- 144
Ettore Sottsass
Estimate
12,000 - 18,000 GBP
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Description
- Ettore Sottsass
- 'Burma' Totem
- signed Sottsass and numbered 6/20
from an edition of 20 - glazed earthenware, plastic laminated wood
Provenance
Acquired directly from the producer by the present owner
Literature
Fulvio Ferrari, Ettore Sottsass: Tutta la Ceramica, Torino, 1996, p. 140, fig. 633
Condition
Very good condition overall. The laminated base with minor wear, scuffs and surface scratches. Chip to one of the bottom corners of the base, approximately 3 cm in length. Rubbing to the laminate of the edges of the base in some areas. Minor dent to the top laminated surface of the base towards one of the edges.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
Ettore Sottsass launched his career in ceramics with no formal training or knowledge of the material, relying on the expertise of Aldo Londi, artistic director of Bitossi, to produce the designs he envisioned. 'When I designed my ceramics I couldn't ignore the existence of the local tradition, the colours and the materials, and even the fundamental idea of ceramics.' Sottsass visited India for the first time in 1961, and it was here he discovered rich colours, forms and ancient traditions that would influence his ceramic designs. Sottsass discovered that many objects found in India served a cultural, rather than functional purpose. Combining ancient materials with non-western religious practices, Sottsass desired to 'raise the object to the level if concentration so as to release it from its lesser functions...capable of stimulating by their presence the awareness of our own gestures.'