Totem thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Totem

Form
ca. 1965 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Standing 'totem' form in four stacking parts, each thrown in buff-coloured earthenware and decorated with coloured glazes in combinations of white, black, yellow, green and blue. The interior surfaces covered with transparent glaze.


Object details

Category
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.

  • Form
  • Form
  • Form
  • Form
TitleTotem (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Earthenware, thrown and turned, with coloured glazes
Brief description
Form 'Totem', buff-coloured earthenware with coloured glazes, designed by Ettore Sottsass, Italy, manufactured by Bitossi, Montelupo Fiorentino, ca. 1965
Physical description
Standing 'totem' form in four stacking parts, each thrown in buff-coloured earthenware and decorated with coloured glazes in combinations of white, black, yellow, green and blue. The interior surfaces covered with transparent glaze.
Dimensions
  • Overall height: 129cm
  • Widest section width: 37.5cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
Unmarked
Credit line
Supported by the Friends of the V&A
Object history
According to the vendor, the gallery Friedman Benda, the Totem had orignally been in the ownership of Ettore Sottsass. The full provenance of the Totem was said to be:
Friedman Benda, NY
Private Collection, Belgium
Private Collection, Italy
Ettore Sottsass
Bibliographic reference
Fulvio Ferrari. Ettore Sottsass: Tutta la Ceramics. Turin: U. Allemandi, c. 1996
Collection
Accession number
C.55:1 to 4-2011

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Record createdJuly 12, 2011
Record URL
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