{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O539978"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O539978/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MV7661/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MV7661/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MV7661","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AM9795","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O539978","accessionNumber":"E.414-1986","objectType":"Design","titles":[{"title":"Designs for 'Carlton' bookcase and 'Casablanca' sideboard","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"These designs are for funcitonal pieces of furniture, although they flout any traditional expcectations and preconceptions of how a set of shelves should look and work. The 'Carlton' has the character of a playful anthropomorphic being, like a stickman or insect, as inteded by the designer. Both designs have a speckled effect on the base, a surface decoration technique derived from patterns used for plastic laminates form the 1950s and which was used extensively by the Memphis group. \r\n\r\nThese pieces of furniture clearly show how Ettore Sottsass, in a conscious bid to create objects using 'non-cultural imagery', drew on a wide range of cultural references not previously associated with design. He founded the Memphis design group in Milan in 1981 to explore the potential impact of  aricher visual design language. The group's aim was to produce everyday objects but wiht a high aesthetic quality, created through the application of bright colours and decoration onto imaginative forms. Memphis wanted to challenge the relationship between manufacturers and customers where the makers were led by consumer demand for standardised commodities, which was the culmination of mass-machine production for mass markets.","physicalDescription":"Design for 'Carlton' bookcase and 'Casablanca' sideboard.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Sottsass, Ettore (Jr)","id":"A920"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pen and ink, coloured chalk, bodycolour","categories":[{"text":"Designs","id":"THES48968"},{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"},{"text":"Paintings","id":"THES48917"},{"text":"Images Online","id":"THES48937"},{"text":"Anthropomorphism","id":"THES252998"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2021MV7661","2006AM9795"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLF","id":"THES49656"},"free":"","case":"TOPIC","shelf":"7","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"designs","id":"AAT102051"}],[{"text":"drawings","id":"AAT33973"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1981","earliest":"1981-01-01","latest":"1981-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased from the Memphis Design Group via Barbara Radice for £500","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"220","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"140","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"1.5.81 / SOTTSASS","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed top left"},{"content":"DIVISORIO / SOSSIORNO","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed left edge."}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Designs for 'Carlton' bookcase and 'Casablanca' sideboard, 1981 by Ettore Sottsass Jr","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"furniture","id":"AAT37680"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"<b>PRELIMINARY DESIGNS FOR THE CARLTON\r\nBOOKCASE FOR THE MEMPHIS DESIGN\r\nCOMPANY, MILAN\r\nDesigned by Ettore Sottsass Jr (Italian, b.1917)\r\nBlack and coloured felt-tip pens, coloured chalk\r\n1981</b>\r\n\r\nThe Memphis group of designers, founded in 1981, was\r\nwidely regarded as a hothouse of exotic design, in revolt\r\nagainst the stolid mass of traditional furniture on the one\r\nhand and the cool minimalist clichés of modernism on the \r\nother.\r\nFrom its beginning the Museum has collected important\r\ncontemporary, as well as historic furniture designs. An\r\nexhibition of Memphis furniture and designs held in this\r\ngallery in 1983 made clear the significance of the Memphis\r\ngroup and resulted in the acquisition of a selection of\r\ndrawings by its members, including drawings showing\r\nthe working out of ideas at an early stage.\r\n\r\nPurchased from the Memphis Design Group via Barbara Radice for £500\r\nE.414-1986","date":{"text":"1990","earliest":"1990-01-01","latest":"1990-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["E.414-1986"],"accessionNumberNum":"414","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":1986,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-23","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-30","availableToBook":false}}