Gaetano Sciolari

GAETANO SCIOLARI (Italy, 1927–1994).
Table lamp, Italy, 1970.
Bronze and brass with an enameled base.
Measurements: 50 x 25 cm.
Table lamp designed by Gaetano Sciolari featuring a geometric composition of interconnected golden cylinders. The piece is part of the Space Age movement that emerged between the 1950s and 1970s, inspired by the space race, technological advances, and optimism about the future. In Italy, the Space Age had a particularly significant impact thanks to the work of designers and companies that combined technological innovation with a strong design tradition.
Gaetano Sciolari was one of the Italian designers renowned for his mid-century modern lamps. Born in the early 20th century, Siolari—the son of a family of Italian lighting manufacturers that had been producing lamps since 1892—began designing for the Italian manufacturer Stilnovo in the 1950s. It was there that he created his most renowned and celebrated work: a series of multi-light chandeliers made of shiny and matte metal, evoking futuristic visions of the nascent Space Age—as is the case with our five-light ceiling lamp. His luxurious lighting designs began to gain prominence and popularity in the United States during the 1970s, a decade in which his style began to embrace an aesthetic inspired by Art Deco and the Space Age.As founder and president of the Italian Lighting Manufacturers Association, Sciolari is today one of the most sought-after designers for his collectible pieces, such as the Habitat, Cultura, and Futura series.