Rare “Shiva” vase by Ettore Sottsass for BD Barcelona, design 1973 Pink glazed ceramic 7 x 17 x h.23 cm Year: 1973 The 23-centimetre-tall pink-glazed vessel, shaped like an erect penis, has an opening in the top for displaying flowers and is balanced by two low rounded elements on either side. Sottsass began designing for BD Barcelona in the early 1970s, when he made many trips to the Catalan capital.Sottsass' first design for the BD Barcelona his Mettsass table in 1972, followed by the Manhattan ceramic ashtray, the Element Architecture glass vase and the Knossos lamp. The 1973 Shiva Vase – named after the Hindu god responsible for the destruction of the universe to pave way for its regeneration, who is often represented by a phallic object called a lingam – was designed following Sottsass' visits to India and appeared in BD Barcelona's first catalogue. The vase is in perfect condition.