Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce

ANGELO LELLI (Rome, 1911–Capri, 1979) for Arredoluce.
“Polifemo” floor lamp, model 12555, ca. 1960.
Lacquered metal, brass, and glass.
Published in *Arredoluce. Catalogue Ragionato 1943–1987*, Pansera, Padoan, Palmaghini, Silvana Editoriale, p. 174.
Exhibits wear consistent with age and use.
Measurements: 200 x 30 cm.

Iconic floor lamp designed by Angelo Lelli for Arredoluce, corresponding to the “Polifemo” model 12555, one of the most distinctive creations in Italian lighting design of the 1960s. Its name refers to the Cyclops from the Odyssey, a reference embodied in the central circular light source, conceived as a large luminous eye framed by a concentric metal structure.
The piece stands out for its striking verticality and the combination of a circular base and a slender, black-lacquered tubular stem, topped by a conical diffuser made of aqua-green glass. This element introduces a highly modern chromatic touch, softening the strict geometry of the whole and reinforcing its experimental character. The result is a lamp with a strong sculptural presence, halfway between technical functionality and an artistic object.

Angelo Lelli was a key figure in postwar Italian design and the founder of Arredoluce, the firm through which he developed some of the most innovative lamps of the 20th century. His designs are characterized by structural precision, the expressive use of metal, and the pursuit of lighting solutions with a strong formal personality. The “Polifemo” model epitomizes this drive for innovation, making the lamp an iconic piece within the Italian Mid-Century repertoire.