Gino Sarfatti for Stilnovo

GINO SARFATTI (Italy, 1912-1985) for Stilnovo.
Pair of wall sconces, c. 1950.
Black lacquered metal and polished brass hardware.
Good overall condition, commensurate with age and use. Black lacquer retains much of its original finish, with light patinas and minor surface wear. Brass elements with oxidation and partial loss of luster. Updated wiring to ensure safe operation.
Measurements: 18 x 10 x 18 cm (x2).
Pair of wall sconces designed by Gino Sarfatti for Stilnovo during the 1950s. These pieces, executed in black lacquered metal with polished brass fittings, are a paradigmatic example of the functional and rationalist design that defined post-war Italian modernism. The refined formal syntax, based on pure volumes, balanced proportions and a studied economy of means, is evidence of Sarfatti's desire to reconcile technological experimentation with an aesthetic of sobriety and precision.
Particularly known for his ceiling lamps inspired by antique chandeliers, but also for table lamps of remarkable originality, Gino Sarfatti created over four hundred pieces of lighting throughout his career, mostly produced by Arteluce. As in many of his pieces, in the design of these lamps he starts from the structure of the classic table lamp and simplifies the forms, adapting them to a rationalist aesthetic and the use of new materials related to the world of industrial production. Sarfatti was born in Venice in 1912, and studied aeronautical engineering at the University of Genoa. From 1939 he worked in the lighting sector; he created the firm Arteluce, which was soon to become an international reference in the field of modern lighting design. Sarfatti was distinguished with important awards, such as the Compasso d'Oro in 1954 and 1955, and the Honorary Diploma of the Milan Triennale.