Tom Dixon’s mirror ball light

The mirror ball light sums up the nineties and noughties explosion of ‘bling’ interior design that we still feel today

The shape of an iconic piece of homeware or furniture design is often the key to making it stand out. The pleasing curves of the Panton chair; the commanding arch of the Arco lamp –  these are what we reference as being startlingly original and what are seen, eventually, as iconic. The shapes (which are much copied) speak to us of great designers from a golden age, when quality and craftsmanship mattered. They reflect their times as well as their cultural heritage: the new optimism of the 1950s can be seen in the playful Bartholomew cocktail seat; the pared-back honesty of Danish mid-century design is epitomised in Hans Wegner’s Wishbone chair.

But what of our recent past? For lots of us, the nineties and noughties seem like five minutes ago. But think again and 20 years have passed since acid house and the second Summer of Love, the battle between Blur and Oasis and the Rachel haircut. Design and fashion became much more democratic and accessible, as we turned our homes into places to express our style and creativity. And we fell for bling – shiny touches, reflective surfaces, all that glittered.

The simply shaped Tom Dixon mirror ball light epitomised this era and cemented Tom Dixon as an international brand. It’s instantly recognisable sphere was everywhere – grouped together in restaurants, in hotel lobbies and in offices that were turning away from corporate strip lighting. The mirror ball summed up the style of the times.

It starts life as a polycarbonate ball, using the same material used in protective visors and riot shields, and is made using similar processes to that of sunglasses. So the light is really robust and lasts ages. It’s funny to think that this now iconic piece – its gold and copper versions are hugely popular – was a bit of a mistake. Dixon thought that the highly polished surface would reflect its surroundings, thus rendering the light almost invisible. But the opposite is true. It makes a statement, giving any room, with any decor, an edge.

It may not reflect the room it’s in, but it’s a reminder of a certain era on the cusp of the internet and smartphones, when everything changed. Now, where’s that Sugababes CD?