The design group, memphis, became known for its colourful and depthless. 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, anthropomorphic form that seems to recall the head and arms of an ancient idol or totem. Sottsass was born on september 14, 1917, in innsbruck, austria, and grew up in. Heavy quality hpl high pressure laminate on wood construction in various colours. Learn more about the piece and artist, and its final selling price. Colorful iconic carlton bookcase or room divider designed by ettore sottsass for memphis milano in 1981. Long before the carlton room divider enraptured aficionados of avantgarde design, sottsass spent years playing with radical forms and materials in his furniture, always questioning traditional. 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. The totemic carlton, which sottsass created in 1981, is his most identifiable furniture design. Detail of ettore sottsass ceramic totems, displayed at the design museums exhibition ettore sottsass work in progress in 2007. Mar 02, 2020 ettore sottsass prolific career was the subject of the 2019 exhibition ettore sottsass and the social factory, which looked at the radical designers postwar works including his ceramic totems from late 1960s left to his monolithic superboxes right that challenge both the function and consumption of everyday objects. Carlton room divider, designed in 1981 by ettore sottsass, in wood and plastic laminate. The carlton was first produced in 1981 and continues production to the present day.
Its visually disjointed form is antithetical to neatly ordered, conventional bookcases. Property from the collection of ryan brant ettore sottsass carlton room divider circa 1981 manufactured by memphis, milan laminated wood with manufacturers label 77 x 74. From phillips, ettore sottsass, carlton room divider, plasticlaminated wood. Carlton wood room divider, by ettore sottsass from memphis milano. With an incredibly strong sense of symmetry and postmodernist use of color, this piece captures the playful approach to design that sottsass was renowned for. The vivid colors and seemingly random interplay of solids and voids, suggest avant garde painting and. Italian, born austria, 19172007 manufactured by memphis furniture, s. The totemic carlton room divider is an outstanding example of the work of ettore sottsass, the defacto leader of the memphis group, a milanbased collective of furniture and product designers whose work rose to prominence in the 1980s. Ettore sottsass, carlton bookcaseroom divider, 1981. Carlton room divider by ettore sottsass for memphis milano.
Room divider, carlton, wood plastic laminate, designed by ettore sottsass, made by memphis, italy, 1981. Ettore sottsass is very well known and associated with the memphis style the collection from the is one of his most wellknown achievements. Most commonly remembered as the founding member of memphisthe fleeting postmodern design group that injected bright colors, exuberant patterns, and cartoonish forms into the cultural psyche of the 1980ssottsass many. The vivid colors and seemingly random interplay of solids and. Carlton room divider in 2020 memphis design, memphis. Sep, 2017 the totemic carleton room divider from 1981 is a perfect example of memphis principles. 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. Room divider in plastic laminate 196 cm x 190 cm x 40 cm. Nov 11, 2016 ettore sottsass carlton room divider with metal label memphis milano ettore sottsass 1981 made in italy plasticlaminated wood 197. The sexy fire engine red, the black keys, the bright orange scroll caps. Milwaukee art museum, centennial gift of gilbert and j. Much more than any individual, sottsass is credited with introducing a. This is on full display in his casablanca sideboard and tartar table.
The carlton room divider is an exercise in geometry, squares, rectangles and triangles given unexpected twists with the angled members and the stick figure form that stands on the upper shelf. Most commonly remembered as the founding member of memphisthe fleeting postmodern design group that injected bright colors, exuberant patterns, and cartoonish forms into the cultural psyche of the 1980ssottsass many contributions to the field of design. A large, freestanding, shelf system on a raised rectangular pedestal base with two. It was designed to be freestanding like a sculpture, while functioning as a practical and decorative. It was designed to be freestanding like a sculpture, while functioning as a practical and decorative piece of furniture. Ettore sottsass carlton room divider, 1981, wood, plastic laminate, 76 34 x 74 34 x 15 34 in the sottsass legacy today, many critics and collectors express loathing for the work of the memphis group, recalling only its elaborate, often gaudy insistence on playful design elements, primary colors and nonutilitarian elements. I love the architectural shape of the lamps, the toylike hoovers and the carlton book shelf. May 06, 2017 long before the carlton room divider enraptured aficionados of avantgarde design, sottsass spent years playing with radical forms and materials in his furniture, always questioning traditional. View this item and discover similar for sale at 1stdibs colorful iconic carlton bookcase or room divider designed by ettore sottsass for memphis milano in 1981. Jul 31, 2017 one hundred years after his birth, and a decade after his death, austroitalian designer ettore sottsass is finally getting his due.
This piece derives from a production manufactured circa 1995 labelled and is in excellent condition. The importance of being ettore sottsass the art newspaper. The totemic carleton room divider from 1981 is a perfect example of memphis principles. May 17, 2014 for sottsass the equivalent might be his carlton room divider for memphis, or his valentine typewriter for olivetti, but these alone dont explain his fame it was the work, ideas and life. 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. Carlton room divider, 1981 ettore sottsass italian, born austria, 1917 designer. It reads as a bookcase, a room divider and a dresser, depending on. Ettore sottsass italian born austria, innsbruck 19172007 milan manufacturer. See more ideas about memphis design, memphis milano and design. The vivid colors and seemingly random interplay of solids and voids suggest avantgarde painting and sculpture. The milanbased design group memphis, founded by sottsass in 1981, championed his characteristically exuberant use of color and evocative formsexemplified by the carlton room dividercalling for a new way of imagining everyday objects, for a different outlook on life. It reads as a bookcase, a area divider and a dresser, depending on who you ask. 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 superb silhouette enriched with an eclectic combination of vivid colors.
Jul 26, 2017 designer ettore sottsasss valentine portable typewriter of 1969 is a memorable character within larger stories of international design, technology, pop art, and celebrity. Carlton wood room divider, by ettore sottsass from memphis. This famous piece also derives from sottsasss early work in the 1960s designing large. First introduced in 1981, the carlton room divider by ettore sottsass jr and italian design group memphis symbolized the style and essence of italian design in a refreshingly new manner. Colorful iconic carlton bookcase or roomdivider designed by ettore sottsass for memphis milano in 1981. Carlton room divider, 1981 ettore sottsass art institute of chicago. Ettore sottsass carlton bookcase was the defining merchandise of the 1980s memphis group. His body of work included furniture, jewellery, glass, lighting, home objects and office machine design, as well as many buildings and interiors. The vivid colors and seemingly random interplay of solids and voids. The piece calls into question conventional furniture forms by combining a space divider, bookcase, and chest of drawers. The carlton room dividerperhaps the mascot of memphiswas built to house books, but it hasnt got a right angle anywhere.
Anniversario 19812011ettore sottsass, 1981carlton edizione anniversario n. Carlton room divider by ettore sottsass memphis milano artemest. In the latest instalment of our postmodernism series, we explore how its bright coloured laminates and playful kind typified memphis challenge to modernisms impersonal aesthetic. But the groups leader, ettore sottsass, also had a wonderful sense of sculptural form. Carlton room divider, 1981 objects collection of cooper hewitt. It is typically post modern, in that can be described as a display piece or even a discussion piece. Memphis furniture is often very flat and iconic, like a graphic design popped to life.
The carlton room divider and cabinet was one of the first pieces ettore sottsass created for the international experimental design group he cofounded, memphis. The slick case that, when carried by its popup handle, resembles a chic attache. For sottsass the equivalent might be his carlton room divider for memphis, or his valentine typewriter for olivetti, but these alone dont explain his. A leading figure in italian design, he is especially noted for his work as a consultant designer for the olivetti company, producers of office furniture and typewriters, including the famous red valentine model. Ettore sottsass carlton room divider important design. While he has had a successful career producing industrial designs for the mainstream corporation olivetti, for everything from. Explore the genius of design legend ettore sottsass galerie. Dec 12, 2010 ettore sottsass, carlton bookcase room divider, 1981. Ettore sottsass carlton room divider with metal label memphis milano ettore sottsass 1981 made in italy plasticlaminated wood 197.
Small black and white centerpiece by ettore sottsass. The totemic carlton room divider is a memphis icon. Designed in 1981, this work is the iconic carlton room divider and bookcase in plastic laminate by italian designer ettore sottsass for memphis, italy. Carlton bookcase roomdivider by ettore sottsass for memphis. Carlton room divider by ettore sottsass on artnet auctions. Carlton room divider made of multicoloured plastic laminates over wood and designed in postmodern style. Displayed at the design museums exhibition ettore sottsass work in progress in 2007.
Carlton bookcase roomdivider by ettore sottsass for. From the collectionettore sottsass carlton bookcase. The design group, memphis, became known for its colourful and depthless laminated plastic and. Design by ettore sottsass carlton room divider, designed in 1981 by ettore sottsass, in wood and plastic laminate. Here you are shown an authentic and perfect reproduction of the carlton bookcase and room divider, originally designed in 1981 by ettore sottsass. Design radical by ettore sottsass takes over the met. Celebrating italian architect ettore sottsass architectural. The carlton is an icon of italian 20th century design and one of the most outspoken pieces in the memphis design collection. As a dresser it lacks functionality, in fact it would be fair to describe this furniture as virtually unusable. In 1981 ettore sottsass presented his carlton dresser.
Aug 03, 2015 the totemic carlton, which sottsass developed in 1981, is his most identifiable furnishings design and style. Anniversario 19812011 ettore sottsass, 1981 carlton edizione anniversario n. The vivid colors and seemingly random interplay of solids and voids, suggest avant garde painting and sculpture. The totemic carlton room divider is an outstanding example of the work of ettore sottsass, the defacto leader of the memphis group, a milanbased collective of. Carlton was designed by ettore sottsass for memphis design in 1981. The overall form reveals a seemingly random interplay of lines and shapes suggestive of avantgarde sculpture, although the divider is. Ettore sottsass 14 september 1917 31 december 2007 was an italian architect and designer during the 20th century. The carlton room divider is an exercise in geometry, squares, rectangles and triangles given unexpected twists with the angled members and. Ettore sottsass prolific career was the subject of the 2019 exhibition ettore sottsass and the social factory, which looked at the radical designers postwar works including his ceramic totems from late 1960s left to his monolithic superboxes right that challenge both the function and consumption of everyday objects. Detail of carlton, a room divider designed by ettore sottsass in 1981. Its type is ambiguous ample to question, at very first glance, no matter whether it is a piece of furniture at all.
Room divider, carlton, wood plastic laminate, designed by. Waddell, 1997 his aim, says benda, was to state and provoke ideas. Dec 11, 2015 detail of carlton, a room divider designed by ettore sottsass in 1981. Postmodern design is a difficult thing to pin down or describe concisely. Discover our luxurious, modern and outstanding midcentury pieces of furniture clicking. It refers to all manner of playful, ornamented, subversive, andor heady things. Sottsass justified the odd angles by claiming that books never stand straight anyway.
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