The Austrian-born, Italian-based designer Ettore Sottsass (1917-2007) was a rebel with a cause. As a counter-force to Modernism, his designs raged against a post-war rationalist approach that largely excluded emotional values by prizing function above form. Instead, Sottsass’s primary focus was social, cultural and sensorial – a design currency... See more

Sottsass developed a series of iconic objects that transcended their physical characteristics: They were full of symbolism, global and historical references, and had the ability to appeal to their users’ emotions.

Ms. Peretti had a few other ideas. The absolutely minimalist Bottle pendant, her first design, was inspired by antique vases. The Open Heart pendant was tilted just off center; she sometimes said she had been inspired by the open spaces in Henry Moore’s sculptures, but in another interview, in The New York Times Magazine, she identified Alexander... See more