“Ultrafragola” Mirror Lamp for Poltronova, Italy, 1970

The Ultrafragola mirror by Ettore Sottsass is one of the most iconic objects of radical Italian design. Created in 1970 as part of Sottsass’ celebrated “Mobili Grigi” series for Poltronova, the piece perfectly captures the experimental spirit of the era-where furniture became sculpture, light became atmosphere, and design moved beyond strict functionalism.

The mirror is framed by a dramatic undulating form in molded plastic, its organic silhouette resembling flowing hair or liquid waves. Integrated lighting runs through the frame, diffused through the translucent surface to produce the signature soft pink glow that has made the Ultrafragola one of the most recognizable lighting mirrors ever produced. The effect is both theatrical and intimate, transforming the object into a luminous architectural element rather than a simple mirror.

Sottsass conceived the Ultrafragola at a moment when Italian designers were challenging modernist restraint with emotion, sensuality, and color. The mirror’s exaggerated curves and glowing presence anticipate the language that would later define the Memphis movement, which Sottsass founded in the early 1980s.

More than a mirror or lamp, the Ultrafragola functions as a sculptural centerpiece within a space. Whether placed against a wall or used as a dramatic vertical lighting element, it creates a distinctive ambient glow that instantly transforms the atmosphere of an interior.

Today the Ultrafragola remains one of the most sought-after works of Italian post-modern design, recognized globally for its playful yet sophisticated presence.