The vivid colors and seemingly random interplay of solids and voids. This exquisite sculptural piece was designed by ettore sottsass in 1981 as a room divider, becoming much more than just a functional piece, thanks to its. This construction seemed to be rather unusual and irrelevant, and irrational with references to the design of bookcases. A totem piece, incorporating bold colour, structure and purpose. Intended for the higher end of the market and finely handcrafted, it is made of mediumdensity fiberboard mdf and cheap plastic laminate, a subversion of high and low. An architect and industrial designer known for his work with olivetti, sottsass convened the group after splitting off from studio alchymia and its leader alessandro mendini.
Designs for carlton bookcase and casablanca sideboard. The carlton bookcase was designed by ettore sottsass for memphis milano in 1981 and was made circa 1990. While at first sight the slanted shelving seems counterintuitive, it accommodates books which often. One of the most striking pieces was ettore sottsasss carlton room divider, a bookshelf and cabinet that combines different colors of plastic laminate in a tiered. It reads as a bookcase, a room divider and a dresser. Postmodernism in the works of ettore sottsass 1952 words. Colorful iconic carlton bookcase or roomdivider designed by ettore sottsass for memphis milano in 1981. Vintage totemic carlton bookcase by ettore sottsass for. Italian architect and designer ettore sottsass standing next to his carlton bookcase vittoriano rastellicorbis via getty images good taste was the bad thing they were fighting against. His body of work included furniture, jewellery, glass. Memphis milano carlton bookcase multicoloured made in. Carlton bookcase roomdivider by ettore sottsass for.
View this item and discover similar for sale at 1stdibs iconic carlton bookcase designed by ettore sottsass in 1981. In 1981 ettore sottsass presented his carlton dresser. The importance of being ettore sottsass the art newspaper. He gained renown with his designs for the office equipment manufacturer olivetti, for his poetic, minimalist sculptural objects, and as the leading figure of the memphis design. See more ideas about memphis design, memphis milano and design. It refers to all manner of playful, ornamented, subversive, andor heady things. Memphis milano carlton bookcase multicoloured made in design. Ettore sottsass carlton room divider bookcase designed in 1981 view larger image view full catalog record below. The carlton bookcase was presented in 1981, and it became the sensation because of the traditional publics vision of bookcases carlton bookcase. Heavy quality hpl high pressure laminate on wood construction in various colours. Its type is ambiguous ample to question, at very first glance, no matter whether it is a piece of furniture at all. The memphis group of designers, founded in 1981, was. Carlton room divider, 1981 ettore sottsass art institute of chicago.
Waddell, 1997 his aim, says benda, was to state and provoke ideas. View this item and discover similar for sale at 1stdibs iconic carlton bookcase designed by ettore sottsass for memphis milano in 1981, old production manufactured circa. Design by ettore sottsass carlton room divider, designed in 1981 by ettore sottsass, in wood and plastic laminate. The milanbased design group memphis was established by ettore sottsass in 1981. Mar 17, 2017 1981, ettore sottsass, memphis carlton bookshelf, vintage production 2. The vivid colors and seemingly random interplay of solids and voids suggest avantgarde painting and sculpture. The piece calls into question conventional furniture f. This multicolored bookcase is made of pattern laminate. The carlton room divider and cabinet was one of the first pieces ettore sottsass created for the international experimental design group he cofounded, memphis. In 1939 he graduated in architecture at the politecnico di torinoone of the most influential and important figures of the last century, architect and designer, he has participated in all radical movements whether created from the 70s and 80s. The totemic carlton, which sottsass created in 1981, is his most identifiable furniture design. As a dresser it lacks functionality, in fact it would be fair to describe this furniture as virtually unusable.
His body of work included furniture, jewellery, glass, lighting, home objects and office machine design, as well as many buildings and interiors. From rago, ettore sottsass, memphis group, carlton bookcase, italy 1981, laminated wood, 77 34. Iconic carlton bookcase or room divider designed in 1981 by ettore sottsass for memphis. During his career, he developed an interest for color and light. Much of the groups furniture and object design evolved from geometric forms. Ettore sottsass 14 september 1917 31 december 2007 was an italian architect and designer during the 20th century. From wright, ettore sottsass, carlton bookcase 1981, laminate over wood, 78. Carlton room divider, 1981 objects collection of cooper hewitt. View this item and discover similar for sale at 1stdibs iconic carlton bookcase designed by ettore sottsass for memphis milano in 1981, old production manufactured circa 1990. This historical piece can also be seen in the museum of modern art new york.
Ettore sottsass, memphis group carlton bookcase, italy 1981 artsy. This is on full display in his casablanca sideboard and tartar table. Carlton bookcaseroom divider ettore sottsass italian. This piece was designed by ettore sottsass in the 1980s. Carlton bookcase by ettore sottsass, carlton room divider, designed in 1981 by ettore sottsass, in wood and plastic laminate. Born in innsbruck, austria in 1917, architectdesigner ettore sottsass grew up in milan. Postmodern design is a difficult thing to pin down or describe concisely. The carlton room divider is an exercise in geometry, squares, rectangles and triangles given unexpected twists with the angled members and the.
The totemic carlton room divider is a memphis icon. Preliminary designs for the carlton bookcase for the memphis design company, milan designed by ettore sottsass jr italian, b. Vitra celebrates ettore sottsass legacy as a design rebel. Carlton room divider by ettore sottsass memphis milano artemest.
Carlton room divider designed by ettore sottsass in 1981 for memphis milano the totemic carlton room divider is a memphis icon. Sottsass 19172007 was an austroitalian designer and one of the most unconventional figures in twentiethcentury design. It is typically post modern, in that can be described as a display piece or even a discussion piece. Decorative arts and design the montreal museum of fine arts antidesign. Apr 22, 2020 designs for carlton bookcase and casablanca sideboard, 1981 by ettore sottsass jr. Carlton room divider, designed in 1981 by ettore sottsass, in wood and plastic laminate. Ettore sottsass italian, 19172007, produced for the memphis design group milan, italy, established 1981 date.
The piece calls into question conventional furniture forms by combining a space divider, bookcase, and chest of drawers. It is a way to discuss society, politics, eroticism, food and even design. Ettore sottsass, memphis group carlton bookcase, italy. If you are a fan of colors then the carlton bookcase from memphis italy is sure to speak to you. View this item and discover similar for sale at 1stdibs iconic carlton bookcase designed by ettore sottsass for memphis milano in 1981, old production. Ettore sottsass, carlton bookcase room divider, 1981. From the collectionettore sottsass carlton bookcase. Milwaukee art museum, centennial gift of gilbert and j. Sottsass developed a vision of design as an instrument for social criticism, which led him to maintain that carlton bookcase, 1981 design is one way to discuss life. Ettore sottsass carlton room dividerbookcase designed.
The totemic carlton, which sottsass developed in 1981, is his most identifiable furnishings design and style. But the groups leader, ettore sottsass, also had a wonderful sense of sculptural form. A centennial retrospective examines ettore sottsass s enduring legacy. Ettore sottsass, italian industrial designer born sept. The memphis group in milan was founded by ettore in 1980 and ceased in design from its members were inspired by art deco, bauhaus and pop art. Memphis rejected the restraint and recognised goodtaste of functionally derived design, instead producing works with a sense of fun and provocation. Ettore sottsass italian industrial designer britannica. Sep 23, 2019 memphis founder ettore sottsass 19172007 was the groups oldest and most famous member.
Near mint original condition with the original memphis stamp. The design group, memphis, became known for its colourful and depthless laminated plastic and wood designs that offer functionality as well as being part of a. One of sottsass s contributions was the carlton bookcase 1981. Jul 20, 2017 inspired by pop culture and liberated from a functionalist design approach, it was during this time that sottsass created the carlton bookcase 1981, the lamps ashoka 1981 tahiti 1981, and the tartar table 1985. It reads as a bookcase, a area divider and a dresser, depending on who you ask.
It is a little known fact that all of the furniture in the first memphis collection, launched in milan in 1981, was named for luxury hotels. Finely handcrafted, it is made of mediumdensity fiberboard mdf and cheap plastic laminate, a subversion of high and low. Sottsass was born on september 14, 1917, in innsbruck, austria, and grew up in. Anniversario 19812011ettore sottsass, 1981carlton edizione anniversario n. Ettore sottsass for memphis milano carlton room divider designed 1981 applied plaque inscribed memphis milano ettore sottsass 1981 made in italy laminated wood 192 by 190 by 32 cm.
Carlton bookcase roomdivider by ettore sottsass for memphis, 1981. Lastly, it is a way to build a possible figurative utopia or to build a metaphor of life. Dec 12, 2010 ettore sottsass, carlton bookcase room divider, 1981. It reads as a bookcase, a room divider and a dresser, depending on. The vivid colors and seemingly random interplay of.