Emphasis has been placed on aesthetics, shape and form. Ettore sottsass, memphis group carlton bookcase, italy. Memphis design is one example of how a movement that, in the early aughts, wouldve seemed ridiculous, but is now back in style among influencers and tastemakers. The totemic carlton room divider is a memphis icon. Carlton room divider in 2020 memphis design, memphis. The carlton bookcase was created in the 1980s by memphis, the milanese design group founded by ettore sottsass, a grandee of italian design. I find this piece interesting, especially when i look at the two small drawers at the bottom. 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. It came from the 80s the campy 1980s furniture, known for wild colors, crazy patterns, and exaggerated shapes, gets a reverent. The memphis groups carlton bookcase master communicators.
View this item and discover similar for sale at 1stdibs iconic carlton bookcase designed by ettore sottsass in 1981. Memphis objects are bold, colorful, and a bit cheeky to have, say, a carlton bookcase and room divider in ones living room is to say that the days of furniture whispering its. Ettore sottsass carlton bookcase roomdivider for memphis milano, colorful iconic bookcase or roomdivider. Finely handcrafted, it is made of mediumdensity fiberboard mdf and cheap plastic laminate, a subversion of high and low. Ettore sottsass carlton bookcase was the defining product of the 1980s memphis group, typified by bright coloured laminates and playful forms. Near mint original condition with the original memphis stamp. If you are a fan of colors then the carlton bookcase from memphis italy is sure to speak to you. An italian architect and designer known for his large oeuvre including furniture, jewelry, glass, lighting, and office design, ettore sottsass was also the founder in the early 1980s of the memphis group. Memphis was a reaction against the slick, black humorless design of the 1970s. Ettore sottsass 14 september 1917 31 december 2007 was an italian architect and designer during the 20th century. The piece calls into question conventional furniture f.
An ancient egyptian style, combined with modern materials, to form a designproduct. Preliminary designs for the carlton bookcase for the memphis design company, milan designed by ettore sottsass jr italian, b. While at first sight the slanted shelving seems counterintuitive, it accommodates. In the latest instalment of our postmodernism series, we explore how its bright coloured. 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, miniature carlton bookcase ettore sottsass carlton bookcase was the defining product of the 1980s memphis group, typified by bright coloured laminates and playful forms. But the movements true impact on pop culture is as elusive and twisted as the squiggly lines found in memphisinspired patterns. Built from sections of laminated mdf, the carlton could be seen as a bookcase, a room divider or a dresser or all three but like many of the memphis groups creations, it seems equally comfortable as a modern art installation. A totem piece, incorporating bold colour, structure and purpose. Ettore sottsass italian born austria, innsbruck 19172007 milan.
Memphis milano carlton bookcase multicoloured made in design. Carlton bookcase by ettore sottsass, carlton room divider, designed in 1981 by ettore sottsass, in wood and plastic laminate. Carlton bookcase, ettore sottsas memphis design, memphis furniture. Ettore sottsass carlton bookcase was the defining merchandise of the 1980s memphis group. The piece calls into question conventional furniture forms by combining a space divider, bookcase, and chest of drawers. The wild world of ettore sottsass, memphis group design. Carlton room divider designed by ettore sottsass in 1981 for memphis milano carlton wood miniature.
Much more than any individual, sottsass is credited with introducing a. Ettore sottsass carlton bookcase was the defining product of the 1980s memphis group, typified by. Produced in 1981, the original memphis design can still be seen as a display piece in art shows and design museums around the world, such as its exhibition at salone del mobile in 2014. Thus, the memphis movement has become an almost mythical symbol of new design and its influence is still strong in many areas of production and beyond.
The memphis group of designers, founded in 1981, was. The best memphis design movement trend pieces 2017 the. Carlton is a nineminute conversation piece about an iconic bookcase, which stands in an empty gallery space. Design by ettore sottsass carlton room divider, designed in 1981 by ettore sottsass, in wood and plastic laminate.
Category late 20th century italian postmodern bookcases. This multicolored bookcase is made of pattern laminate. Felicity marshall x ettore sottsass memphis design. Carlton room divider designed by ettore sottsass in 1981 for memphis milano the totemic carlton room divider is a memphis icon.
Memphis milano, italian design and architecture group. This multifunctional piece is designed to blur functionality, or lack of functionality, which is typically postmodern. Ettore sottsass, carlton bookcase carlton bookcase and casablanca sideboard, 1981 by ettore sottsass jr. Carlton wood miniature bookcase, by ettore sottsass from memphis milano by memphis group, ettore sottsass, memphis milano located in pregnana milanese, it here you are shown an authentic and perfect reproduction of the carlton bookcase, originally designed in 1981 by ettore sottsass. The carlton dresser and memphis design principles the carlton dresser displays some, but not all of the memphis design principles. Ettore sottsass bookcase oak design edition, italy. The vivid colors and seemingly random interplay of solids and voids suggest avantgarde painting and sculpture. Lastly, it is a way to build a possible figurative utopia or to build a metaphor of life. Ettore sottsass, memphis group carlton bookcase, italy 1981 artsy. His body of work included furniture, jewellery, glass, lighting, home objects and office machine design, as well as many buildings and interiors. Iconic carlton bookcase or room divider designed in 1981 by ettore sottsass for memphis. From rago, ettore sottsass, memphis group, carlton bookcase, italy 1981, laminated wood, 77 34.
Carlton room divider, designed in 1981 by ettore sottsass, in wood and plastic laminate. Heavy quality hpl on wood construction ettore sottsass carlton bookcase was the defining product of the memphis group, typified by bright coloured laminates and playful forms buy the miniature carlton from memphis milano, on made in. While the name might make you think that it was born in tennesse, it got its start in milan, italy. The ideabehindthe design 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. The vivid colors and seemingly random interplay of. Memphis is the great cultural phenomenon of the 80s that has revolutionised the creative and commercial logic of the design world. Stories about the 1980s memphis group, the italian collective founded by ettore sottsass, including design and architecture influenced by the group. 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. Ettore sottsass carlton bookcase was the defining product of the 1980s memphis group. Decorative arts and design the montreal museum of fine arts antidesign. It is a way to discuss society, politics, eroticism, food and even design.
The wild world of ettore sottsass, memphis group design legend. Memphis design, merely by challenging orthodox ideas, is memorable. Carlton room divider by ettore sottsass memphis milano artemest. This piece was designed by ettore sottsass in the 1980s. One of the leading members of the group ettore sottsass called memphis design the new international style. The best pieces to buy of the memphis design movement in 2017, now that the 1980s trend is back in a big way. The work of the memphis design movement has been described as vibrant, eccentric and ornamental, and yet little about memphis was truly innovative. What is memphis design and how is it making a comeback. Created on the initiative of ettore sottsass and a group of young milanese architects and designers, shortly to be joined by some of the most famous names on the internatinal design scene, memphis overturned all the existing preconceptions around.
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