Scilla & Cariddi wall mirrors translate sea myths into design
Presented at SaloneSatellite during Salone del Mobile Milano 2026, Scilla & Cariddi by Marlisa Marasco is a pair of collectible wall mirrors that translates the Mediterranean mythology of the Strait of Messina into layered, functional objects. Sited conceptually between the Calabrian and Sicilian coasts, the pieces reframe the ancient sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis through a mixed-material assembly of hand-modeled glazed ceramic, multi-scale reflective glass, timber substrates, and textile accents.
positioned at opposite shores of the Strait of Messina, Scilla & Cariddi evoke the mythical guardians who warned travellers of the dangers of passage | all images ©CameraOff
Tactile textile details contrast ceramic and glass planes
Each mirror, composed by designer Marlisa Marasco, establishes a distinct formal and functional configuration referencing its mythical namesake. Scilla features a crown of six glazed ceramic serpent heads paired with a secondary magnifying mirror that evokes the creature’s eye, alongside an integrated sponge that functions as a pin cushion. Cariddi outlines the gaping mouth of a lamprey, defined by three spiraling ceramic vortices that evoke marine whirlpools while doubling as wall hooks for hanging accessories. The overlapping, offset mirror planes fragment the viewer’s reflection across varying scales, integrating optical shifts directly into the craft-driven wall compositions.
worn on the face, Scilla & Cariddi shift from sculptural mirrors to embodiments of the Strait’s mythical creatures
Scilla, guardian of the Calabrian coast, evokes the mythological monster through six ceramic serpent heads crowning the mirror and a magnifying mirror recalling its eye
Cariddi, guardian of the Sicilian coast, evokes a giant lamprey’s mouth; three ceramic vortices recall the monster swallowing and spewing the Strait’s waters