Orange Pendant Lamp by Elio Martinelli for Martinelli Luce, 1970s

About This Piece

Vintage Design

Elio Martinelli was born on November 19, 1922. After a childhood and adolescence spent in Lucca, he undertook scenography studies in Florence where he graduated. Taking over the family business after the premature loss of his father, he began a collaboration with a company in Lucca for which he took care of the interior design for public places. He began to design and produce his own lamps to be included in his projects. This is how Martinelli Luce was born, in a basement located in Piazza Bernardini in Lucca with the few tools necessary for a small production. He married Anna in 1949, and together they began to participate in the most important trade fairs of that period, but it was with the first edition of Eurodomus in Genoa in 1966 and the meeting with Giò Ponti that Elio Martinelli and his company acquired a international prominence. In his professional life Elio Martinelli has designed many lamps and to create some of these he had to study new methacrylate molding techniques. We are in the 1960s, the era of the affirmation of innovative and revolutionary plastic materials and it was precisely in plastic material that the
most representative lamps of his production. Attention to technology and novelty has always characterized Elio Martinelli's interest, not only for the materials of which the lamps were made, but also for the use of new light sources. Since the 1970s, the classic light bulb has been increasingly replaced by halogen and metal halide lamps which lead to a real revolution in the lighting of commercial spaces. We are at the beginning of the 80s when Elio Martinelli designs his first technical devices collected in a specific catalog called "Systems". It is precisely in these years that his daughter Emiliana enters the company, initially mainly interested in the graphic part and then moving on to Thus we come to the 90s, Martinelli Luce has a consolidated role in the panorama of manufacturers of lighting fixtures and given the difficulties of the internal market it is projected even more towards abroad and towards the lighting of large commercial spaces also with productions dedicated to contract Elio martinelli passed away on 21 October 2004 after an illness that had forced him in recent years to often stay away from that creature to whom all his thoughts were however directed.

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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	1970 to 1979
Production Period	1970 to 1979
Country of Manufacture	Italy
Identifying Marks	This piece has an attribution mark
Style	Italian, Mid-Century, Design Classics
Detailed Condition	Good — This vintage/antique item may have some wear such as scratches and other signs of ageing.
Restoration and Damage Details	Light wear consistent with age and use
Product Code	RNN-1584451
Materials	Metal, Plastic
Color	Orange, white
Height	60 cm 60 cm
Diameter	50 cm

Shipping & Delivery

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

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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.