Ettore Sottsass

by Philippe Thome

Overview

"Take a glimpse inside the archive of the founder of the Memphis Group and designer of the Olivetti Valentine typewriter in Ettore Sottsass, a lavishly illustrated monograph chronicling the life and works of the unparalleled Italian designer and architect.

A gorgeous object in itself, the unique design of the book allows it to either be read cover–to–cover as a narrative history, or by discipline, picking up the relative thread under each period, with multi–colored tabs to distinguish each sub–chapter. Packed with 800 beautiful images taken from the extensive Sottsass archives – many of which have never been published before – and including drawings and sketches from the designer’s countless sketchbooks, the book also includes four short essays from experts in their fields, including Deyan Sudjic, director of London’s Design Museum."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780714865843
Publisher:	Phaidon Press
Publication date:	05/19/2014
Pages:	500
Product dimensions:	9.90(w) x 13.00(h) x 1.90(d)

About the Author

"Philippe Thome was born in Geneva in 1951. In 199l, he was awarded a Doctor of Letters by the University of Geneva, having written his thesis on the work of Ettore Sottsass. He taught history of art at the universities of Geneva and Lausanne, and history of architecture and design at ECAL (School of Art and Design, Lausanne). He currently works as an independent researcher."

Editorial Reviews

…there's no denying the visual power of [Sottsass], which is more timely than ever. In a world where it can seem as if designers are trying to fit everything into a monochrome package the size of your hand, Sottsass is everything but that.

The New York Times Book Review - Alexandra Lange

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"The book is a totemic object itself. In a world where it can seem as if designers are trying to fit everything into a monochrome package the size of your hand, Sottsass is everything but that. No cardboard, indeed." – The New York Times Book Review

"Lavishly illustrated. . . cleverly designed. . . Ettore Sottsass is one of the latest great coffee table books." – BLOUIN ArtInfo

"Phillipe Thome’s new book, Ettore Sottsass, surveys the career of one of Italy’s more distinguished 20th–century designers. But "distinguished" hardly fits Sottsass’s striking yet playful output. . . " – ELLE Decor

"stunning. . . Sottsass’s work, as the book makes evident, is so vibrant and comprehensive that one feels caught in the spell of his creations." – Surface

"I have been obsessed with the Italian architect and designer Sottsass and the Memphis Group he found all my life. I love everything about Sottsass’s work – it’s modern, optimistic, humorous, functional and intelligent. The designs in this book make me feel proud to be Italian." – Donatella Versace

"The book itself stands as a piece of art, beautifully designed from the bright bifold cover to all that lays within. . . Sottsass did it all and Thome presents it in a beautiful fashion. As one of the most significant visionaries in the field, Sottsass cannot go unstudied – and with this book, it’s a delight to do so." – CoolHunting

"[Sottsass] has a quirky sculptural presence all its own and comes in a very Sottsass pistachio ice cream cover (with blink–making zebra stripe endpapers). Here is a suitable memorial to an exceptional life: eclectic, serious and detailed as well as delightful, surprising, and utterly inspiring. The production is faultless, and superlative pictures illustrate, both precisely and anecdotally, the vast range of Sottsass’s work: buildings, furniture, paintings, jewelry, ceramics, glass, graphics, office equipment." – The Spectator (UK)

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From the Publisher