Alberto High Candleholder by Oscar Tusquets

About This Piece

Contemporary Design

Alberto High Candleholder by Oscar Tusquets Dimensions: D 8 x W 12 x H 28 cm. Materials: Cast iron painted in matte white. Available in two different sizes: low (D 6 x W 10 x H 20 cm) and high (D 8 x W 12 x H 28 cm). Please contact us. In a Surrealist play of semiotics, melted candle wax forms the candelabra itself, inspired by two of the movement’s greatest figureheads. In this design, Tusquets was inspired by one of Dalí's approaches: a softened vision of a rigid object. Candle wax was melted, solidified, and cast in bronze—originally left with its natural finish but later glazed in an off-white shade, such that when the candle burns and drips, the wax blends with the candelabra itself. Despite the influence of Dalí, the result looked somewhat like a sculpture by Alberto Giacometti, and Tusquets renamed the object accordingly. Oscar Tusquets describes himself as an architect by training, a designer by adaptation, a painter by vocation, and a writer through the desire to make friends. Graduating from Barcelona’s Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura in 1965, Tusquets became a member of Studi Per. Together, they founded BD in 1972, and he set about designing furniture and objects, soon recognised by the Spanish National Design Award. BD Barcelona In 1972, a group of young architects and designers from Barcelona started BD. Our aim was to produce and market furniture and objects for our own projects, with complete creative freedom and design criteria—both in shape and in function—that was different from the sector norm. In 1972, a group of young architects and designers from Barcelona started BD. Our aim was to produce and market furniture and objects for our own projects, with complete creative freedom and design criteria—both in shape and in function—that was different from the sector norm. We began coming up with designs, inspired by our contemporaries, from Ettore Sottsass in Italy to Álvaro Siza Viera in Portugal. Here in Spain, we were supported by those seeking something other than what was on the market at the time. These early pieces helped bring international recognition to the country’s design scene, and many of them still exist today. The BD brand has been enriched by all the designs we’ve produced. The result is a sum of many things—memory, tradition, and respect for the classics, as well as talent, innovation, a sense of humour, and a lot of imagination.

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Creator	Ettore Sottsass
Year	2023.0
Production Period	Before 2010
Country of Manufacture	Spain
Style	Contemporary
Detailed Condition	New — This is a new (unused) item of contemporary design.
SKU	KYZ-1741119
Additional Information	Made to Order
Materials	Iron
Color	White
Width	12 cm 12 cm
Depth	8 cm 8 cm
Height	28 cm 28 cm
Weight Range	Standard — Between 40kg and 80kg

Shipping & Delivery

Manufacturing Time	6-8 weeks
Ships from	France
Returns	Returns accepted within fourteen days of delivery, except for Made-to-order items

Sustainability

Carbon Neutral	For every purchase made, Pamono offsets 100% of estimated carbon emissions from global shipping.

Delivery Details

Delivery will be completed by a parcel service such as UPS, DHL, or FedEx.
You will receive a tracking number to monitor the status of your shipment.
Delivery will take place between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

*Important Note

Please examine the packaging upon delivery. In the event that there are visible signs of damaged packaging, please indicate the problem on the Delivery Note, take pictures, and—if the item inside shows damages—contact us within 48 hours of delivery. A signed delivery receipt without notations regarding damaged packaging represents your acceptance of the completed order in perfect condition.

About the Creator

Ettore Sottsass

Born in Innsbruck, Austria in 1917, architect and designer Ettore Sottsass grew up in Milan. He studied architecture at the Polytechnic of Turin, graduating in 1939. As a member of the Italian army, Sottsass spent most of World War II in a Yugoslavian concentration camp. He opened his first studio in Milan 1947, and participated in post-war reconstruction as well as interior and exhibition design.

In 1958, he began working with Olivetti, for whom he designed multiple landmark objects—including Valentine, the brand’s iconic 1969 red plastic typewriter—and transformed the large, cold electronics and office machinery of the day into playful, accessible pieces.

During the 1960s, Sottsass spent time in both India, where he was deeply affected by the country’s vibrant colors, and the U.S., where he embraced pop art culture. In 1973, he cofounded Global Tools, an experimental design collective, alongside Gaetano Pesce, Alessandro Mendini, and others. During the ’70s, he collaborated with Alessi, Baccarat, and Knoll, designing everyday items like condiment sets and decanters.

In 1980, he formed the architecture/design firm Sottsass Associati. In 1981, he founded the Memphis Group, an influential, flamboyant design firm known for its brightly colored post-modern furniture, ceramics, and lighting. He remained with the Group until 1985, at which point he turned his attentions again to architecture. He died at the age of 90.