Sideboard: 'Casablanca' by Ettore Sottsass

This humorous and monumental sideboard, which is a representative of postmodern movement, was designed by Ettore Sottsass and made by Memphis group in Milan, Italy. Its function was mainly to combine storage and display as well as to serve as a room divider. The angled arms are intended to store bottles of wine. The artist was inspired by everyday products of the 1950s.

Memphis's group deigns which are brightly coloured and patterned, are proved to be among the best known in the 1980s. By designing irregular, wavy shape this sideboard introduced new esthetics, which was opposite to free forms and functionality of traditional modernism. Memphis used all these techniques to bring back individuality, freedom and humanity.

REFERENCES

1. "Casablanca" Sideboard, Designed by Ettore Sottsass, Italian (born Austria) (1917 - 2007). Made by Abet Laminati S.p.A., Italy. Made for Memphis, Milan, Italy, 1980; Available at: https://www.philamuseum.org/collections/permanent/76341.html

2. Victoria and Albert Museum, London (2017); Available at: https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O58652/casablanca-sideboard-sottsass-ettore-jr/

3. Ettore Sottsass, "Casablanca" Sideboard (1981); Available at: https://www.phaidon.com/agenda/design/articles/2016/july/14/david-bowies-sottsass-collection-is-up-for-sale/