Ettore Sottsass Tappeto Volante Flying Carpet Chair Bedding Brevetti Italy 1972

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A postmodern lounge chair “Tappeto Volante (Flying Carpet)” designed by Ettore Sottsass for Bedding Brevetti, Italy 1972. Original label adhered … Read more A postmodern lounge chair “Tappeto Volante (Flying Carpet)” designed by Ettore Sottsass for Bedding Brevetti, Italy 1972. Original label adhered to side. Beechwood and stain, stretch-jersey fabric, velvet, and carpeting. A standout example of Sottsass’s exploration of domestic form, the piece blends furniture and rug into a single surrealist gesture. Composed of soft upholstered elements– including a red carpet-like base, multicolored cushions, and asymmetrical armrests– it invites relaxation through both function and whimsy. “Tappeto Volante” reflects Sottsass’s growing interest in emotional design, blurring boundaries between utility, symbolism, and play. It has been featured in design retrospectives at the Triennale di Milano and Centre Pompidou and appears in publications documenting radical Italian design of the 1970s. “Tappeto Volante” is also in the permanent collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and Vitra Design Museum. A unique opportunity to own a museum quality furniture design. In Museum quality condition.

Provenance: From a private estate in Southeast Michigan. Dimensions: 25.5”h × 42.5” × 71.25”. In excellent condition, professionally stored and never used. A rare example in exceptional condition. Full condition reports are available upon request.

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 and geometric forms. Early in his career, he worked for Olivetti, designing the iconic Valentine typewriter. His work spans furniture, ceramics, glass, and architecture, blending functionality with playful aesthetics. Sottsass’s designs are in the permanent collections of major institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Vitra Design Museum in Germany. He has been featured in solo exhibitions at the Design Museum London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Among his honors are the Compasso d’Oro award and the Austrian State Prize for Industrial Design. See less