The Memphis Design movement began with a meeting in Milan, Italy, where designer Ettore Sottsass founded the group named after a Bob Dylan song. Like most art, the movement was a counter argument against the rigidity of modern and minimalism. Fuelled by influences from earlier movements such as Pop Art and Art Deco, Memphis' colourful furniture has been described as bizarre and misunderstood. Simple geometric shapes, flat colours combined in bold, contrasting palettes, stylised graphic patterns defined by stripes and abstract squiggles – these are the ingredients of Memphis-inspired design.
This extremely rare Early Memphis tabletop mirror features Crayola-coloured metal squiggles as its frame and legs.