Vintage Italian Spherical Table Lamp in Opaline Glass by Elio Martinelli, 1940s

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Description

Item description:
wonderful table lamp with a spherical shade in milky white opal glass embellished with three parallel lines applied … Read more Item description:
wonderful table lamp with a spherical shade in milky white opal glass embellished with three parallel lines applied by hand in black glass paste, with a burgundy plastic base. The item is signed under the base with an adhesive sticker from the manufacturer "martinelli luce" with the words "design elio martinelli model 604/22." the lamp is in perfect working order and is a fantastic example of 1960s-1970s design.

useful information for evaluating the item:
a quick internet search revealed several auction results for elio martinelli, mainly for glass wall lights and lamps, with the four highest results ranging from €1,900 to €2,400. We also found several lamps similar in shape and workmanship on other online art and antiques sales sites, ranging from a minimum of €200-300 for the smallest ones to over €3,000 for the largest, rarest, and most valuable ones. For lamps of the same model as ours, which are also very similar in size, prices range from €600 to over €800.

information about the artist and/or manufacturer:
a visionary creator of lamps that became archetypes and acclaimed long-sellers, elio martinelli (1922-2004) was neither an architect nor an engineer, but had studied set design at the academy of fine arts in florence. His was, in fact, a scenographic and sometimes theatrical vision of lighting, made up of geometries, moving parts, and ironic suggestions. Founder of martinelli luce, he was one of the most influential figures in italian design. An interior designer, in 1950 he took over his father's business and began to build lighting fixtures to be placed in the interiors he designed. A classic story of italian entrepreneurial ingenuity told in the book elio martinelli e martinelli luce (electa) edited by his daughter emiliana, now at the helm of the company. A biography studded with visual memories which, thanks to a wealth of historical photos, traces the fundamental stages of the tuscan company's activity in a decade-by-decade overview that reveals the genesis of lamps that have become classics of lighting design. Many models remain memorable for their names: cobra, millepiedi, doberman. Testimony to the eclectic personality of their designer.

weight of the object: 2.123 kg



this piece has an attribution mark,
i am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
issues arising from misattribution,
european plug (up to 250v).the wiring of this item may be original and might need replacement, if not specified otherwise. See less