Angelo Lelli Mid-Century Modern Model "Polifemo" Italian Floor Lamp
View Similar Items
Angelo Lelli Mid-Century Modern Model "Polifemo" Italian Floor Lamp
About the Item
- Creator:Angelo Lelii (Designer),Arredoluce (Manufacturer)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 79.14 in (201 cm)Diameter: 12.6 in (32 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1950s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Madrid, ES
- Reference Number:Seller: LA002001831stDibs: LU971820157802
Eye Floor Lamp
For some, there’s nothing wholly remarkable about the Eye floor lamp at first glance. It’s a slender metal pole with a flared top and an orb that houses the bulb. But if you lean in to take a closer look at that orb — which pivots in a socket positioned on the stem about two-thirds of the way up — it becomes clear that it was intended to mimic an eye. Such was the adventurous nature of Italian designer Angelo Lelii (1911–79), a pioneer of postwar lighting.
While not much has been reported about Lelii’s life — even his last name is frequently misspelled “Lelli” — it is certain that he founded the legendary lighting design company Arredoluce in Monza, Italy, in 1943, after building light fixtures in his basement. Lelii’s work exemplified a dedication to craftsmanship and employed innovative technology. In 1946, after his lamps appeared in the acclaimed design magazine Domus, he went on to collaborate with modernist greats such as Domus cofounder and furniture maker Gio Ponti and Memphis Group member Ettore Sottsass Jr. Lelii’s best-known design is likely his Triennale floor lamp, which debuted at the Milan Triennale VIII in 1947. The Eye floor lamp arrived later.
With a base made of marble, a painted nickel shaft and an eye formed from brass and glass, the Eye floor lamp is demonstrative of a decidedly sleek and futuristic direction for Lelii. The fixture is thought to have been designed during the early 1960s. It was produced by Arredoluce until its closure in 1979, when Lelii died.
Angelo Lelii
Angelo Lelii’s energetic and imaginative floor lamps, sconces and chandeliers often reflected his singular personality — whimsical but practical. He is responsible for some of the most delightfully eye-pleasing but functional works in the history of Italian mid-century modern lighting design.
Lelii was born Paolo Angelo Lelii in the seaport town of Ancona and moved to Milan when he was quite young. Not much is known about his early life — online resources frequently have his last name misspelled “Lelli” — except that he studied at the Superior Institute of Industrial Art in nearby Monza.
While there was no shortage of pioneering work being done in the field of mid-century modern lighting design, Lelii was a visionary whose dream was to create technologically advanced lighting that embodied the simple lines of modern design but would be defined by his own imaginative twists. In 1943, Lelii opened his first workshop in a tiny basement in Monza, under the name Arredoluce. A few years later, he designed the single-light, bent-arm Tris floor lamp. Later that year, he exhibited his Triennale floor lamp at the Milan Triennale VIII and garnered wide acclaim. This iconic, slender lamp features three adjustable arms with enameled aluminum shades.
Lelii’s sculptural fixtures in brass and cast iron appeared in the acclaimed design journal Domus, and he embarked on high-profile collaborations with Italian modernist legends such as Gio Ponti — a giant of architecture and design as well as a founder of Domus — Memphis Group member Ettore Sottsass Jr. and the brothers Castiglioni (formally known as Achille, Pier Giacomo and Livio).
Massive success followed for Arredoluce from the late 1950s and into the 1960s. For Lelii, there was his seminal Stella ceiling lamp, featuring opaque, acid-etched glass globe shades; his minimalist Cobra table lamp, which was one of the world’s first low voltage light fixtures; and his aptly named Eye floor lamp. Lelii continued to oversee design and production at his revolutionary lighting firm until his death in 1979.
Find vintage Angelo Lelii lighting on 1stDibs.
- Mid-century Modern Polifemo White Italian Floor Lamp By Angelo Lelli, 1950By Arredoluce, Angelo LeliiLocated in Madrid, ESPolifemo Italian floor lamp, designed by Angelo Lelli, is a remarkable mid-century lighting fixture that exemplifies the iconic style of the designer. Lelli, known for his innovative approach to modern lighting design, created a piece that beautifully combines form and function. The Polifemo floor Lamp features a sleek and minimalistic design, characteristic of mid-century aesthetics, with clean lines and shapes. Its graceful silhouette showcases Lelli's mastery in blending simplicity and sophistication. The lamp's structure consists of a white marble base with a slender lacquered metal frame, elegantly supporting a large, globe-shaped shade made of brass, that can be moved to create different kinds of illumination and a conse shaped shade. What sets the Polifemo Lamp...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMarble, Metal, Brass
- Mid-Century Modern Italian Floor Lamp, made of Brass with Colored Tulips, 1950Located in Madrid, ESItalian Brass Articulated Floor Lamp from 1950. Crafted with precision and elegance, this Italian floor lamp features adjustable arms remi...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Angelo Mangiarotti Mid-Century Modern Serie Eros Marble Italian Side TableBy Angelo MangiarottiLocated in Madrid, ESArabescato marble side table designed by Angelo Mangiarotti. The table belong to the "Eros" series that he designed for Skipper in Italy in the 1970s. Original label. Angelo Mangiarotti was born in Milan on 26th of February 1921. He graduated in Architecture in 1948 at Politecnico di Milano. In 1953-1954 he works in the United States, participating also to the competition for Chicago "LOOP". While leaving abroad he knew Frank Lloyd Wright, Walter Gropius, Mies van der Rohe and Konrad Wachsmann...Category
Antique 1670s Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
MaterialsMarble
- Organic Shapped Palm Tree Natural Rattan Floor LampLocated in Madrid, ESThis floor lamp, originating from Italy in the 1980s, showcases an elegant blend of materials and nature-inspired design. Crafted from bamboo and braided rattan, the lamp takes on th...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Floor Lamps
MaterialsBamboo, Rattan
- "Luminator" Floor Lamp Designed by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte, 1980sBy Pietro ChiesaLocated in Madrid, ES"Luminator" lamp designed by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana made with lacquered metallic structure. Bibliography S. Montefusco, Fontana Arte Repertorio 1933- 1943 dalle immagini dell'epo...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal
- Mid-Century Modern Tobia Scarpa Model "Foglio" Pair of Italian SconcesBy Tobia ScarpaLocated in Madrid, ESModel "Foglio" wall lights designed by Tobia Scarpa for Flos. Structure made of metal and composed of two bulb each sconce. Tobía Scarpa (Venice, 1935) & Afra Scarpa (Montebelluna, ...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsMetal
- Angelo Lelli Floor Lamp - Model 12635, by Arredoluce, Italy, 1950s.By Angelo Lelii, ArredoluceLocated in Wolfurt, ATAngelo Lelli Floor Lamp Model 12635 - Manufactured by Arredoluce, Italy, 1950s. The brass lamp has a marble base and satinated glass shades. The floor light switch carries the engrav...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMarble, Brass
- Angelo Lelli Floor Lamp Model 14002 Arredoluce, 1966By Angelo Lelii, ArredoluceLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantVery nice Minimalist floor lamp model 14002 designed by Angelo Lelli and manufactured by Arredoluce, Italy, 1966. The lamp has a metal base with incorporated transformer and on/off s...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal
- Italian Floor Lamp by Angelo Lelli for ArredoluceBy Arredoluce, Angelo LeliiLocated in Middlesex, NJItalian floor lamp by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce.Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
- 1970s Arredoluce Marble Floor Lamp Angelo Lelli Vintage Mid-CenturyBy Angelo Lelii, ArredoluceLocated in Hyattsville, MDPost-Modern styled 1970s floor lamp by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce of Italy. The lamp features 3 Chrome vented eyeball shades that set on magnetic mounts, that can be pulled off and ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsCarrara Marble, Steel
$4,400 Sale Price20% Off - Arredoluce Triennale Floor Lamp by Angelo Lelli, ItalyBy Angelo Lelii, ArredoluceLocated in San Francisco, CAArredoluce Triennale floor lamp designed by Angelo Lelli, Italy. Rare early example of this now iconic Angelo Lelli design for Arredoluce in very good original condition with origi...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsBrass, Enamel
- Model 12628 'Siluro' Floor Lamp by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce, Italy, 1957By Angelo Lelii, ArredoluceLocated in Rovereta, SMModel 12628 'Siluro' floor lamp by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce, Italy, 1957.Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsBrass