A MONUMENTAL FRUIT BOWL FROM THE 'CERAMICHE DI FUMO' SERIES, 1969

Sottsass acknowledges the ethereal nature of smoke trails -- expressions of motion now rendered static -- as inspiration for this series. By giving these vessels titles that include 'Fumo della Esso', 'Fumo dell' Atomica', and 'Fumo di Bankok', 'Fumo di Buddha', Sottsass invests these forms with an ethos that contrasts philosophical, ecological, and anti-consumerist statements with an imagined collective memory of ancient ritual and ceremony.

The 'Ceramiche di Fumo' series was first presented Il Sestante gallery, Milan, 28 March 1969.