Asta del 24-05-2014 - Only Light

A Murano glass table lamp

Vetreria Vistosi, 'Galea' lamp by Adalberto Dal Lago, Murano Venice Italy circa 1970

A lamp composed of two superimposed blown glass leaves, with a bright green edge. E27 bulb base with a silver-plated topped surface light bulb of max 150W.

References: Vetreria Vistosi catalogue on p. 22

A table lamp

Luci, 'Vela' lamp by Carla Venosta, Italy 1970  

Lamp with steel base and fabric shade that forms a sharp angle. Internal glare-free dish and halogen light bulb with adjustable brightness control.

A table lamp, applique or ceiling lamp

Valenti, Pistillo, Studio Tetrarch, Italy 1970

Table lamp, applique or ceiling lamp; metallized heat resistant resin. E27 light bulb bases with mirrored topped surfaces, 100 W.

"It was created in an attempt to interpret the Murano glass pendant chandelier in a modern way. 

The attempt failed both due to the refusal of the Murano craftsmen to assimilate new production technologies and for the "arrogant" ability that the plastic seemed to have, in that particular moment in time (1969) to address and resolve any problem by substituting any other material". (E. De Munari) 

References: 1000 Lights Volume 2 by Charlotte and Peter Fiell, Taschen pp. 164 and 165.

A table lamp

Luci, table lamp 'Fuga T450' model by L. Roncalli, Italy 1971

A rare black varnished metal table lamp with twenty 12W light bulbs connected in a series to form a flood of light.

A metal table lamp

Fontana Arte, "2545,  Pugno" model, by Richard Carrauthers, Italy 1971

Grey lacquered metal base, support in chrome-plated brass. One of the very few exceptions of the lamps produced by Fontana Arte without any glass component. E 27 bulb base and light bulb with silver-plated topped surface.

References: Domus n° 498 September 1971, advert on p. 121  and in 'Interni' in the magazine 'Arredamento' n° 52 April 1971 advert.

A light container

Lamperti, 'Psycho' lamp by Gino Colombini and Guzzetti, Italy 1971

Extremely rare lamp with various functions, disc-shaped wheel with aluminium base and purple Perspex dome. Lit by a 40 cm. circular  neon light.  The orange light is obtained by the combination of three red and three yellow light bulbs. Blue light with night mode is obtained with three blue bulbs. Switch and dimmer for the various functions. 

References: Interni, the magazine Arredamento no. 55, 1971, p. 42, and it is also part of the permanent collection of the MOMA New York no. 355.2011 Helena Rubenstein Legacy (without image).

A floor lamp or an adjustable table lamp

Valenti, HEBI lamp by  Isao Hosoe, Italy 1972

Fully adjustable lamp, flexible polymer body with swivelling reflector in lacquered aluminium. Lamp is representative of the design of the 1970's for its ready-made and ergonomic characteristics. The lamp is composed exclusively of a flexible metal PVC-covered tube allowing the shape and direction to be modified. 

References: '1000 Lights' catalogue by Charlotte and Peter Fiell, pp. 210-211

A wall or table lamp

Fontana Arte studio, wall lamp 'Lampira' model, designed by Gianemilio, Piero, Anna Monti (Studio G.P.A.), Italy 1972

A green resin Abs Meraklon lamp, opal white glass diffuser with darkened sections that can remain open or closed. E14 light bulb mounts.

In original box.

References : Magazines: Domus 512 July 1972 on p. 78 and Casamica, November 1972 on p. 107

Three 'Cuboluce' items: two lamps and a vase

Cini & Nils, Cuboluce by Franco Bettonica and Mario Melocchi, Italy 1972

First version of Cuboluce, still produced in various versions. These two lamps have a squared grid, that acts as a light diffuser, one white and one black. The lamp with the black grid reveals the light while the other is opaque and the light filters only through the grid. Given the fame and the popularity of this lamp in its subsequent and current versions, these 1972 editions are a true rarity. The third item does not have a lamp but was offered in combination with the lights, as a vase.

A metal applique

Arteluce, Applique n°269 by Gino Sarfatti Italy 1972

An applique designed by Gino Sarfatti just before the firm Arteluce at Flos closed down. Reflector for V R7S linear halogen lamp is supported by a chromed bracket, visible electric cables protected by a metallic spiral.

A glass chandelier

Venini, "Quadro" chandelier, Italy, Venice Murano 1972

Privately commissioned and therefore unique, with 46 elements all of different shapes, lengths and colours (crystal, amber, tea) so as to form a parallelepiped of variable lengths and internally lit by three E27 light bulbs. Four internal elements have deteriorated without reducing the great visual impact of this chandelier. 

References:  Venini 1975 catalogue, section 3 'Sistemi per forniture, Quadro'.

A suspension ceiling lamp

Fog & Morup, 'Semi' lamp, design by Claus Bonderup and Torsten Thorup, Denmark, 1973

Lamp with a large polished brass diffuser. Designed in 1967 and known as the "Witch's hat" and manufactured by Fog & Morup in the mid-1970's.

References: 1000 Lights vol.2 Eds Charlotte & Peter Fiell, Taschen on p. 123; Domus 522, May 1973 on p. 584; Domus 536, July 1974 on p. 40 and also in "Mobilia Magazine" 1973 edition, with an entire article dedicated to the hand-made craftsmanship of this lamp.

A table, wall or floor lamp 

Flos, table, floor or wall lamp, 'Noce'  model designed by Achille Castiglioni, Italy 1972

A versatile lamp with pressed sanded glass diffuser. The aluminium alloy body is liquid painted  in a brown colour and which is fitted with two E27 light bulb mounts. Given mention by Compasso d'Oro in 1979.

Reference: Repertorio 1950/1980 by Giuliana Gramigna, Mondadori, on p. 375.

A clip-on table lamp

Targetty Sankey  Hard Top model, Florence Italy 1973

A black resin clip-on lamp with long recurved stem and pierced aluminium lamp holder with reflector. The light holder, fixed to a resin joint, can be moved up and down the stem.

References: Targetti Sankey catalogue;  'Formaluce', magazine on lighting and industrial design n° 41 on p. 24

A clip on table lamp

Artemide, 'Sintesi pinza' lamp by Ernesto Gismondi, Italy 1974

Lamp designed by the founder of Artemide, Ernesto Gismondi; steel clip version and green coloured aluminium arm (no longer produced)

References: 1000 Ligths Volume n 2 by Charlotte and Peter Fiell  pp. 291

A wall or table lamp

Artemide, Sintesi lamp, by Ernesto Gismondi, Italy 1975

A white lacquered steel lamp with aluminium diffuser. This model expresses to perfection the hi-tech design of the 1970's and its name reflects the trend to establish a relationship between art and industry, that was so in vogue at the time.

References: Ottagono 38 (September 1975), p. 106; in the catalogue Repertorio 1950-1980 by Giuliana Gramigna, Mondadori, Milano, 1985, p.420; 1000 Lights catalogue, by Charlotte and Peter Fiell ed Taschen p.290.

A table lamp

Artemide, 'Area' lamp by Mario Bellini, Italy 1974

Table lamp with Rosenthal porcelain base and Cocoon diffuser. E27  light bulb base with mirrored topped surface, height 10cm. Given mention by the Compasso d'Oro in 1979.

References: Designer's description: "The intangible nature of light led me, in my next lamp to move away from an attachment to things and objects and to reduce the lamp to a synthesis of 'effect' and 'gesture'. The gesture of the twist of a translucent sheet that is just enough to conduct and disseminate the right amount of light, and the effect, accentuated by the impossible coincidence of the square sheet and the five swelling areas that distort it, to remind one of the unpredictable nature of the sky and clouds."

Mario Bellini 

Repertorio 1950/1980 by Giuliana Gramigna, Mondadori p. 408.

A table lamp

Artemide, 'Area' lamp by Mario Bellini, Italy 1974

Table lamp with Rosenthal porcelain base and Cocoon diffuser. E27  light base and bulb with mirrored topped surface. Given mention at the Compasso d'Oro awards in 1979.

References: Designer's description: "The intangible nature of light led me, in my next lamp to move away from an attachment to things and objects and to reduce the lamp to a synthesis of 'effect' and 'gesture'. The gesture of the twist of a translucent sheet that is just enough to conduct and disseminate the right amount of light, and the effect, accentuated by the impossible coincidence of the square sheet and the five swelling areas that distort it, to remind one of the unpredictable nature of the sky and clouds "

Mario Bellini 

Repertorio 1950/1980 by Giuliana Gramigna, Mondadori p. 408.

A suspension ceiling lamp

Artemide, 'Area' lamp by Mario Bellini, Italy 1974

Suspension lamp with Cocoon diffuser. E27 light bulb base with mirrored topped surface, braided cable. The Area collection received the Compasso d'Oro mention of honour in 1979.

References: Designer's description: "The intangible nature of light led me, in my next lamp to move away from an attachment to things and objects and to reduce the lamp to a synthesis of 'effect' and 'gesture'. The gesture of the twist of a translucent sheet that is just enough to conduct and disseminate the right amount of light, and the effect, accentuated by the impossible coincidence of the square sheet and the five swelling areas that distort it, to remind one of the unpredictable nature of the sky and clouds "

Mario Bellini 

Repertorio 1950/1980 by Giuliana Gramigna, Mondadori p. 408.

A table lamp

Arteluce, Dolly, Italy 1970's

A table lamp with red varnished metal base, the upper section is plastic and the diffuser in synthetic fibres and  PVC. Signed Arteluce under the base.

A table lamp

Venini, 'Tessuto N° 819.00' model by Massimo Vignelli, Murano Venice Italy 1970's

Table lamp with white lacquered metal base and large white blown glass globe with opaque stripes.

References: Venini Catalogue 75 'Tessuto'

F. De Boni, Vetri Venini, Allemandi, 2007, p. 238

Illuminated mirror

Fontana Arte, illuminated mirror​, Brama  model by Gianni Celada,  Italy 1975

A white varnished metal box-like structure that frames a serigraphed mirror with circular motifs and geometric designs that allow the light to pass through from four neon bulbs positioned behind the mirror.

References: L. Falconi, Fontana Arte una storia trasparente, Milan 1998, on p. 219

A wall or ceiling lamp

 Bilumen, a balloon-shaped applique or ceiling lamp, 'Balloon', designed by Yves Christin, Italy 1975

An applique or ceiling lamp in the shape of a bright yellow plastic balloon, ABS base, produced by Bilumen in the 1970's.

A table, wall or ceiling lamp

Bilumen,  Five 'Balloon' lamps designed by Yves Christin, Italy 1975 (The Yellow lamp isn't included)

A lamp produced in various sizes and colours including white, pink and blue produced by Bilumen in the 1970's.  Plastic body with ABS base that can be used everywhere.