921532
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.
Vistosi
Demonstrative of a unique marriage between artistry and technical excellence, Vistosi lighting fixtures were born from a rich Italian glassmaking tradition. The prolific glass manufacturer came to prominence after World War II for its modernist lighting designs, and today Vistosi is known for opulent chandeliers, lamps and sconces.
The history of Vistosi reaches as far back as 1640, when the Gazzabin family of Murano opened a furnace for producing Murano glass art. "Vistoso," which was originally a nickname, became part of the family's surname and eventually the name “Vistosi” was used to refer to the family’s glass creations.
Vistosi would be recognized by the glassmakers’ guild in Murano during the late 18th century — with Gio-Batta Vistosi becoming head of the guild — but Napoleon dissolved the Venetian state and closed the region’s glass factories by 1807. The modern iteration of the Vistosi company was founded in Murano in 1945 by Guglielmo Vistosi, a Gazzabin family heir.
During the 1950s, Vistosi's grandchildren, Gino and Luciano Vistosi, began specializing in lighting. In the 1960s and ‘70s, the company worked with renowned Italian furniture designers like Adalberto Dal Lago, Ettore Sottsass and Gae Aulenti. One of Vistosi's most famous collaborations was with Italian architect and designer Angelo Mangiarotti. In 1967, Mangiarotti designed a modular crystal-hook lighting system called Giogali that has enjoyed popularity and acclaim to this day.
In 1989, Vistosi was taken over by businessman Giancarlo Moretti, who had an extensive background in the lighting industry. Moretti's son, Matteo Moretti, reinvigorated the business with a series of new design collaborations in 1993. Some of the most notable partnerships included Chiaramonte and Marin, Mauro Olivieri and Michele De Lucchi.
Vistosi has participated in every Euroluce showcase since the lighting exhibition began in 1976. In 2005, the company won the ADI Design Index award for Mangiarotti's Giogali system. In 2007, Vistosi won the Eurispes award and participated in a Compasso d'Oro competition.
Today, Vistosi is still a leader in the lighting industry, shifting to LED and creating new types of lead-free crystal glass for its stunning range of lighting fixtures.
Find a collection of vintage Vistosi lighting and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
- Ettore Sottsass ID-S Edition Floor LampBy Ettore SottsassLocated in Dronten, NLIn 1987, while working for Zumtobel, the Milan-based design studio Sottsass Associati developed a floor lamp which caused quite a stir both because of its design and its lighting tec...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsSteel
- Ettore Sottsass East Side Arm ChairBy Knoll, Ettore SottsassLocated in Dronten, NLIconic East Side arm chair in Royal Blue designed by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll International in 1983. Postmodern chair with original upholstery in wonderful vintage condition. The ch...Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
- Black Callimaco by Ettore Sottsass, Early Limited EditionBy Ettore Sottsass, ArtemideLocated in Dronten, NLLimited Edition Callimaco floor lamp by Ettore Sottsass in black. Callimaco was designed by Ettore Sottsass for Artemide in 1982 and became a true icon of 1980s. The lamp lacks all unnecessary parts and strips down to pure functionality. This very first version was produced in a small numbered series for a Paris gallery...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsSteel
- Model 585 Red Vase by Ettore Sottsass, Italy, 1960By Ettore SottsassLocated in Dronten, NLOxblood red vase model 585 designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1960. Realized circa 1961 by Società Ceramica Toscana di Figline for Milanese gallery Il Sestante in different colors. Signe...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Post-Modern Vases
MaterialsCeramic
- Huge Vistosi Murano Glass Vase by Alessandro PianonBy Alessandro Pianon, VistosiLocated in Dronten, NLBeautiful Vistosi cylinder hat shaped vase in clear glass with partial black glass at the bottom and a Vistosi trademark red glass edge. Designer Alessandro Pianon started working fo...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Neverrino Murano Glass Pendant by Gae AulentiBy Gae AulentiLocated in Dronten, NLExceptional and rare glass pendant designed by Gae Aulenti for Vistosi. Hand blown Murano glass shade with applied murrhines. Height adjustable with steel cable to maximum 300 cm. En...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsSteel
- Ettore Sottass Pendant Lamp, Vistosi, Italy, 1974. White Red-Orange Glass. SignedBy Vistosi, Ettore SottsassLocated in Kansas City, MOEttore Sottsass pendant light fixture for Vistosi Italy, 1974. Completely original. The glass is in excellent condition with no chips, cr...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsSteel
- Suspension lamp possible Ettore Sottsass for Vistosi 1970By Ettore SottsassLocated in Lugo, ITPendant lamp 1970 In the style of E Sottsass for Vistosi Internal defect as pictured Thank youCategory
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsMurano Glass
- White Lampros Pendant by Ettore Sottsass for Stilnovo, 1970By Ettore Sottsass, StilnovoLocated in Rotterdam, NLLarge Lampros pendant designed by Ettore Sottsass Jr. and produced by Stilnovo in the 1970s. This disc-shaped model consists of a white aluminium shade and three chromed metal ref...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsMetal
- Ettore Sottsass Rinnovel Pendant Lamp Anodized Perforated Aluminum Italy 1950sBy Rinnovel, Ettore SottsassLocated in Nierstein am Rhein, DEFabulous light-weight aluminum pendant lamp most probably designed by Ettore Sottsass and executed by Rinnovel, Italy, circa 1950s. The Italian lamp which is made of anodized aluminu...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsAluminum
- Three vintage 'Manifesto' Ettore Sottsass for STILNOVO pendant lamps, PublishedBy Stilnovo, Ettore SottsassLocated in Milano, ITEnter a realm where vintage allure meets futuristic flair with the hypnotic trio of 'Manifesto' pendant lamps (model '19061') by visionary designer Ettore Sottsass for STILNOVO, dati...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsAluminum
- Vistosi Murano Glass Pendant ChandelierBy VistosiLocated in Antwerp, BEItalian Murano glass chandelier by Vistosi. Measures: Diameter 60 cm. Height 55 cm.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsMetal