c. 1982, Alaska vase, marked "Memphis/Milano" "925", 36.97 oz. T., 12 in.

Provenance: Property from the Collection of Dudley and Constance Godfrey

Literature: Memphis, manufacturer's catalog, 1986, pg. 57 Memphis: Research, Experiences, Results, Failures and Successes of New Design, Radice, pg. 120

Note: Tested with XRF (.930 fine)

Ettore Sottsass (1917–2007) was an influential Italian architect and designer, best known as the founder of the Memphis Group, which revolutionized postmodern design in the 1980s with its bold colors, playful patterns, and striking geometric forms.

Early in his career, he worked for Olivetti, where he designed the iconic Valentine typewriter. His wide-ranging body of work spans furniture, ceramics, glass, and architecture, consistently blending functional design with expressive and often whimsical aesthetics.

Sottsass’s work is held in the permanent collections of major institutions, including Museum of Modern Art in New York, Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Vitra Design Museum. His work has also been featured in solo exhibitions at the Design Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Among his many honors are the prestigious Compasso d'Oro and the Austrian State Prize for Industrial Design.