A rare and original early edition mirror by Ettore Sottsass. Produced by Santambrogio & De Berti, Italy, 1958
This striking mirror, an original creation by Ettore Sottsass, features a brass frame with a geometrical and light structure, two smoked crystal elements, and one mirrored crystal. It retains its original and early label on the back and bears the "S.D.B." stamp on the wooden frame, attesting to its production by Santambrogio & De Berti, one of the leading Italian manufacturers specializing in glass and mirror craftsmanship.
Ettore Sottsass was a visionary designer whose work played a pivotal role in reshaping postwar Italian design. Throughout his career, he rejected the rigid functionalism that defined modernist aesthetics, instead embracing an expressive and experimental approach to form, materials, and color. His designs were deeply influenced by his travels and cultural observations, often incorporating elements that blurred the boundaries between art, architecture, and industrial design. By the late 1950s, he was already introducing concepts that anticipated the radical design movement of the following decade, challenging conventions and infusing everyday objects with symbolic and emotional depth.
Santambrogio & De Berti was an esteemed Italian company recognized for its refined production of mirrors and glass furnishings. Collaborating with innovative designers like Sottsass, the firm played an essential role in advancing Italian design, combining traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge artistic visions. This mirror is part of a series of models designed in various configurations, reflecting the dynamic and evolving nature of Sottsass' work during this period.
Condition:
Good vintage condition. The mirror surface exhibits natural oxidation and aging marks, while the brass frame also shows patina. To balance authenticity and usability, the piece will be shipped with both its original mirror and a replacement panel, allowing the owner to preserve its historical integrity while ensuring practical functionality - along with the intimate pleasure of owning one of the very few original mirrors from this series designed by Sottsass. The brass frame, left in its original state, can be polished if desired.
Literature: E. Paoli, Quaderni Vitrum n. 8, Specchi e Specchiere, p. 124.
Dimensions: W. 30 × D. 4 × H. 193 cm
