Bolla 50 Wall Lamp by Elio Martinelli for Martinelli Luce, Italy, 1960s

About This Piece

Vintage Design

Diffused ceiling or wall lamp made of opal white methacrylate diffuser. Four corners in brushed aluminum and white lacquered back plate.
La Bolla is iconic for Martinelli’s design in the 1960s. Elegant and minimalist design, language that is Martinelli's trademark. Rotating supports for fixing the diffuser in anodized aluminum.

A bubble of light appears to come out of the ceiling. It seems to see a thin material that becomes heavy with its contents and that could give way, if it were not supported by 4 spacers placed at the four corners of the base.

Martinelli Luce was born in 1950 in Lucca, Tuscany, thanks to the genius and commitment of Elio Martinelli, one of the most important designers of the 60s and 70s, specialized in the field of lighting.

Elio Martinelli was born in Lucca on November 19, 1922. After a childhood and adolescence spent in Lucca, he began studying scenography in Florence where he graduated. He immediately began a collaboration with a Lucca company for which he took care of the interior design for public places. He began to design and produce on his own the lamps to be included in his projects. Thus was born the Martinelli Luce, in a basement where, with difficulty, the few tools necessary for a small production had been installed. It was with the first edition of the Eurodomus in Genoa in 1966 and the meeting with Giò Ponti that Elio Martinelli and his company acquired an international importance. In his professional life Elio Martinelli has designed many lamps and to make some of these he had to study new methacrylate molding techniques. We are in the 60s, an era of the emergence of innovative and revolutionary plastic materials and the most representative lamps of his production were made in plastic.

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* The cable of this item may be original and might need replacement, if not specified otherwise.

Creator	Elio Martinelli
Manufacturer	Martinelli Luce
Design Period	1960 to 1969
Production Period	1960 to 1969
Country of Manufacture	Italy
Identifying Marks	This piece has an attribution mark
Style	Italian
Detailed Condition	Very Good — This vintage/antique item has no defects, but it may show slight traces of use.
	The vendor has confirmed this piece is in working order.
Restoration and Damage Details	Light wear consistent with age and use
Plug Type	European Plug (up to 250V)
Product Code	RNN-1445225
Materials	Aluminum, Plastic, Steel
Color	White
Width	60 cm 60 cm
Depth	60 cm 60 cm
Height	18 cm 18 cm

Shipping & Delivery

Ships from	Italy
Returns	Returns accepted within fourteen days of delivery, except for Made-to-order items

Sustainability

Carbon Neutral	For every purchase made, Pamono offsets 100% of estimated carbon emissions from global shipping.
Vintage	Choosing vintage and antique furniture reduces your carbon footprint by cutting down on waste and reduces demand for new materials and extends the life of the products we use.

Delivery Details

Delivery will be completed by a parcel service such as UPS, DHL, or FedEx.
You will receive a tracking number to monitor the status of your shipment.
Delivery will take place between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

*Important Note

Please examine the packaging upon delivery. In the event that there are visible signs of damaged packaging, please indicate the problem on the Delivery Note, take pictures, and—if the item inside shows damages—contact us within 48 hours of delivery. A signed delivery receipt without notations regarding damaged packaging represents your acceptance of the completed order in perfect condition.

About the Creator

Elio Martinelli

Italian lighting designer Elio Martinelli was born in 1921 in Lucca in Tuscany. He attended a vocational school before going on to study set design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, where he ultimately earned a diploma. After school, he began working in his father’s lighting business, while also taking on his own interior design projects for restaurants, hotels, and shops, with an aesthetic inspired by his set design background. During this period, initially out of necessity, he also began designing and producing his own lighting. In 1950, Martinelli formally established his own lighting company, Martinelli Luce, in Lucca; the company has since gone on to produce numerous lighting designs for domestic and commercial use.

Throughout his career, Martinelli embraced new materials (such as methacrylate), and his work was representative of the midcentury modernist Italian aesthetic, characterized by an organic geometry both rationalistic and expressive. Standout pieces include, among others, the space-age table lamps Serpente (1965), Cobra (1968), and Foglia (1969). Following an invitation from designer Gio Ponti, Martinelli’s company participated in the first edition of the international design exhibition, Eurodomus, held in Turin in 1966. It went on to attend the 1968, 1970, and 1972 editions as well.

Martinelli continued to work until his passing in 2004. The company continues to operate today with Martinelli’s family at the helm. The Montreal Decorative Arts Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Museum of Art in Philadelphia each hold multiple Martinelli Luce models in their permanent collections.

About the Maker

Martinelli Luce

Martinelli Luce has contributed significantly to Italian design, and was a hugely prominent lighting producer in the second half of the 20th century; creating innovative and award-winning lighting throughout its colorful history, collaborating with some of the biggest names in Italian design. Founded in 1950 by designer Elio Martinelli (1921-2004) in Lucca, the company has since gone on to produce numerous lighting designs for domestic and commercial use.

Exposed to the lighting industry from an early age, Martinelli joined his family's business which was originally established sometime in the 1930s. In 1950, wishing to develop and produce his own lighting fixtures, Martinelli established Martinelli Luce and focused on interior design and lights for shops, restaurants, hotels, and the like. His business grew quickly, eventually becoming a household name and reference point Italian lighting design. In 1966, Martinelli Luce was invited by designer Gio Ponti to participate in the first edition of the international design exhibition, Eurodomus, held in Turin. Martinelli Luce exhibited again in 1968, 1970, and 1972; as well as at the 14th and 15th Milan Triennial in 1968 and 1973.

Throughout his career, Martinelli embraced new materials (such as methacrylate plastic), which he used to create functional, yet highly innovative lighting fixtures. Martinelli’s work was representative of the midcentury modernist Italian aesthetic, characterized by an organic geometry that was both rationalist and expressive. Standout pieces include, among others, the space-age table lamps Bolla (1960), Globo (1962), Serpente (1965), Stivale (1967), Cobra (1968), and Foglia (1969), Millepiedi (1972), Elmetto (1976), Dobermann (1980), and the Nuvole Vagabonde (1992-9).

Since its inception, Martinelli Luce has collaborated with many talented and renowned designers including Gae Aulenti, , Michel Bouquillon, Marco De Santi – Studio Natural, Angelo Micheli, Luc Ramael, Karim Rashid, Marc Sadler, Brian Sironi, Studio 4P1B, Studio Lucchi & Biserni, Studio Orlandini, Massimo and Lella Vignelli, and many others. Notable designs include Aulenti ‘s Pipistrello (1965), Ruspa (1968) table lamps; and Sergio Asti’s Profiterolle (1968) and Scafandro (1972) table lamps.

Over the years Martinelli Luce has received several awards, including multiple iF Product Design awards, Compasso D’oro in 2011, and the ADI Design Index Award in 2011 and 2015. Exemplary designs from Martinelli Luce can be found in permanent collections of major museums include the Montreal Decorative Arts Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Museum of Art in Philadelphia.

Martinelli passed away in 2004, but the company continues to operate today under the guidance of Martinelli’s daughter, art director and designer Emiliana. The company offers a wide range of energy efficient lighting systems designed for offices, shops, cinemas, hotels, museums, and commercial, and outdoor areas.