Poltronova is known for embracing the creativity that opposites can introduce to a space. Its radical modernist furniture and lighting fixtures are simultaneously grounded in classic aesthetics and inspired by what were then new and provocative artistic movements in mid-century Italy, when the company was founded. This tension resulted in unique and extraordinary pieces at the manufacturer, from eccentric, glove-shaped armchairs to striking dining tables that feature a mix of materials and textures.
Italian designer Sergio Cammilli founded Poltronova in Tuscany in 1957. That same year, it won the Compasso d’Oro for the Panchetto chair designed by Luciano Nustrini. Revolutionary Italian architect Ettore Sottsass — a maestro of postmodern design who would later establish the Memphis Group — came on board as an art director in 1958. Poltronova manufactured many of his furniture and ceramic designs. Sottsass’s lighting, seating and other works for Poltronova showcase the designer’s bold experimentation with solid wood, glass, metal and laminate materials.
Other established names in Italian furniture design collaborated with Poltronova’s Sottsass and Cammilli, including Giovanni Michelucci, Gae Aulenti and Angelo Mangiarotti. However, the company truly set itself apart in its collaborations with Superstudio and Archizoom Associati, groups that were part of an irreverent, avant-garde movement in art and design that took shape during the 1960s in Florence, Turin and Milan. Collectives associated with the movement — which would one day be called Italian Radical design — drew on Pop art and minimalism and explored working with unconventional materials to create colorful, quirky and uniquely shaped objects and furnishings. At the time, Poltronova also worked with up-and-coming names in the art world, like painter Max Ernst and sculptor Mario Ceroli.
Poltronova showcased its groundbreaking designs in many exhibitions, such as “La Casa Abitata,” which was held in Florence in 1965. At Milan's Eurodomus trade show in 1970, Poltronova debuted an entire bedroom collection designed by Sottsass — including his sensuous Ultrafragola mirror. The brand’s furnishings were included in a 1972 exhibition at New York’s Museum of Modern Art called "Italy: The New Domestic Landscape," and in 1977, Poltronova again won the Compasso d’Oro for a book called Fare Mobili con Poltronova (Making Furniture with Poltronova).
Poltronova's enduring and acclaimed furniture designs came to be loved far outside Italy. During the 1960s, importer Charles Stendig represented the company and helped introduce it to the American market.
In 2005, Poltronova established the Centro Studi Poltronova to recreate some of the company's iconic furniture. The brand has also recently collaborated with English architect Nigel Coates, who worked with a Poltronova master craftsman in Italy to design a series of limited-edition furniture in 2011, including the Domo chair.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Poltronova tables, seating, storage cabinets and more.
Ettore Sottsass SP63 “Sandretta” Table Mirror for Poltronova, Red Lacquered Wood
By Poltronova, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Vicenza, IT
The SP63 “Sandretta” table mirror was designed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova in 1966 and represents a refined example of Italian Radical Design from the mid-1960s. The mirror fe...
Brass
Ettore Sottsass SP63 Sandretta Table Mirror for Poltronova, White Lacquered Wood
By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova
Located in Vicenza, IT
The SP63 “Sandretta” table mirror was designed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova in 1966 and represents a refined example of Italian Radical Design from the mid-1960s. The mirror fe...
Brass
Ettore Sottsass "Orsetta" Table Mirror for Poltronova, Italy, 1966
By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova
Located in Quarrata, IT
An exceptional and highly collectible table mirror, designed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova circa 1966. Known as "Orsetta," this piece is a sophisticated exercise in geometric ab...
Brass
$9,775 / item
H 76.78 in W 39.38 in D 5.12 in
Ultrafragola Mirror/Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy
By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova
Located in Milan, Italy
This is Ultrafragola a nice mirror designed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova in the 1970. It is a translucent white plastic frame of undulating outline, concealing pink internal flu...
Glass, Plastic
$780
H 15.36 in W 9.06 in D 1.19 in
18th Century Chinoiserie Table Mirror, Yellow Lacquered Wood, France
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This unusual table-top 'Psyche' table mirror dates from the 18th century, its wooden frame beautifully crafted from yellow-lacquered wood and decorated with hand-painted chinoiserie ...
Mirror, Wood
$11,444
H 76.78 in W 39.38 in D 5.12 in
Ultrafragola Mirror/Lamp by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy
By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova
Located in Milan, Italy
The Ultrafragola mirror / lamp with its sinuous shape, evocative of a wavy female hair, belongs to the Gray Furniture series, a complete bedroom and liv...
Glass, Plastic
$8,374Sale Price / item|30% Off
H 76.78 in W 39.38 in D 5.12 in
Pink ‘Ultrafragola’ Mirror Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in London, GB
The curvaceous pink ‘Ultrafragola’ mirror designed by Ettore Sottsass is probably the most iconic of all his many designs. Originally produced in the 1970s by Poltronova, the ‘Ultrafragola’ formed part of a series of Sottsass designs named Mobili Grigi. When illuminated, the lights within the mirror transform the white opaline acrylic shell into a stunning multi-pink display. This unique, individually numbered, re-edition piece is still produced by the same Florentine company today and is sold with a “Certificate of Authenticity”. The perfectly pink ‘selfie’ mirror!
Glass, Acrylic
$8,374Sale Price / item|30% Off
H 76.78 in W 39.38 in D 5.12 in
Pink ‘Ultrafragola’ Mirror Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in London, GB
The curvaceous pink ‘Ultrafragola’ mirror designed by Ettore Sottsass is probably the most iconic of all his many designs. Originally produced in the 1970s by Poltronova, the ‘Ultrafragola’ formed part of a series of Sottsass designs named Mobili Grigi. When illuminated, the lights within the mirror transform the white opaline acrylic shell into a stunning multi-pink display. This unique, individually numbered, re-edition piece is still produced by the same Florentine company today and is sold with a “Certificate of Authenticity”. The perfectly pink ‘selfie’ mirror...
Glass, Acrylic
$25,035
H 76.78 in W 39.38 in D 5.91 in
Ettore Sottsass 1st Series Ultrafragola Mirror Object 1970 for Poltronova Milano
By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova
Located in Munster, NRW
Original 1st edition model of the Ultrafragola Mirror designed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova. Light up mirror with acrylic shell made of layered waves around the central mirror...
Plastic
$8,374Sale Price / item|30% Off
H 76.78 in W 39.38 in D 5.12 in
Pink ‘Ultrafragola’ Mirror Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in London, GB
The curvaceous pink ‘Ultrafragola’ mirror designed by Ettore Sottsass is probably the most iconic of all his many designs. Originally produced in the 1970s by Poltronova, the ‘Ultrafragola’ formed part of a series of Sottsass designs named Mobili Grigi. When illuminated, the lights within the mirror transform the white opaline acrylic shell into a stunning multi-pink display. This unique, individually numbered, re-edition piece is still produced by the same Florentine company today and is sold with a “Certificate of Authenticity”. The perfectly pink ‘selfie’ mirror!
Glass, Acrylic
$8,374Sale Price / item|30% Off
H 76.78 in W 39.38 in D 5.12 in
Pink ‘Ultrafragola’ Mirror Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in London, GB
The curvaceous pink ‘Ultrafragola’ mirror designed by Ettore Sottsass is probably the most iconic of all his many designs. Originally produced in the 1970s by Poltronova, the ‘Ultrafragola’ formed part of a series of Sottsass designs named Mobili Grigi. When illuminated, the lights within the mirror transform the white opaline acrylic shell into a stunning multi-pink display. This unique, individually numbered, re-edition piece is still produced by the same Florentine company today and is sold with a “Certificate of Authenticity”. The perfectly pink ‘selfie’ mirror!
Glass, Acrylic
$4,330 / item
H 42.52 in W 29.93 in D 1.97 in
Diva Mirror, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano, Memphis Group
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Diva Mirror with plastic laminate, was originally designed in 1984 by Ettore Sottsass. Ettore Sottsass was born in Innsbruck in 1917. In 1939 he graduated...
Mirror, Plastic
$17,882
H 76.78 in W 39.38 in D 5.12 in
20th Century Ettore Sottsass Mirror Ultrafragola for Poltronova
By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova
Located in Turin, Turin
Ettore Sottsass was a 20th-century Italian architect, noted for also designing furniture, jewellery, glass, lighting, home and office wares, as well as numerous buildings and interio...
Opal
$253Sale Price|64% Off
H 19.69 in W 19.69 in D 2.17 in
Mirror for table aluminum and wood Italian Design, 1960s
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Particular table mirror Italian design, 1960s
Aluminum
$20,863
H 76.78 in W 39.38 in D 5.12 in
Mirror "Ultrafragola" by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, 1970s, 1st Edition
By Poltronova, Ettore Sottsass
Located in bruxelles, BE
First edition of the magnificent Ultrafrogola light mirror designed by Ettore Sottsass in the 70s. Wear due to time and age FOR SHIPPING, REQUEST US FOR RECEIVE THE BEST PRICE
Mirror, Plastic
Sold
H 15.75 in W 16.93 in D 6.5 in
Mid-century Modern Ettore Sottsass Mirror "Sandretta" Model SP63 Poltronova
By Poltronova, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Renens, CH
Mid-century Modern Ettore Sottsass Mirror "Sandretta" Model SP63 Poltronova. This rare, elegant mirror, designed by Ettore Sottsas in the 1960s, is made of walnut wood and pivots o...
Brass
Ettore Sottsass “Sandretta” Table Mirror, Poltronova, Italy, 1960s
By Poltronova, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Quarrata, IT
Table mirror mod. “Sandretta” designed by Ettore Sottsass and manufactured by Poltronova in Italy during 1960s.
Mirror, Wood
Table Mirror by Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova, Italy, circa 1960
By Poltronova, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Berlin, DE
Table mirror by Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova, Italy, circa 1960.
Brass