Brass chandelier, designed by G. Sciolari, Italy, 1970s

Description

Brass chandelier, designed by G. Sciolari, Italy, 1970s

A spectacular ceiling lamp produced in Italy in the 1970s by the Sciolari manufactory. Founded in 1892, the family company was taken over by Angelo Gaetano Sciolari in the 1950s. The designer had previously worked for the legendary lighting manufacturer Stilnovo. Unlike Stilnovo, which boldly experimented with new materials and product silhouettes, Sciolari’s designs remained somewhat more traditional, often incorporating crystal glass, Plexiglas and brass. His famous Molecular Chandelier from 1955 illustrates his penchant for combining modernist geometry with materials popular during the Art Deco era. Gaetano Sciolari’s designs gained recognition in the mid-1960s. Their success was influenced by the diversity of artistic movements, from Cubism and Deconstructivism to Minimalism, while the designs consistently invited sophisticated, sculptural and even futuristic interpretations. Our chandelier is no exception: it unmistakably bears the mark of an Italian master of lighting. In this design, Sciolari moved away from strict modernism in favour of a more refined and decorative aesthetic, drawing on the design of the 1920s. A similar trend can be observed in the work of Paul Evans, François Monnet and Verner Panton.

Our lamp is made of highly polished brass with a satin finish. It has eight light points for E14 screw-base bulbs. The piece is completed by slender glass crystals positioned above and below the brass plates. The lamp can be installed with or without them, in which case it takes on a more austere character. It is one of the most striking chandeliers we have had the pleasure of encountering. It has been preserved in beautiful original condition, with visible signs of patina accumulated over time. One of the crystals is missing, which is practically unnoticeable given the extraordinary impression made by the lamp.