Olivetti - Ettore Sottsass - Centrepiece - System 45 - Melamine
03
days
20
hours
59
minutes
44
seconds
20 other people are watching this object
 Bidder 0784 | €5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Bidder 7313 | €4 | |
 Bidder 0913 | €1 |
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 122986 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Description from the seller
Ettore Sottsass
Sistema 45 ashtray
Olivetti, Italy – 1972
As part of the Sistema 45 project, Ettore Sottsass designed for Olivetti much more than just office furniture: he created a language. This ashtray, seemingly modest, strongly embodies this radical vision of design where every object, no matter how functional, contributes to an overall aesthetic of the workspace.
Made of molded resin, this object stands out with its rhythmic geometric relief, a grid of half-spheres that blurs the line between volume and surface. Some cells are solid, others hollow — a subtle play of illusion and function. Originally conceived as a desk accessory, it has now become a minimalist sculpture, emblematic of the poetic industrial style characteristic of Sottsass.
This ashtray is a rarity, a testament to a time when the office became a testing ground for architectural and artistic experimentation.
Material: ABS
Dimensions: 27 x 27 x 8 cm
Color: anthracite gray
Editor: Olivetti
Designer: Ettore Sottsass
Year of creation: 1972-1973
Antique piece – 20th-century design collection
Images are part of the description. Insured shipping and at a relay point if possible.
Ettore Sottsass
Sistema 45 ashtray
Olivetti, Italy – 1972
As part of the Sistema 45 project, Ettore Sottsass designed for Olivetti much more than just office furniture: he created a language. This ashtray, seemingly modest, strongly embodies this radical vision of design where every object, no matter how functional, contributes to an overall aesthetic of the workspace.
Made of molded resin, this object stands out with its rhythmic geometric relief, a grid of half-spheres that blurs the line between volume and surface. Some cells are solid, others hollow — a subtle play of illusion and function. Originally conceived as a desk accessory, it has now become a minimalist sculpture, emblematic of the poetic industrial style characteristic of Sottsass.
This ashtray is a rarity, a testament to a time when the office became a testing ground for architectural and artistic experimentation.
Material: ABS
Dimensions: 27 x 27 x 8 cm
Color: anthracite gray
Editor: Olivetti
Designer: Ettore Sottsass
Year of creation: 1972-1973
Antique piece – 20th-century design collection
Images are part of the description. Insured shipping and at a relay point if possible.
Details
Era
1900-2000
Country of Origin
Italy
Manufacturer/ Brand
Olivetti
Designer/Artist/Maker
Ettore Sottsass
Model
System 45
Material
Melamine
Style
Contemporary
Colour
Grey
Condition
Excellent condition: barely used with minimal signs of wear
Height
8 cm
Width
28 cm
Depth
28 cm
Estimated Period
1970-1980
Sold by
