Elio Martinelli, "Serpente" lamp for Martinelli Luce

ELIO MARTINELLI (Lucca, 1922–2004) for MARTINELLI LUCE.
“Serpente” floor lamp, model 2131. Italy, designed in 1965.
Chrome-plated metal and white opal methacrylate.
In very good overall condition, with minor imperfections on the base and three localized spots of surface oxidation on the frame.
Measurements: approximately 125 cm tall.

Designed by Elio Martinelli in 1965, the “Serpente” lamp combines a circular base with a curved, swiveling arm that supports a wide diffuser made of white opal methacrylate. Its name refers to the movement of the structure, whose articulation allows the position of the shade and the visual balance of the whole to be adjusted. It is a design representative of Italian experimentation in the 1960s, which incorporated methacrylate thermoforming techniques to develop new lighting solutions.

Elio Martinelli was an Italian designer trained in stage design and the founder of Martinelli Luce, a lighting company established in Lucca in the early 1950s to develop and manufacture his own lamps. His work combines geometric forms, references to nature, and experimentation with plastic materials, as seen in his Serpente (1965) and Cobra (1968) models. Under his leadership, the firm also incorporated creations by designers such as Gae Aulenti and Sergio Asti, becoming a leading name in Italian lighting. Thus, Elio Martinelli is the designer of the Serpente lamp, and Martinelli Luce is the company responsible for its manufacture.