Luis Pérez de la Oliva and Pedro Martín for Fase

LUIS PÉREZ DE LA OLIVA & PEDRO MARTÍN for Fase.
“Péndulo” table lamp, 1970s.
Chrome-plated metal and bent wood.
Vintage piece in working condition.
Exhibits wear consistent with age and use.
Bears the designer’s mark.
Measurements: 42 x 72 x 30 cm.
“Péndulo” model desk lamp, designed by Luis Pérez de la Oliva and Pedro Martín García for FASE, Spain, 1970s. It features a distinctive tilting mechanism that articulates a chrome-plated metal arm on a curved wooden base, balanced by a counterweight at the rear. Its ingenious balancing system allows the position of the light source to be adjusted and is one of the model’s most distinctive features. The combination of wood, chrome-plated metal, and lacquered surfaces, along with its striking geometry, reflects the functional and experimental character of Spanish industrial design in the 1970s.
Luis Pérez de la Oliva specialized in designing lamps for offices and homes. He worked primarily for the Fase company in the 1970s and 1980s. His pieces exude the timeless charm of vintage design. The Spanish lighting manufacturer Fase was founded in Madrid in 1964 by industrial designer Pedro Martín. Martín initially sold his self-produced lamps at markets before successfully establishing a factory in Torrejón de Ardoz, on the outskirts of Madrid. In the 1970s, Fase was one of the leading players in the Spanish manufacturing industry, contributing to an economy struggling with oil crises and a difficult transition to democracy. For more than three decades, Fase sold lighting fixtures to 32 different countries, with its largest markets being the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Canada, and the United States. Despite Fase’s commercial success, information about the company and its history is scarce, and sources are often contradictory.