Regal Carlton by Ettore Sottsass, for Memphis Milano, 1981

The Carlton Library, an iconic Memphis creation, was designed in 1981 by Ettore Sottsass. Despite its unstructured appearance, this imposing colorful totem is cleverly balanced and can serve as a room divider, book or decorative shelf. The coloured laminate panels are assembled like a house of cards, forming a hymn to instability. The Carlton shelf is equipped with two sliding drawers and rests on a thick rectangular base speckled in black and white. Memphis Milano: Innovator of New Design. Memphis Milano is a group of Milanese designers who, under the leadership of Ettore Sottsass, shook up the design world in the 1980s. Their bold and colorful approach introduced new shapes, materials and patterns, and their work continues to inspire designers around the world.