As a change to the previous Goldilocks approach (cheap, expensive, something in the middle), here’s a focus on products from, or influenced by, members of the Memphis Group.

Even if you’re not familiar with the name, you’ll recognise the style as quintessentially 80s. Bold colours, geometric patterns, unconventional forms and a playful flouting of convention, its influence was almost unavoidable in the mid 80s and early 90s.

It’s not to everyone’s taste. And even I would balk at a fully Memphisised home. How did Karl Lagerfeld manage it? But avoiding the more ostentatiously bonkers pieces, there’s lots of fun stuff inspired by the Group that would work in most homes.

So what does eBay have for us right now in the Memphis style? Here are a few things things that have grabbed my attention.

This little lamp

So simple, so clean, a little like my IKEA thing. Just £35.

This lamp from Haba

The photos on eBay do not do it justice. There are better pictures here. And don’t let the price put you off. As soon as I added it to my watchlist I received an offer to buy it at less than half the price.

This Bang & Olufsen Beocom phone

This candy-coloured design grenade is the Beocom 500. Can you imagine having one of these on your 1980s office desk? There are also the more sophisticated 1000 and 2000 models and they all come in some wild colour combinations. The panel on the right slides to reveal a little pad for phone numbers. Sometimes they get advertised with the panel cover missing so pay attention. Anyway, this one appears to be new old stock - complete with original box - but untested. Bidding starts at £37 so you could potentially nab a bargain.

This Tangram-style desk set

This is my favourite piece of all. It’s also something for which I have the least use. It’s a collection of desk accessories - stapler, scissors, hole punch and so on - that all fit together Tangram-style in its case. Amazing. Also, I suspect, useless.

This Bodum kettle

I drink about five gallons of tea each day so I’m primed to look for kettles. This appears to owe a lot to Michael Graves’ Alessi kettle (see below) but it’s just different enough to scrape onto the list. Nice wooden handle.

This Irmel Kettle

I’d not seen one of these before and I must say, I was smitten. Then I saw how much the seller is asking. Also, the more I look at those screws in the handle, the more they annoy me. I’m not against a visible screw in principle but they just seem out of place here. Moving on…

THE GROUP

All the above pieces are arguably influenced by the work of the Memphis Group. Here are a few bits designed by some of the group members.

ThIs Bitossi tea or coffee set

Yes, it’s in the States. Yes, it’s exorbitant. Yes, it’s not even a full set. But I wanted to share this beautifully crazy Marco Zanini design because it sums up why I think I like Memphis. Or, at least, part of why it appeals. For me, this sits on a continuum that also includes elements of Art Deco and of Bauhaus, both of which I like very much. That said, I suspect it might be hugely impractical. Where are the cups?

I wanted to include something by Natalie du Pasquier. I remember seeing some zingy patterned fabric on eBay ages ago and hoped to find some now. Unfortunately not. The best I could find was…

This RITZENHOFF glass

£63 feels a bit steep based purely on…feelings. But if you’re really into it, the seller is open to offers.

Before we get to the Don himself, as promised earlier, here’s what I imagine was the inspiration for the Bodum kettle, above...

This Michael Graves KETTLE

A classic or cliché depending on your point of view, it’s still manufactured by Alessi and comes in a few colourways. This one is not the classic blue and burgundy so perhaps that accounts for relatively low price.

And finally…

IL MAESTRO

The Memphis Group was founded in 1980 by Ettore Sottsass, already a well established and well regarded industrial designer, notably for his work with Olivetti. Many of his original Memphis products are still in production and the prices are often eye-watering. Don’t want to shell out £16k for the Carlton bookcase? No problem, there’a guy on eBay who will sell you an approximation for under £3k.

If I was intent on owning a piece of Sottsass history, I’d plump for one of the more modest products he created for other brands. For example, for Habitat he designed…

This Yantra ashtray

Yes, it’s pretty banged up but that’s why it’s £37. If you prefer one in better condition, there’s this for £89 with fewer chips. Meanwhile, someone in Paris has been trying to sell one that looks perfect for €350. You pays your money, you takes your Sottsass ashtray.

Alternatively, there’s the work he did for Alessi. I really like the three salt and pepper mills and related products but be careful, these are still produced by Alessi and some eBay listings are asking the same price or higher than the Alessi website. Some, however, provide a reasonable discount on the retail price, such as…

This salt/pepper mill

My last suggestion from Signore Sottsass is another telephone. And what a gorgeous telephone it is.

ThE Enorme telephone

I’m not sure I love it enough to handover £370 and get this one shipped from Italy but, come on, how can you not love the boxy simplicity of this thing?

And…that’s it. I hope this was useful and/or informative. Drop a comment below if there’s anything you’d like to see in the future.

Happy hunting.

Patrick

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