ES15

Many of the objects designed by Ettore Sottsass take shape from a series of overlapping volumes that grow upward. A structure derived from childhood spent in the mountains of Trentino, from an imagination nurtured by the vision of nature, with trees topped by light foliage, deep valleys and peaks above. "I always put one thing on top of another even when I draw," Sottsass explained, "As soon as you put a shape on a base, it immediately becomes important, it becomes a small monument; your relationship is with a small monument, so you pay more attention."

All Time Favourites presents a series of small representative objects from the “Twergi” collection, created in 1989 from a desire to revitalise the ancient tradition of woodturning, typical of the territory in which Alessi is based. The name “twergi”, or “elf”, derives from the dialect spoken in the nearby valleys. In their dealings with humans, the “twergi” alternated between causing mishaps and giving a helping hand, which included teaching men how to make use of wood and other forest resources.