Luglio Vase by George Sowden for Memphis Milano

Luglio is defined by a vertical, architectural form reminiscent of an old power plant chimney—structured, upright, and quietly imposing in its clarity. Bands of colour and pattern wrap around the surface like coded signals, introducing a graphic rhythm that animates the otherwise controlled silhouette. The contrast between form and decoration creates a tension between order and energy, as if the object is quietly in motion. It functions as a vase, but just as easily as a standalone object—its presence is immediate and unmistakably expressive.

Designed in 1985 by George J. Sowden, the piece reflects his interest in combining clarity of form with moments of visual disruption. With a background in architecture and deep ties to Milan’s design scene, Sowden approached objects as systems to be adjusted rather than fixed. In Luglio, that thinking becomes visible—structure is maintained, but never left untouched.

Produced by Memphis Milano, Luglio belongs to a moment when domestic objects were allowed to question their own seriousness. Part of a movement that challenged modernist austerity with colour, irony, and emotion, it remains quietly radical—an everyday object that refuses to fade politely into the background.

• Designer: George J. Sowden
• Maker: Memphis Milano
• Material: ceramic
• Origin: Italy
• Design period: 1980s
• Production period: 2020s
• Measurements: L5.5 x W5.5 x H14 in / L13.5 x W13.5 x H35 cm
• Condition: new