Biography
Ettore Sottsass is one of the most important creators in the design history of the 20 century.
He worked as an architect, designed ceramics and glasses, was art director of the Poltronova furniture factory, designed office machines and pieces of furniture for Olivetti. He got an international reputation as one of the protagonists of the Anti-Design movement and founder of the Memphis group in the beginning of the 1980s. In contrast to stern rationalists who tried to implement the postulate „form follows function“ of pioneers like Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe in Italy, Sottsass strove for a new design vocabulary in all genres he devoted himself to. He focused on colours, sensual materials and an archetypical symbol system.
Sottsass began his career as an architect. After graduating from Politecnico Turin he entered into his father’s, Ettore Sottsass sen, company. In 1947 he went freelance, opened his own architect’s office and took part in furthering the social housing for INA. Working as an architect alone could not hold him occupied. He wished to try all kinds of means of expression, characterised his companion since 1976, Italian writer Barbara Radice. Sottsass would write articles for Domus, organise exhibitions, create sculptures, ceramics and glass objects. And he painted, as well. One of his water-colours from 1956 shows vertical and horizontal gestural brush strokes, dominated by a red grate. Inspired by works of Jackson Pollock and Arshile Gorky, Sottsass took spontantaneous grates and circles to decorate the ceramics and carpets he created in the 1950s.
Read more ...Read less ...Objects by Ettore Sottsass
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Andrea Branzi, Michele De Lucchi, Bruno Gregori, Alessandro Guerriero, Ettore Sottsass Galeria dei Lucidi Inganni, Mailand; Studio Alchimia, Mailand; Anthologie Quartett, Bad Essen
13 postcards, 1970 / 80s
Hammer Price: 100 €
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Andrea Branzi, Frank O. Gehry, Michael Graves, Richard Sapper, Ettore Sottsass Alessi, Crusinallo; Moller Design
Mixed lot of kettles, 1990s
Hammer Price: 850 €
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Harry Bertoia, Achille Castiglioni, Michele De Lucchi, Frank O. Gehry, Ettore Sottsass, Frank Schreiner Stiletto, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni Vitra Design, Weil am Rhein
8 miniature seating furniture
Hammer Price: 1,200 €
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Ettore Sottsass Toso Vetri d'Arte, Murano für Memphis, Mailand
'Clesitera' object, 1986
Hammer Price: 3,500 €
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Ettore Sottsass Compagnia Vetraria Muranese srl, Venedig; Memphis, Mailand
'Sol' fruit bowl , 1982
Hammer Price: 2,100 €
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Hans von Klier (attributed), Ettore Sottsass (attributed) Olivetti, Ivrea
'Colibri Terra' floor lamp from the 'Synthesis' series, c. 1973
Hammer Price: 250 €
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Aldo Cibic, Maria Sanchez, Peter Shire, Ettore Sottsass ACME, Los Angeles
Four pairs of earrings and a brooch, 1980s
Hammer Price: 800 €
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Ettore Sottsass Knoll International, New York
Two 'Eastside' easy chairs, 1982
Hammer Price: 1,600 €
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Andrea Branzi, Michele De Lucchi, Bruno Gregori, Alessandro Guerriero, Ettore Sottsass Galeria dei Lucidi Inganni, Mailand; Studio Alchimia, Mailand; Anthologie Quartett, Bad Essen
Set of 13 postcards, 1970 / 80s
Hammer Price: 100 €
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Ettore Sottsass Bitossi, Montelupo; Il Sestante, Mailand
Box and cover '198-C', 1955
Hammer Price: 5,500 €
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Ettore Sottsass Bitossi, Montelupo; Il Sestante, Mailand
Hand-formed candy bowl '194-A', 1958
Hammer Price: 2,100 €
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Nathalie Du Pasquier, Ettore Sottsass, George J. Sowden Memphis, Mailand
Set of 5 ties, a bow tie and a scarf, 1980s
Hammer Price: 700 €
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Ettore Sottsass Olivetti, Ivrea
Storage set for desk from the 'Synthesis 45' series, 1973
Hammer Price: 350 €
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Ettore Sottsass Alessio Sarri, Sesto Fiorentino
'Camomilla' fruit bowl from the 'Indian Memories' series, 1972
Hammer Price: 1,700 €
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Ettore Sottsass Alessio Sarri, Sesto Fiorentino
'Sugar' fruit bowl from the 'Indian Memories' series, 1972
Hammer Price: 1,000 €
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Ettore Sottsass Alessio Sarri, Sesto Fiorentino
'Basilico' teapot from the 'Indian Memories' series, 1972
Hammer Price: 1,000 €
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Ettore Sottsass Società Ceramica Toscana, Figline; Il Sestante, Mailand
Vase from the 'Onde' series, 1969
Hammer Price: 1,900 €
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Ettore Sottsass Habitat, Italien
Ashtray 'Y38' from the 'Terracotta Yantra' series, 1969
Hammer Price: 340 €
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Ettore Sottsass Design Centre, Mailand
Fruit bowl 'Y10' from the 'Terracotta Yantra' series, 1969
Hammer Price: 1,200 €
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Ettore Sottsass Design Centre, Mailand
Ashtray 'YP1' from the 'Terracotta Yantra' series, 1969
Hammer Price: 450 €
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Ettore Sottsass Design Centre, Mailand
Ashtray 'YP1' from the 'Terracotta Yantra' series, 1969
Hammer Price: 600 €
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Ettore Sottsass Società Ceramica Toscana, Figline; Il Sestante, Mailand
Ashtray '444', 1962/63
Hammer Price: 700 €
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Ettore Sottsass Habitat, Italien
Vase from the 'Ceramiche a Fischietto' series, 1962
Hammer Price: 300 €
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Ettore Sottsass Fontana Arte, Mailand
'2664' vase from the 'Oggetti' series, 1980
Hammer Price: 1,200 €
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Ettore Sottsass Fontana Arte, Mailand
'2666' vase from the 'Oggetti' series, 1980
Hammer Price: 1,300 €
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Ettore Sottsass Vistosi, Murano; Artemide, Mailand
Footed 'Schiavona' bowl, 1974
Hammer Price: 1,300 €
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Nathalie Du Pasquier, Ettore Sottsass, George J. Sowden Memphis, Mailand
22 ties, pocket square, bow tie, 1980s
Hammer Price: 800 €
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Ettore Sottsass Memphis, Mailand; Flavia, Montelupo; Sarri, Alessio
24 plates, 'Indivia' and 'Lettuce', 1985
Hammer Price: 350 €
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Ettore Sottsass Sarri, Alessio, Sesto Fiorentino; Anthologie Quartett, Bad Essen
'Basilico' teapot, 1989
Hammer Price: 950 €
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Ettore Sottsass Targetti Sankey s.p.A., Florenz (zugeschrieben)
'Madison' table light, c1979
Hammer Price: 1,600 €
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Ettore Sottsass Studio Alchimia, Mailand
'Le Strutture Tremano' table object, 1979
Hammer Price: 1,000 €
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Ettore Sottsass Tendentse; Sarri, Alessio, Sesto Fiorentino
'Fruttiera' bowl from the 'Tendentse' series, 1986
Hammer Price: 600 €
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Ettore Sottsass Leitner, Franz, St. Lambrecht, Österreich
Three 'Danube' chairs and a table, 1986
Hammer Price: 1,900 €
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Ettore Sottsass Venini & C., Murano
'Firenze' (variation) ceiling light, c1994
Hammer Price: 1,700 €
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Ettore Sottsass Olivetti, Ivrea; Olivetti, Barcelona
'Valentine S' type writer, 1969
Hammer Price: 200 €
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Ettore Sottsass Poltronova, Pistoia; Design Centre, Mailand (Vertrieb)
'Tecnika' desk, 1970
Hammer Price: 850 €
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Ettore Sottsass Sarri, Alessio, Sesto Fiorentino
Vase '817 - Vaso per Fiori', 1984/85
Hammer Price: 700 €
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Ettore Sottsass Poltronova, Pistoia
Two 'SMAU' desk chairs and a writing desk, 1970
Hammer Price: 1,200 €
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Ettore Sottsass Bitossi, Montelupo; Flavia s.r.l.
Pair of 'Alzata Grande' and 'Rocchetto' vases, 1986
Hammer Price: 1,200 €
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