Sculptural Brutalist Wall Mirror By Syroco, C.1970

A high-impact American Brutalist mirror by the Syracuse Ornamental Company (Syroco), dating to 1970. It's part wall sculpture, part looking glass, with more than a hint of Studio 54 glamour.

The tall rectangular plate is surrounded by an extraordinary architectural frame of staggered blocks, slender rods and heavily textured geometric forms. Finished in lustrous metallic gold, its fractured surface catches the light like assembled brass or bronze, although the frame is actually formed from Syroco’s characteristic moulded polymer.
There is something wonderfully glamorous about the result: bold, sculptural and unapologetically 1970s, with echoes of the richly worked metallic furniture of Paul Evans. At 110cm high, its long, narrow proportions only add to the drama.
The mirror works equally well as a functional piece or as a piece of wall sculpture and would be particularly effective against a dark, saturated wall, but sufficiently architectural to hold its own in a more minimal interior. It can be hung vertically, as photographed, or horizontally.

About Syroco
Founded in Syracuse, New York, in 1890, Syroco became known for innovative moulding techniques capable of reproducing highly intricate decorative surfaces. By the mid-20th century, the company was using them to produce increasingly adventurous Modernist designs, of which this mirror is a particularly exuberant example.