Miguel Milá

MIGUEL MILÁ (Barcelona, 1931-Bilbao, 2024) for Polinax.
Pair of sconces "Globo", 60s.
Brass plate structure and opal polymer spherical diffuser.
Signed on the arm.
Bibliography: Present in the Polinax catalog.
As an original vintage item, it shows signs of wear and tear.
Measurements: 34 x 34 x 80 cm.

This pair of wall lamps is an early and brilliant example of the genius of Miguel Milá, pioneer of industrial design in Spain. Produced by Polinax, these sconces represent the search for functionality through economy of means, a hallmark of Milá's career.

The design is articulated around a perfect sphere, which acts as a diffuser. This elemental form evokes the Space Age aesthetic of the 1960s, but sifted by Milá's sober and rationalist sensibility.

The support is a departure from conventional tubes. It is a plate that curves gently upward to support the sphere. The wall base is rectangular and technical, honestly showing the fixing screws. A visual interplay is established between the white of the globe, the technical brilliance of the arm and the black clamping cup.

Milá was a master at dignifying new materials: the satin finish achieves a light diffusion identical to that of opal glass, but with greater lightness and strength. They offer an omnidirectional, soft and diffused light.

A typical feature of Milá is not to hide the function. It is a design without artifice: what you see is what supports and illuminates.

Miguel Milá, National Design Award and Compasso d'Oro, defined his work as "pre-industrial", looking for simple solutions to everyday problems. These "Globo" wall lamps predate his Cesta or TMM lamps, showing his first steps in collaborating with Catalan industry to bring modern design to the homes of the 1960s.