Unique early pieces by Sottsass, spectacular Ron Arad designs, classy ones by Hans Hollein, as well as many design classics and contemporaries will share the limelight of the Dorotheum design auction on 6th November 2014.

Often referred to as the “godfather of Italian design“, Ettore Sottsass (1917–2007) was an artist, stage designer, ceramic artist, as well as co-founder of the Radical Design movement of the nineteen-sixties and the founder of the legendary Memphis Design Studio during the nineteen-eighties.

The upcoming Dorotheum auction is proud to present a singularly fresh, unique piece dating to 1959, which already evokes the postmodernist aesthetics so dear to this artist. In his customary playful manner, Sottsass combines geometric elements and gaudy colours in a large ceramic mural measuring 241 x 284 cm. This unique and unusual work is the result of an early cooperation between Ettore Sottsass and the Bitossi ceramics studio, that began in 1955 with a series of plates and small ceramic objects. In 1960, this monumental piece was on display in the atrium of the Triennial building in Milan during the XII. Triennial Exhibition. The current owner acquired the wall painting in 1970, from Sergio Cammilli, the innovative founder of the Italian furniture firm Poltronova, who in 1958 employed Sottsass as art director (estimated price € 170,000 – 250,000).

Aside from this tripartite ceramic painting, the Dorotheum auction also offers a number of Totems. The many details that set the one dating to 1966 apart from later examples suggest, according to Cammilli, that it may be one of the first such man-sizes steles manufactured by Bitossi (€ 50,000 – 80,000).

Additional stars from Italy include Aldo Tura, with a 1940 design for a cocktail cabinet (€ 20,000 – 25,000), as well as Mimmo Paladino with a cabinet object featuring an elaborate interior (“Ficcanaso“,
€ 30,000 – 35,000), designed for Meta-Memphis. There will also be a particular emphasis on Italian glass from the period between 1930 – 1980, coming from two private collections.

Ron Arad contributes tables and in particular seats of all sorts – from a comfortable “Rover Seater” dating to the nineteen-eighties (€ 5,000 – 6,000), to a hard, gleaming steel “Big Heavy“ (No. 10/20, € 38,000 – 45,000), or the daring “A.Y.O.R.“ chair, to be used ‘AT YOUR OWN RISK’ (No. 18/20, € 40,000 – 45,000).

Of splendid aspect in red and gold, a concert piano designed for Bösendorfer by Hans Hollein belonged to the architect himself until his death in 2014. In asking Hollein to design the piano, the Viennese piano manufacturer followed a company tradition – earlier artists who designed pianos for them included Hans Makart and Josef Hoffmann (€ 110,000 – 130,000).

The auction also includes designs by other Austrian architects such as a round, solid walnut table with a diameter of 194 cm designed by Anna Lülja-Praun in 1976/78 (€ 8,000 – 12,000), and a parcel of drawings for carpets and wallpaper by Josef Frank, created in 1945 during his Swedish exile.

DESIGN
Auction Date Thursday, 6 November 2014, 5 pm
Viewing from 29 October 2014
Specialist Dr. Gerti Draxler, Tel. +43-1-515 60-226, gerti.draxler@dorotheum.at
Venue Palais Dorotheum, Vienna 1, Dorotheergasse 17