Max Palevksy and Ettore Sottsass
in Malibu, California

"Although the Malibu furnishings were still rooted in the principles of a Memphis design vocabulary, they reveal a growing interest in assemblage and in different combinations of color and materials that would later find full expression."


















"It was in 1978 at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem that Max Palevsky (1924-2010) and Sottsass first met. A philanthropist and art patron, Palevsky had established the museum’s design center—the Palevsky Design Pavilion—where the exhibition Ettore Sottass Jr. was on view. The two quickly bonded through their mutual interests, and they developed a deep friendship that would last three decades. In fact, Sottsass mentions “Max” in his 1992 essay “I Colori” from the book of his writings, Ettore Sottsass: Scritti, 1946-2001 (2002). In it he describes a hyper-sensorial experience of color and nature in the California desert at sunset, presumably while staying at Palevsky’s Palm Springs residence."

the Malibu home with Sottsass furnishings
photos taken from real estate listing here...

"He cites 1984 as the date that Sottsass was commissioned to transform the interior of Palevsky’s Spanish-Colonial style villa in Malibu, and other sources indicate that it was completed by 1985. At the time Sottsass had already achieved international fame as the founder of Memphis, established four years earlier, but he was already contemplating leaving the group. This may help explain the stylistic break of the Palevsky furniture from his Memphis designs that same year. Although the Malibu furnishings were still rooted in the principles of a Memphis design vocabulary, they reveal a growing interest in assemblage and in different combinations of color and materials that would later find full expression."




-Ronald T. Labaco
(taken from the upcoming catalog for March 6th, Auction at LAMA)



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Ronald T. Labaco is Marcia Docter Curator at the Museum of Arts and Design, New York. In 2006 Mr. Labaco curated the exhibition “Ettore Sottsass” at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and co authored the book Ettore Sottsass: Architect and Designer (Merrell Publishers Limited, 2006)."






the last two images taken from here..




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Lots of Sottsass soon
to be on view in
Los Angeles!











LAMA is pleased to announce that unique Ettore Sottsass works from the Max Palevksy estate will be offered in the March 6, 2011 Modern Art & Design auction.

(great podcast here, from the LAMA blog here)

"During the course of his life, Max Palevsky, most noted as a pioneer in the computer industry, amassed an astounding collection of Modernist art and Italian design to adorn his three extraordinary homes in California. In 1984, Palevsky commissioned renowned Italian architect and designer Ettore Sottsass to redesign the interiors of his Malibu estate. Sottsass, who at the time was mostly unknown in the United States, was a driving force in European design, especially for founding the Memphis Movement in Italy.

Highlights from the Palevsky design collection will include a number of Ettore Sottsass custom designs such as a marble entry table, a custom headboard with built-in nightstands, and a unique marble and steel coffee table. In addition to the Sottsass designs, four Murano glass windows, a selection of Venini glass, a rare Carlo Scarpa vase for Venini, and Alessandro Mendini designs will also be offered for sale."

here....

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