Vintage ceramic vase by Ettore Sottsass

The "Memphis Milano" catalog brings together iconic designs created by the renowned Memphis collective between 1981 and 1988. These collectible works of art revolutionized the creative and commercial logic of design in the 80s. Founded in Milan in 1981 by Ettore Sottsass, the Memphis group brought together international architects and designers, such as Michele De Lucchi, Matteo Thun, Martine Bedin, Nathalie Du Pasquier, Shiro Kuramata, and George J. Sowden. A true cultural phenomenon, Memphis challenged the codes of design by deliberately placing itself outside of the canons of "good taste" of the time. Goodbye to pure functionalism or Bauhaus-style austerity, hello to fantasy with colorful and eccentric creations. The first Memphis collection was like a bomb: an explosion of exuberant patterns, explosive colors, fearless asymmetries, and stacked geometric shapes like totems. The use of laminated plastic, previously considered "cheap," was paired with noble materials such as marble and walnut veneer. Memphis quickly became the subversive label of Italian design with its quirky and colorful universe inspired by comic books, Pop art, cinema, Kitsch, and Art Deco. It was a revolution: design, previously confined to showrooms, invaded the media and sparked passions.Considered symbols of Anti-design and New Design, Memphis creations are above all unlimited expressions of creativity that reject the constraints imposed by the industry and the market. At the crossroads of design, architecture, art, and postmodernism, these exceptional pieces are now sought after by collectors around the world and exhibited in prestigious museums.More than 20 years after the end of the movement, the "Memphis Milano" company continues to produce about 50 historical designs created by Memphis between 1981 and 1988. These original models are all stamped with the "Memphis" seal, a guarantee of authenticity. Each piece is accompanied by a paper certificate of authenticity also stamped with the "Memphis" seal. Some models carry the designer's signature.Tigris is part of the "Three Rivers" series of three vases designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1983. It is composed of a stack of white porcelain geometric elements with a blue upper ring and black lower disk. Reference : 264967