Everyone's Obsessed With the Ultrafragola 'Squiggly' Mirror Right Now

May 24, 2021 by Bed Threads

Six-foot-tall with a squiggly, plastic frame housing pink neon lights, the Ultrafragola mirror is arguably the be-all and end-all in Insta-worthy home décor.

The design continues to pop up on the Instagram accounts of a blessed few who have invested upwards of ten thousand dollars in their very own. Frank Ocean has one, as does model and influencer Devon Lee Carlson, and Lena Dunham appeared on the cover of Domino framed by its wavy edges, as documented by NY Mag. According to Raquel Cayre, who runs a Memphis design-focussed Instagram account and facilitates big-ticket purchases of art and furniture for the upper echelon, Bella Hadid reportedly handed her credit card over immediately upon seeing the Ultrafragola in person.

With no signs of fading in popularity, the Ultrafragola mirror is a sign that minimalism isn't always the answer. Read on to find out more about its origins in the Memphis design movement and where you might find one of your own.

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History of the Ultrafragola mirror

The Ultrafragola mirror was designed in 1970 by Italian architect Ettore Sottsass, who went on to found the influential Memphis Group in 1980. It's made from opaline plastic and nickel-plated glass, with pink neon lights inside the squiggly frame. Its name translates to "the ultimate strawberry" in Italian—a playful reference to sensuality and how you might feel upon seeing your reflection in it.

The Postmodern aesthetic favoured in Memphis designs is having a moment right now—seen in the highly coveted vintage pieces that go viral on Instagram. Reacting to straight lines and structure of mid-century modern and '70s minimalism, Sottsass and co. challenged the status quo by using plastic laminate and glossy terrazzo in bright colours and abstract shapes.

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Where to buy an Ultrafragola mirror

To make the Ultrafragola yours, you'll need at least AUD $11,000 to spend at premium online sellers such as 1stdibs, or a whole lot of luck—perhaps a distant relative has one tucked away? In any case, the influence of this sensual, playful piece of furniture will live on for a while so you have plenty of time to save up for one.