A seminal figure in 20th-century design, the Italian architect and designer Ettore Sottsass (1917–2007) created a vast body of work during his six-decade career, including works in polychromatic glass that stage a radical intervention into this quintessentially Italian craft.
Though he had great respect for traditional glass-blowing, Sottsass departed from its usual methods in surprising ways. He used adhesives and wire to put his pieces together and introduced striking angles. The resulting objects are abstract totems – spiritual, rather than functional, vessels.
He wrote that, unlike a paper cup, a crystal goblet ‘has no taste and is fragile, so you know from the beginning that your relationship with this object will have a ritualistic aspect.’
Displayed on historic furniture in the Great Chamber, they connect to the abundant glass in the space and exemplify the inventive approach that many contemporary designers have taken to historic crafts.
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Ini Archibong (b.1983), USA & Switzerland
Dark Vernus 1, 2021
blued steel and glass
Untitled #7, 2023
sound piece
Vestibule
Michael Anastassiades (b. 1967), UK
Bamboo Lamp Series, 2021
moss bamboo, waxed linen thread, pewter, spring steel, brass, borosilicate glass, components
Library
Wendell Castle (1932 - 2018), USA
Illusion-Reality-Truth (edition 1 of 8), 2015
Temptation (edition 3 of 8) 2014
A New Seeing (edition 1 of 8) 2015
all bronze
The Ring Pond
Andile Dyalvane (b. 1978), South Africa
Rhythms Vase, 2014
white stoneware clay, with stained highlights
Ingxondorha (Volatile Rocky Terrain), 2022
Umthombo (Spring), 2022
Umgodi (A Mine), 2022
Amaza (Waves), 2022
Isiziba (A Pool), 2022
glazed, hand-coiled stoneware
Cornish Waterfall, 2019
stoneware
Chapel Corridor
Ndidi Ekubia (b. 1973), UK
Turbine II Wine Cooler, 2013
Silver Palm Vase, 2020
Midrib Harmony Vase, 2020
Bowl, 2022
Cup, 2018
Cup, 2020
Journey Vase, 2001
all hammer-raised Britannia silver 958
State Closet
Najla El Zein (b. 1983), Iran
Seduction, Pair 06 (edition 4 of 8), 2019
Iranian red travertine
Rose Garden
FormaFantasma (founded 2009), Italy
Water Filter, Stalagmite, 2012
Water Filter, Stalactite, 2012
Water Filter, Funnel, 2012
Water Filter, Funnel 2012
Water Filter, Tongue 2012
all carbonised oak, mouth-blown glass, copper
Water Filter, Spoon, 2012
carbonised oak, mouth-blown glass
Glass bottle, 2012
carbonised oak log, mouth-blown glass
Green Satin Drawing Room
Joris Laarman (b.1979), The Netherlands
Maker Bench (Hexagon) prototype, 2018
oak, walnut
Maker Bench (Hexagon) 2018
oak, walnut
Chatsworth Symbio Bench, 2023
Burntwood Quarry gritstone, bryophytes
Painted Hall and Salisbury Lawns
Max Lamb (b. 1980) UK
6 x 8 chair, 2021
western red cedar
6 x 8 chair, 2021
western red cedar
State Drawing Room
Fernando Laposse (b.1988), Mexico
Black Furry Armchair (Prototype), 2022
dyed agave fibres, upholstered linen polyester blend, plywood
White Agave Cabinet, 2021
birch plywood, sisal, steel mesh, kiln-dried Canadian maple
State Bedchamber
Jay Sae Jung Oh (b. 1982), South Korea & USA
Salvage Series Chatsworth Chair, 2021
various plastics, leather cord, plywood
State Music Room
David Roentgen (1743-1807), Germany
Dressing table
Writing table
North Sketch
Giuilio Romano & William Kent
Design development process drawings by artists including:
Giulio Romano (c. 1499–1546), Italy
William Kent (1685–1748), UK
Old Masters Drawing Cabinet
Samuel Ross (b. 1991), UK
Amnesia or platelet apparition?(edition 3 of 8), 2021
marble, powder-coated steel
Optimistic uncertainties. solicit integration (Material Articulation), Prototype, 2021
Fior di Pesca marble
Anxiety Birthed Corrosion (edition 1 of 8), 2021
marble, painted steel
Jut, impale, emerge (edition of 8), 2021
marble, powder-coated steel
Sculpture gallery
Chris Schanck (b. 1975), USA
Cryo III, 2022
Steel, wood polystyrene, polyurea, aluminium foil, resin, suede, onyx
Concretion (edition 3/8), 2021
Aluminium
Grotto
Faye Toogood (b.1977), UK
Pew Bench/Moon (edition 2 of 8), 2016
Spoon Chair / Moon (edition 1 of 8), 2016
Spoon Chair / Moon (prototype), 2016
all sand-cast bronze, silver nitrate
Lode II (edition 1 of 8), 2021
Trove I, 2022
Trove II, 2022
Plot II (Prototype), 2022
all hand-carved Purbeck marble
The Chapel and The Oak Room
Joseph Walsh (b. 1979), Ireland
Enignum Brackets, 2022
Enignum Bed VIII, 2015
ash
North Sketch and Sabine Room
