Before he died at the age of 90, Ettore Sottsass worked with Emeco on his last ever chair. In tribute to him, Emeco named it the Nine-0.

This special piece is handmade in Emeco's iconic recycled aluminum, and upholstered in soft polyurethane. For custom upholstery requests, please contact us directly.

Ettore Sottsass is the prolific Italian founder of the Memphis Design Movement or Memphis Milano. Sottsass is known for his important contributions postmodernism. Sottsass pieces are perfect for collectors interested in postmodernist design, maximalist design, or experimental maximalist home decor.

Emeco's owner Gregg Buchbinder first met Ettore Sottsass at The Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. "The minute we met, Ettore told me he was an admirer of the Navy chair and in fact wished he had designed it. And we agreed, why not re-design it," remembers Gregg. When the two met again, Sottsass was 87 years old and said, “Gregg, we’d better get that chair done pretty soon.” The Nine-O was launched at Salone del Mobile in Milan in 2008 a few months after Sottsass passed away at the age of 90.

The inspiration was Sottsass' own Navy chair in his Milan apartment - but this time with a dark gray soft polyurethane seat and back. The classic softly rounded “Sottsass” arm rest provides support and a gentle "embrace". Base with swivel and pneumatic height adjustment.