Ashoka
Lamp
1981 (made)
1981 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The ‘Ashoka’ table lamp is one of the of several lamp designs produced by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis. In form this is the closest to the ‘cactus’ or ‘totem’ design language of some of his furniture, like the Carlton room divider and the Casablanca sideboard (V&A museum number: W.14:1 to 6-1990). Both pieces use individually coloured and patterned extending elements projecting from a centre plinth.
Sottsass also often chose names which referred to his interest in ancient legend and ritual. He travelled in India in the 1960s which had a crucial influence on his work. This lamp is named for Ashoka, an ancient Indian emperor.
Sottsass also often chose names which referred to his interest in ancient legend and ritual. He travelled in India in the 1960s which had a crucial influence on his work. This lamp is named for Ashoka, an ancient Indian emperor.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Ashoka (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Painted metal, E14 bulbs and halogen uplight |
| Brief description | Lamp, painted metal with E14 bulbs, 'Ashoka', by Ettore Sottsass, produced for Memphis, Italy, 1981. |
| Physical description | Multi-colour table lamp made from painted, geometric and tubular metal components projecting from a centre plinth; five E14 bulbs. On the top two tubular metal components end in bulbs, other two are on the right and the left side of the lamp, the fifth is in the middle of a tubular component, above the base. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Production type | Mass produced |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'Love, Ettore Sottsass' (Designer's signature on bottom rail with gold pen) |
| Object history | The 'Ashoka' lamp is one of the several lamp designs produced by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis. In form this is the closest to the 'cactus' or 'totem' design language of his furniture, the Casablanca sideboard (W.14:1 to 6-1990) or Carlton room divider. Both use coloured and patterned extending elements projecting from a centre plinth. Memphis object-titles were often taken from the names of luxury hotels and distant locations. Sottsass also often chose names which referred to his interest in ancient legend and ritual. His travels in India in the 1960s had a crucial influence on his work. The lamp is named for Ashoka, an ancient Indian emperor. |
| Production | The lamp was produced for Memphis Attribution note: Original 1981 production |
| Summary | The ‘Ashoka’ table lamp is one of the of several lamp designs produced by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis. In form this is the closest to the ‘cactus’ or ‘totem’ design language of some of his furniture, like the Carlton room divider and the Casablanca sideboard (V&A museum number: W.14:1 to 6-1990). Both pieces use individually coloured and patterned extending elements projecting from a centre plinth. Sottsass also often chose names which referred to his interest in ancient legend and ritual. He travelled in India in the 1960s which had a crucial influence on his work. This lamp is named for Ashoka, an ancient Indian emperor. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.16-2010 |
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| Record created | November 8, 2010 |
| Record URL |
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